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Early years
in the Early Age the community college were an extension of high school. -
Nation's first Junior College
Joliet community College in Illinois added a fifth and
sixth year of courses to a high school curriculum -
Few Community Colleges
The community college enrollments were low, and the few community colleges
in existence offered general liberal arts programs. -
Arizona’s first community college
Phoenix Junior College (now Phoenix College), was established. -
Great Depression
community colleges began to provide job training programs
as a way to ease widespread unemployment -
Period: to
Job Training
community colleges continue to provide job training programs
as a way to ease widespread unemployment. -
More Community Colleges
baby boomers began reaching college age,
and the number of community colleges and enrollments
soared. Many new public community colleges were built
during the decade. This growth coincided with a large
increase in student enrollment—from about 1 million students
in 1965 to about 2.2 million by 1970. -
Maricopa Community College
Maricopa Community Colleges began as the Maricopa County Junior College District. -
American Education System
The mmunity colleges became a major
part of the American educational system, with enrollments
almost doubling again from 2.2 million in 1970 to 4.3 million
by 1980. The enrollment increase resulted from three factors:
Baby boomers continued to come of age, more parents desired a postsecondary education for their children, and students
sought draft deferment during the Vietnam War. -
Period: to
Gender
A reversal of the gender gap among community
college students emerged in the late 1970s. In
1970, 60 percent of all community college students were men.
By 1980, the enrollment of women had overtaken that of men,
with women accounting for 55 percent of community college
students. Women’s enrollment has exceeded that of men ever
since. During the 1990s, the share of women held steady at
about 57 percent. -
Period: to
Part time Vs full time
From 1970 to
1999, the percentage of all students attending community
college part time rose from 49 percent to 64 percent. Part-time
enrollments in community college rose from about 1.1 million in
1970 to more than 3.4 million in 1999, an increase of more than
200 percent. The growth in full-time enrollment over the same
period was not as dramatic: from more than 1.1 million in 1970
to more than 1.9 million in 1999, an increase of over 70 percent. -
Maricopa Community
We updated our name to “Maricopa Community” to emphasize the general public and to best reflect the constituencies we serve. -
Period: to
Cost of community college
Community colleges are a cost-effective alternative for many
students, especially for those living in rural areas that do not
have access to a 4-year institution.
Average annual tuition and fees at in State during the academic year
of 1976-77 totaled $283 in current dollars. By 2000-01, that
total was $1,359, increase of 380 percent. During the same
period, however, average annual tuition and fees at public 4-
year colleges for students living rose from $617 to
$3,506, increase of 468 percent. -
South Mountain Community College
South Mountain Community College was created by the Maricopa County Community College District Governing Board on April 16, 1978. Its service area includes the majority of South Phoenix, centered around the Baseline Road corridor, and bordered by the Salt River on the north, Laveen on the west, Tempe on the east, and the Gila River Indian Community and county border on the south. -
The Community Colleges Booming
The community college boom slowed in the latter part of
the century, with enrollment growing only 23 percent between
1980 and 1999. Total enrollments were about 5.3 million in
1999 -
Employer partnerships and vocational training
the Nationwide Commission on the Future of Community
Colleges recommended that these colleges help build
communities by creating partnerships with employers and
making facilities available for workforce training.
Customized courses provide job-specific skill training or
remedial training and are delivered to employers onsite. -
Period: to
Certificates and degrees awarded
Associate degrees prepare students on both
vocational and academic tracks; chart 2 shows the 15 most
popular fields of study for which community colleges
conferred associate degrees in 1999-2000.
The growth of certificate programs is an important trend,
even though the number of certificates earned remains smaller
than the number of associate degrees conferred. Most certificates
involve specific, work-related training
the number of short-term certificates awarded
is 85,941, -
Community College Enrollment
As of the 2000-01 academic year, there were 1,076
community colleges. -
Gateway to a bachelor's degree
Historically, community colleges have provided a gateway to
opportunity for many young people who otherwise would
have been denied access to higher education. These community
colleges offer associate degrees that may serve as a lowcost
platform from which students might then pursue traditional
academic programs in baccalaureate colleges and
universities. -
Employer partnerships and vocational training
the community colleges supply vocational training programs that
terminate in certificates, coursework leading to associate
degrees, remedial educational services, and customized, or
“contract,” courses designed to meet the needs of local employers.
Customized courses provide job-specific skill training or
remedial training and are delivered to employers onsite. -
Future Challenge
A constant for community colleges has been their ability to
quickly adapt to demands of the times. Today, technology is a
factor affecting most of the demographic, economic, and
academic challenges that community colleges face. Innovations
in the workplace have forced employees to upgrade their
skills or seek advanced training. New entrants to the labor
force also have an increasing need to add to their skills
through postsecondary instruction.
