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Community colleges in America have roots dating back to the Morrill Act of 1862 (the Land Grant Act). This act expanded access into public higher education by donating public lands to several states and territories. This marked the first Federal aid to higher education. (Drury, 1)
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1901 - The Joliet Junior College was the first Junior College. It was an annex to the Joliet High School in Chicago. William Rainey Harper, president of the University of Chicago, and J. Stanley Brown, principal of Joliet High School were the driving force behind its creation. (Drury, 1)
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1920 - Phx Jr college is established. This was Arizona’s first community college (now Phoenix College)
https://www.maricopa.edu/about-us/our-history -
It represented the rapidly expanding and unique American junior college system, to offer the first two years of university course work. Initially, the AAJC would function as an accrediting body but lead to a forum to discuss the proper role and organization of junior colleges within higher education.
https://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/1753/American-Association-Community-Colleges.html -
This created a spike in junior college enrollment, it was a way to help the unemployment. (Kasper, 2)
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Grants established university centers to train and educate community college leaders. This lend credence to the community college effort and the comprehensive community college model was created. (Drury, 5)
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As Baby Boomer became of age, enrollment surge occurred and the community colleges grew more rapidly than any
other segment in higher education. (Drury, 5) -
The name was updated from Maricopa County Junior College to “Maricopa Community” to emphasize the general public and to best reflect the constituencies we serve.
https://www.maricopa.edu/about/vision-history -
By the late 1970s, enrollment grew from 1.6 million students to more
than 4.5 million, becoming predominantly vocational
institutions. (Drury, 5) -
1988: "The Nationwide Commission on the Future of Community Colleges recommended that these colleges help build
communities by creating partnerships with employers and
making facilities available for workforce training" (Kasper 16). -
In 2015, Phoenix college celebrated 95 years!
