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First Community College - Joliet Community College
Joliet Community College (Illinois) was designed to be an extension of high school. It offered students a fifth and sixth year to the high school curriculum. This is the beginning of a new and wonderful era! -
First Phoenix College Dean: Weston W. Carpenter
Consulting with the University of Arizona, Dean Carpenter desired to create a two-year curriculum. The vision for Phoenix Junior College came to fruition in September of 1920. The nine courses taught at the college (three small cottages) were chemistry, English, home economics, mathematics, mechanical arts, military training, physical training and Spanish. For more history about PC, please visit:
http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/anniversary/95th.html -
First Football Team and First Commencement
Phoenix Junior College created their first football team - wearing the original blue and orange school colors. That same year, PJC graduated its first five students in May. Having an official sports team and alumni of a school, paves way to formally accrediting PJC. -
Authorization and Legalization of Junior Colleges in Arizona
Up until the formal legalization and authorization of junior colleges in Arizona, Phoenix Junior College graduated 100 students. This law accredits any PJC or community college students' course work/degree. Accreditation gives more "weight" to a person resume that is applying to a job that has obtained an associate degree from a community college, as well as, the opportunity to smoothly transition to a four-year institution. -
Phoenix Junior College Formally NCA Accreditation
In addition to the formal membership of PJC to the North Central Association, voters approved a $625,000 bond to build new and improve old buildings for both PJC and Phoenix Union High School. PJC is growing and creating more educational opportunities for its students. This leads to the creation of the new PC campus 12 years later. -
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The 1930s - The 1950s: Community Colleges Offering Job Training Programs
Due to the Great Depression of the 1930s, community colleges focused on job training progress to help with the widespread unemployment. People needed jobs to provide for their family and to survive in the difficult times. This was a fantastic step in the right direction to help America "get back on its feet." -
New Building/Location for Phoenix Junior College
Due to a budget of $100,000, enrollment of over 600 students, 24 full-time professors, 9 assistants, part-time instructors, and 26 courses of study, the Board of Education proposed a new facility and location (where it currently resides today). Over the next few decades, PJC expands its academic reach by offering more courses of study and building more buildings to house the new courses of study. -
Phoenix Junior College Dedication Ceremony
The PJC auditorium housed the dedication ceremony for the new location on Thomas and 15th Avenue. The new campus for PJC is officially...official! -
Phoenix Junior College - Civilian Pilot Training
PJC was heralded as the best civilian pilot training school in the country from Civil Aeronautics Administration. This was a great asset for America, due to PJC's ability to train pilots for the military during WWII. The lineage of excellence in flying education at PJC lasts for many years later. -
Phoenix Junior College Was Never Segregated
PJC elected their first African American student body present (while other high schools and colleges where segregated). How awesome to be a face of equity to a nation that questioned them! -
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The 1960s: Community Colleges and Enrollment Exponentially Grow
The baby boomers became college-aged and enrolled in school. Due to the shear numbers of baby boomers enrolling, more community colleges were built. *Going to school and getting a job right after isn't as easy as it was in the 60s - says me to the baby boomers haha -
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The 1970s: Recognition in the American Education System
Due to an increased enrollment in 1970s, community colleges started becoming recognized as a major part of the American education system. It is important to see educational trends and meet the need of the general population for how they wish to receive and pay for a formal education. -
Technology-aided Learning
Only two colleges in the country were chosen by the National Science Foundation to be participants in computer-aided instruction pilot programs. PJC was one of them! Looking at how almost everything is computer-based in some way or another, it is cool to say that PJC is was at the forefront of the technology! -
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The 1980s - The 1990s: Enrollment Slows Down
The community college boom slows down to only a 23 percent enrollment growth during this time period versus a 50 percent growth in the 1970s. As stated about the 1970s, it is important to observe how the general population obtains an education and mold the educational system to the current trends and needs of the economy. -
Workforce Training Initiative - Nationwide Commission
Community colleges help build relationships and partnerships with employers by creating available facilities where the students could receive job-specific training. This also begin the movement of offering certificates to students. This allows students to enroll in a curriculum that is shorter than one year and is specific to the job they will be working after the completion of the certificate.
