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The First Community College
The first community, two-year college was established as Joliet Community College in Illinois. Many of the first “junior colleges” opened in the United States in order to improve the accessibility of higher education. Many people called the first colleges of this kind “people’s colleges.” This was a significant advancement in higher education as these two-year colleges democratized higher education and aided social mobility for many. -
"Go Far. Close to Home.”
Phoenix College was established as Arizona’s first two-year junior college. Phoenix College was first known as Phoenix Junior College and is now considered Maricopa Community College’s flagship school. It ranks among the top community colleges in the country and is the largest provider of higher education and career training in Arizona. -
The Rise of the Community College
Enrollment was low at America’s community colleges at first, but during the Great Depression colleges started expanding their curricula to include job training and enrolment rose. Two-year colleges helped relieve unemployment in the 1930s - 1950s. -
The Birth of Maricopa Community Colleges
Maricopa Community Colleges was established. In the 1960s, enrollment steadily increased as many of the baby boomers sought a higher education. There was also an increase in the number of community colleges in America. There was an increase of “about 1 million students in 1965 to about 2.2 million by 1970.” -
Claiming Their Rightful Place
The increased enrollment trend remained through the 1970s as young people tried to defer being drafted into Vietnam and as parents began seeing the value of a higher education for their children. With the 1960s and 1970s, community colleges were solidified as an important part of education in America. -
The Birth of Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) was founded under Maricopa Community Colleges. With four campuses, CGCC has over 20,000 students and 60 majors. CGCC offers hybrid and online courses in order to serve a new generation of learners. Colleges like CGCC are significant in the longevity of community colleges in America because they serve the local community while keeping up with current trends in education like certificates, degrees, job-training, and technology-driven courses. -
Obama's American College Promise
Community colleges continue to be an essential part of the American education system with affordability and inclusiveness. In 2015 President Obama proposed his“American College Promise” program– a “plan to make two years of community college education available free of charge to 'everyone who’s willing to work for it.' Many see the community college as central to solving a wide variety of problems in higher education, from cost and inclusivity to career-preparedness and community engagement.”
