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Period: to
1900-2017
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1901
The first community college opens in Illinois - Joliet Community College. -
1920's
College enrollment was low. Too much dancing... -
The Great Depression
Everyone was looking for jobs...
Community colleges started defining their role as institutions which help prepare people to obtain specific skills to become more marketable in the workforce. -
World War II
Through the 40's and 50's, because of World War II, community colleges maintained their growth by training people for the (growing) workforce. -
1960's
College enrollment doubled from 1960-1970. From 1 million students to over 2 million. The Baby Boomers were growing up, hungry for a liberal arts education, and becoming actively engaged in political participation. -
1970's
College enrollment doubled yet again from 1970-1980. Perhaps it was to defer being drafted in to the Vietnam War. Perhaps it was to learn how to stand up against it in other ways, by expanding definitions of civic duty and political participation. -
1999
Through the 80's and 90's, enrollment growth tapered off slightly. By 1999, 5.3 million students were enrolled amongst 1,076 community colleges. The trend is clear: Job training institutions will always be necessary, as the jobs themselves grow and change with our evolving culture. As more partnerships between colleges and businesses/organizations continue to flourish, students will continue to enroll in community colleges.
