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Joliet Community College
Joliet Community College is the first junior college in the Nation. It was established in 1901 in Ilinois. The creation of the community college was to provide low cost education and provide an easier transition for some high school students taking the next step in their educational journey. -
Phoenix Community College
Phoenix Community College was established in 1920. It's first graduating class consisted of 5 students in 1922. The state of Arizona is now part of the community college family that allows for job training and lower cost to the students as well as preparing those who choose to continue on to the 4 year degree program at a university. Phoenix College will celebrate 100 years of being a successful community college in 2020. -
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Maricopa County Community College District
Maricopa County Community College District is made up of the following ten community colleges: Chandler- Gilbert, Estrella, Gateway, Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix College, Rio Salado, Scottsdale and South Mountain. Each college has it's own area of expertise. Estrella Commmunity College is the newest of the ten. It also has 2 skill centers and Maricopa Corporate College. -
Creation of Maricopa Community College District
In 1962 Maricopa County Junior College District was created. Nine years, 1971 later the name was changed to Maricopa County Community College District. This change was done to better reflect the community that the district serves. MCCCD is comprised of ten community colleges. All ten are accredited. -
Glendale Community College
Glendale Community College (GCC) is the second college established in the MCCCD. It has two campuses and serves the west valley. It is designated as a Hispanic Serving Institute. GCC houses Chrysler Employee Training Center, the Arizona Procurement Technical Assistance Center, the new Randolph Automotive Technology Center. This is in alignment with the community colleges offering vocational training and the partnerships with businesses. -
Mesa Community College
Mesa Community College is the largest of the 10 Maricopa County Community Colleges. It started as an expansion of Phoenix College in 1963. In 1965 it became it's own college. It has two campuses and serves the East valley. It is one of 6 colleges that Apple selected to offer its new app development course. This is a key part of how the community colleges are partnering with businesses to provide the students with career opportunities. -
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Community College Explosion
The public community colleges saw a large increase in enrollment in the 1960's due to the baby boomers coming of college age. Due to the increase of enrollment more public community colleges were built. Enrollment went from 1 million in 1965 to 2.2 million in 1970 -
Rio Salado Community College
Rio Salado is the largest public community college in the nation. It was founded in 1978. Rio Salado offers Adult Education services and is the largest provider in the state of Arizona. It has 12 different locations spread across the valley. -
Community Colleges Future
In 1988 the Nationwide Commission in the Future of Community Colleges recommended that the colleges create partnerships with employers within their communities. This addition to community colleges also required the community colleges to create specific programs and career areas if interest. This leads to not just degrees being offered but now certificates -
Phoenix College Awarded $1.5 million
Phoenix College received $1.5 million to support the STEM program to support minority students by the National Science Foundation. This award will allow minority students to develop their skills in the STEM program. -
NASA and Phoenix College
Two students who attend Phoenix College have been selected to attend the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars program this Fall. This program supports the partnership that community colleges have with businesses and organizations to provide students and insight to future careers.
