-
Morrill Act of 1862
Once known as junior colleges or two-year colleges, community colleges have existed in the United States since the Morrill Act of 1862 (the Land Grant Act) was passed. This act expanded access to public higher education which made it possible for students who had previously been denied access to traditional colleges and universities to attend school after high school. -
The Second Morrill Act
The second Morrill Act was released in 1890, and it prevented schools from denying access to minority students. -
Period: to
The first public junior college was born in America
J. Stanley Brown, began introducing college-level courses into his high-school curriculum in 1901 – thus the first public junior college was born in America. As the idea caught on, the number of junior colleges began to climb. By 1910, there were three junior colleges in America and, by 1914 there were 14 public junior colleges and another 32 private junior colleges. -
AAJC is Founded
In 1920, the American Association of Junior Colleges (AAJC) was founded and it remains the national organization for community colleges in the United States today. -
Phoenix College is Established
On September 13, 1920 Phoenix College welcomed its first students, and was initially housed in three small cottages on the PUHS campus on Taylor Street and 6th Avenue. Programs of study included: chemistry, English, home economics, mathematics, mechanical arts, military training, physical training and Spanish. In 1926, the College relocated to its first stand-alone campus, a mansion called Anderson House on Cottonwood Court, across the street from the high school. -
Formal Recognition of Phoenix Junior College
PJC had been accredited by a number of individual colleges and universities in the form of letters of agreement to accept student credits. (Dillard, 2005) On March 8, voters approved a bond issue of $625,000 for the construction of new buildings for PUHS and PJC, in addition to improvements and additions to existing buildings and equipment. -
The Truman Commission Report
A report to U.S. President Harry S. Truman on the condition of higher education in the United States. This report calls for several significant changes in postsecondary education, among them, the establishment of a network of public community colleges, which would be free of charge for "all youth who can profit from such education". The commission helped popularize the phrase "community college" in the late 1940s and helped shape the future of two-year degree institutions in the U.S. -
Phoenix College Dean Dr. Mildred Bulpitt
Dean Dr. Mildred Bulpitt becomes one of the first women in history to hold an administrative position. -
MCCCD is born
In 1963, the Phoenix Union High School District voted to transfer Phoenix College to the jurisdiction of the Maricopa Community College District Governing Board. -
Period: to
CC Enrollment Skyrockets
Enrollment skyrocketed from 1.6 million in the 1970s to more than 4.5 million in 1980. -
Period: to
Community Colleges Change Communities
Community colleges offer open admission and affordable tuition which provides educational opportunities for local students who might not otherwise have access to higher education – this includes minorities and the number of minority students attending community college continues to climb. 20% of community college enrollments were made up of minorities in 1976. By 1999, minority enrollment had increased to 33%. -
The American College Promise
In 2015, President Obama revealed the American College Promise program which was designed to offer two years of free community college education to anyone willing to work for it.