Athletics

Foothill is a member of the Coast Conference of the California Community College Athletic Association and National Bay-6 Football Conference. Our men’s intercollegiate teams compete in basketball, football, soccer, tennis and swimming. Our women’s intercollegiate teams compete in badminton, basketball, soccer, swimming, and tennis. For more information, visit foothillowls.com.

Campus Center

To enhance your college experience, Foothill operates a state-of-the-art Campus Center. We invite you to use the center for a meal or quick snack, take a break in the Hearthside Lounge and enjoy the breathtaking vistas from the center’s outdoor plaza. You’ll also find the following services and programs in the Campus Center:

• Altos Conference Room, Room 2019
• ASFC Welcome Center, Room 2017
• ASFC Smart Shop/OwlCard, Room 2016
• ASFC Student Government Office, Room 2011
• BIPOC Multicultural Center, Room 2149
• Bookstore, Room 2301
• Council Chambers, Room 2018
• Dean of Student Affairs & Activities, Room 2002
• Dining Room, Room 2201
• District Police, Room 2103
• Health Services, Room 2126
• Hearthside Lounge, Room 2313
• Mental Health and Wellness Center, Room 2120
• Owls Nest Community Resource Center, Room 2152
• Student Activities Office, Room 2009
• Toyon Conference Room, Room 2020

Campus Clubs

Campus clubs cater to a wide variety of student interests, including academic, athletic, cultural, political, religious, social, service and special interest groups.

We encourage students to plan and participate in extracurricular organizations that can enhance their sense of belonging and build skills for the future. Students in clubs learn basic business practices, parliamentary procedures, communication and cultural competency through meetings, events and attendance at the Inter Club Council (ICC). Club leaders and members may earn leadership/community service units. Each club must have a faculty, administrator or staff advisor. The college hosts a quarterly Club Day for recruitment and club reactivation. For more information, visit foothill.edu/clubs.

Campus Radio

Foothill owns and operates KFJC-FM 89.7, a 250-watt educational radio station. If you are interested in technical operation or administration, and programming of educational and entertainment features, visit foothill.edu/kfjc.

College Hour

College Hour spotlights student activities – speakers, workshops, cultural celebrations, information fairs, Club Day, entertainment, music and political forums – weekly on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. Activities are coordinated by ASFC.

Community Education

The Foothill College Community Education Program offers fee-based courses each quarter for children and adults, as well as working professionals who are interested in career development and personal enrichment. Community members may submit proposals for future community education classes. Community education offerings are ideal for participants who are interested in taking classes without the formality of college units and those who have maxed out repeatability of select classes. Community education classes do not have repeatability restrictions. In accordance with the Civic Center Act, the college is only designated as a place for community groups when there is no interference with the regular educational program.

For registration instructions or to submit a proposal for a community education class, visit foothill.edu/communityeducation.

Cultural Enrichment

The Student Activities Office works with the Associated Students of Foothill College (ASFC), faculty, staff, administrators, academic divisions and community organizations to present co-curricular equity and empowerment lectures, porch talks, seminars, celebrations and forums highlighting leadership, mental health, art, music, drama, politics, athletics and current issues.

The Heritage Month Series includes Latinx Heritage Month; Native American Heritage Month; Jewish Heritage Month; Black History Month; Women’s History Month; Muslim Heritage Month; Asian Pacific Islander Month; and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Queer (LGBTQ) Heritage Month. These celebrations are just some of the popular events that have earned campus, community and national recognition.

Foothill Observatory

Operated by the Peninsula Astronomical Society, the Foothill Observatory offers weekly public programs. These programs allow Foothill students and the public to view the day and evening sky with the observatory’s large astronomical telescope. The observatory is adjacent to Building 4000. For more information, call 650.949.7288.

Honors Institute

The Foothill Honors Institute is open to all students. We offer many honors courses within General Education and major coursework from various departments including accounting, anthropology, art, astronomy, biology, business, communications, counseling, economics, English, global studies, humanities, math, music, photography, political science, psychology, sociology, and many more.

Any Foothill College student who is motivated and passionate about learning and wants to be challenged academically can take these courses, provided any prerequisites set for these courses have been met.

A few benefits in taking honors courses include:

• Participating in the annual Bay Honors Research Symposium, held at either Stanford University or UC Berkeley
• Collaborating with other people who are curious, motivated and talented
• Discussing course content from multiple perspectives
• Attending local lectures given by renowned speakers

Honors Scholars may receive the following benefits:

• Priority admission consideration to colleges such as UCLA, UC Irvine, Chapman, Loyola Marymount University, and more
• Exclusive scholarships

For more information about honors courses and/or the honors program, see foothill.edu/honors, call 650.949.7061 or visit Room 1960.

International Student Programs

Establishing an international presence is a Foothill College priority. The college has a long history of educating international students since its opening in 1957, and its graduates hail from many diverse corners of the world, from India and the Ivory Coast to Kyrgyzstan, Nepal and Latvia.

