Community College History By janice.christensen Jul 2, 1862 Passage of the Morrill Act establishing Land Grant Colleges Aug 30, 1890 Second Morrill Act written to expand public higher education to Blacks Sep 15, 1901 First Community College established - Joliet Junior College, Illinois Sep 15, 1917 California established independent Junior College Districts Jun 30, 1920 Founding of the American Association of Junior colleges Sep 15, 1927 Phoenix Junior College is accredited Sep 15, 1939 Phoenix Campus is constructed Jun 22, 1944 Passage of the GI Bill allowed millions to attend College Sep 15, 1960 WK Kellogg Foundation established Junior College Leadership Programs Sep 15, 1962 Maricopa County Junior College District is created with Mesa and Glendale extension campuses of Phoenix Sep 11, 1963 First semester for Mesa Community College Apr 12, 1965 Glendale Community College and Mesa Community College are officially named Sep 15, 1965 First Student Aid Legislation Aug 15, 1967 Phoenix, Mesa and Glendale are accredited Sep 15, 1968 Gateway CC has Dean appointed Sep 15, 1969 Scottsdale CC begins classes at Scottsdale High Sep 14, 1970 Scottsdale CC classes begin at permanent site Jul 30, 1971 Gateway CC is accredited Mar 14, 1978 Rio Salado approved Apr 25, 1978 South Mountain is approved Apr 15, 1984 Chandler-Gilbert and Estrella Mountain are approved Apr 23, 1985 Paradise Valley CC is approved May 15, 1990 PVCC is accredited Feb 28, 1992 Chandler Gilbert is accreditied Sep 15, 1992 Name changes from Junior College to Community College Sep 15, 1992 Rio Salado is accredited Sep 15, 1995 MCC receives NCA accreditation Sep 15, 2000 Red Mountain Campus is constructed Aug 10, 2013 Janice Christensen becomes Adjunct Mathematics Instructor at SCC
