Community Colleges Historical Events and Cultural Forces

Joliet Community College opens

Oct 10, 1901

The first junior college in the U.S. opens as an extension of high school.

Phoenix Junior College (now Phoenix College) opens

Oct 10, 1920

The first community college in Arizona

Great Depression Hits

Oct 10, 1929

Massive down turn in the economy leading to widespread unemployment

Community colleges focus on job training

Oct 10, 1930

Due to the Great Depression, the focus of community colleges turns to training workers for new jobs over the 1930's.

Baby Boomers enter college

Oct 10, 1960

Community college enrollment increases as the Baby Boomer generation reaches college age

County voter approve the formation of the Maricopa County Junior College District

Oct 10, 1962

Phoenix Junior College becomes part of this new system

Maricopa Technical College (now GateWay Community College) opens

Oct 10, 1968

Scottsdale Community College opens

Oct 10, 1969

Community college students majority male

Oct 10, 1970

Rio Salado Community College opens

Oct 10, 1978

Gender gap in community colleges reverses

Oct 10, 1980

By 1980 55% of students were female.

South Mountain Community College Opens

Oct 10, 1980

Northeast Valley Education Center (now Paradise Valley Community College) opens

Oct 10, 1985

Chandler/Gilbert Education Center (now Chandler-Gilbert Community College) opens

Oct 10, 1985

Community colleges focus on partnerships with local business.

Oct 10, 1988

The Nationwide Commission on the Future of Community Colleges suggests that community colleges form relationships with business to help provide workforce training.

Estrella Mountain Community College opens

Oct 10, 1990

Community colleges focus on tech skills

Oct 10, 1990

-A boom in the technology sector and the proliferation of information technologies in the workforce prompts community colleges to offer more computer training courses.

Individual MCCCD community colleges gain more autonomy

Oct 10, 2002

The Arizona State Legislature reduces the powers of the State Board of Directors for Community Colleges of Arizona.

The Great Recession

Oct 10, 2008

The 2008 Financial Crisis leads to 12 months of negative economic growth. State funding to secondary education is cut in many states. Increases in tuition cause many students to move from 4-year institutions to community college programs.