The International Programs Office caters specifically to international students on F-1 Visas. We provide counseling and assistance to approximately 400 F-1 students from more than 90 different countries. Foothill offers programs leading to an associate degree or bachelor's degree at a four-year university through Foothill's transfer pathways. Admission to Foothill is flexible, convenient and personalized. Applications are accepted four times a year for fall, winter, spring and summer. For admission requirements and application procedures, access the admissions section at foothill.edu/international. The college has approximately 500 international students on all visa types, earning Foothill a #10 spot in the U.S. on the Institute of International Education's Open Doors Report ranking associate degree institutions with the largest and most diverse international student populations.

The International Programs Office features a team of caring multilingual professionals who ensure students have an outstanding educational experience at Foothill and in the U.S. Our services include a new student orientation program with comprehensive academic, immigration and cultural counseling; regular immigration advising and seminars by a dedicated advisor regarding regulations that affect F-1 student status from passports, visas, employment, travel and academic issues; and a medical insurance program.

Additionally, the office creates programs and initiatives that support international students as they adjust to the campus and community, expand their horizons and share their unique heritage and cultural backgrounds. Special activities include orientation for incoming students, field trips to Bay Area attractions, service learning at the Second Harvest Food Bank, NASA Ames field trip, International Transfer Fair and the Student Ambassador Program. The office also coordinates large-scale programming initiatives aimed at internationalizing the Foothill Campus, such as the annual International Education Week.

For information about F-1 admissions and immigration, e-mail foothillinternational@fhda.edu. 

Krause Center for Innovation

Located in Building 4000, the Krause Center for Innovation (KCI) provides open access to a variety of education-technology and educator-focused resources, along with a makerspace on the lower level. A cyber lounge with informal seating and wi-fi access is located on-site. For more information about hours and events, visit krauseinnovationcenter.org.

Leadership

Student government provides our student body the opportunity to self-govern and participate with faculty, staff and administration. Leadership and service courses are offered for additional training. You can participate and gain valuable leadership skills and experience in the following areas:

• Administration
• Advocacy
• Budget development
• Communication
• Decision making
• Event coordination
• Governance
• Group dynamics
• Leadership theory and styles
• Marketing
• Organizational development
• Parliamentary procedure
• Planning
• Policy development and implementation
• Problem solving and conflict resolution
• Public speaking 
• Student rights and responsibilities
• Team building
• Time management

You can also apply for a paid position as a Student Ambassador. Ambassadors serve as a Foothill College representative and work at various Student Services locations and community events. Practical leadership experience is also available through the Associated Students of Foothill College (ASFC) Campus Council and campus governance committees. Elections are held during spring quarter. For more information, visit foothill.edu/asfc.

Library Services

The Hubert H. Semans Library in Building 3500 has more than 90,000 books, periodicals, newspapers and a variety of multimedia resources. You can browse the best-seller reading collection or take a self-paced course to learn how to use a modern library. Our online catalog helps you locate books by subject, title or author. Various computer databases make it easy to find articles in periodicals. You can also access the internet and search various databases and websites.

For more information, call 650.949.7086 (hours), 650.949.7608 (reference desk) or 650.949.7611 (circulation). Visit the Foothill College online library at foothill.edu/library.

Makerspace

Located on the lower level of Building 4000, the KCI Makerspace is equipped with the latest maker tools, including laser and vinyl cutters, 3D printers, CNC lathes, and various electronics tools. The makerspace provides students a variety of computer-aided design and manufacturing tools to design, prototype and create projects from concept to completion. Makerspace access is free and open to all Foothill students, including training on all machines and materials for prototyping. For more information about hours and events, visit krauseinnovationcenter.org.

Middle College: The High School Alternative

Foothill College Middle College program coordinators understand that not all students fit the mold of the traditional high school student. These alternative programs work with all students to support their goals for a dynamic and enriching educational experience.

There are two Middle College programs based on the Foothill College campus. The Mountain View-Los Altos (MVLA) Middle College was established in 1993 and serves approximately 100 juniors and seniors each year. Starting in the fall of 2024, Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) will start its own Middle College High School on the Foothill campus. Initially serving approximately 100 sophomore and juniors, this high school will enlarge to add freshmen and seniors in the fall of 2025.

These programs offer a serious learning environment in which students explore individual interests through more diversified course offerings and complete high school graduation requirements. For an application or more information, visit foothill.edu/middle.

Student Activities Office

Foothill’s Student Activities Office offers programs, services, events and opportunities for students to learn, develop and enhance leadership skills, prepare for civic responsibility, explore diverse cultures, and help build a strong sense of college community. The staff and faculty advise student government, campus clubs and other organizations to plan and coordinate events. For more information about student life, visit foothill.edu/studentaffairs.