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The 1st Junior College
The 1st junior college in the U.S. was founded in 1901. By 1910, there were 3 junior colleges and, by 1914 there were 46. The 1st junior college finally made college accessible to many people who could not previously qualify for or afford to pay for four-year institutions. The rapid growth of the number of community colleges shows the critical need that community colleges met in the community. Without those early pioneers, community colleges would not be where they are today. -
1st Junior College in Arizona
Phoenix College was the first junior college in Arizona and was founded in 1920. This finally made higher education accessible to many people in Arizona who could not previously qualify for or afford to pay for traditional four-year institutions. In addition, the first community college came at an important time to the growth of the city of Phoenix. The population and city were growing quickly during this time and needed skilled workers to meet the needs of the growing city. -
First African American Student Body President at Phoenix College
Phoenix College had its first Black Student Body President in 1951. PC was never segregated, but most schools in AZ were segregated until 1954. Community colleges were there to educate everyone in the community. Racial segregation was common then. Community colleges made higher education accessible by not only having minority students, but also by not practicing racial segregation. Community colleges continue to build on this history of making education accessible and affordable to all. -
Intel Opens 1st Campus in Chandler
Intel 1st opened a campus in Chandler in 1980, 5 years before CGC opened. This has had a major impact on CGC because Intel helped fuel the growth of Chandler and the demand for educated/trained people in the area. Intel’s largest manufacturing site in the world is in Chandler, Intel has 3 campuses in Chandler, and has about 12,000 employees in Chandler. In addition to helping population growth that made CGC needed, money has been poured into Chandler and Gilbert by Intel and its employees. -
Chandler Gilbert Community College was Founded
Chandler Gilbert Community College was founded in 1985 as an extension of Mesa community college. This timing coincided with a population boom that began in both Chandler and Gilbert in the 1980s. The new community college provided access to traditional higher education and vocational training for the growing population of the area. -
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Career Training Growth
Community colleges have increasingly offered career training through vocationally oriented courses designed to help students earn a certificate. This allows students of all ages, races, and genders the opportunity to receive the training they need to get a job with better pay. Career training also attracts a more diverse student population. This type of training has made community colleges even more important, especially when it comes to serving the needs of local businesses and communities.
