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History of Community Colleges and Houston Community College

Community Colleges Nationally

The demands of a changing society, from the pressures of industrialization in the 19th

Century to World Wars and economic challenges in the first half of the 20th

Century,created a need for higher education that was formulated to meet the needs of thatchanging society. In its conception, the American community college was designed forthat purpose. Community colleges grew out of the need to train a growing andincreasingly diversified workforce, to provide a low-cost education that is geographicallyconvenient, and to be accessible to all adults in a community.

Industrial innovations at the end of the 19th Century, such as mass-production,mechanization, and faster modes of transportation and communication, drove ruralAmericans and an influx of immigrants into the cities to find opportunities in theburgeoning urban industries. These new industries opened up jobs, but those jobs

required training. Many secondary schools or religious-affiliated institutions began tooffer post-secondary, academic and vocational courses. Joliet Junior College, founded in1901 in Illinois, is the first recognized community college in the U.S.

As the new century progressed, there was a shift in educational philosophy. Universitypresidents viewed scientific inquiry and the devotion to the advancement of knowledge asupper-level university endeavors, while developmental and introductory courses to thearts and sciences should be handled within the first two years of a baccalaureateprogram.1 Educators felt that high schools or small liberal arts colleges should fulfillthose educational roles. This vision for higher education and the pragmatic demands onAmericas workforce presented by foreign conflicts and economic crises became the

foundation upon which community colleges were built.

The first stage of initial community college development occurred between 1900 and1920, with the first period of significant growth in new institutions in the second half ofthat time period.

In 1921 the American Association of Junior Colleges was formed to provide a forum forthe new institutions. The second stage of community college development, 1920 to 1945,was ushered in by the Smith-Hughes Act of 1917. This law provided for federal supportof vocational education below the four-year university level. The importance of thisbecame painfully apparent during the economic depression of the 1930s. Community

colleges became an important resource in the development and training for occupationalprograms. The third stage for Americas community colleges came after World War IIwhen competition for jobs reached a peak as servicemen returned to civilian life.

1 Educational Encyclopedia, StateUniversity.com, Net Industries, 2008, Community Colleges - The Historyof Community Colleges, The junior college and the research university., The Community College Mission,, accessed 2/7/2008.

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Although community colleges had always been in tune with their communities needs,the post-World War II environment emphasized a shift from academic-centered tocommunity service-centered programs on the community college level. Communitycolleges enjoyed another growth spurt throughout the 1950s. The prosperity of the postWorld War II years eventually gave way to a conservative population base that weighed

the advantages of new school startups against the burden of added taxation. In the 1960s,the number of new community colleges began to slow down. It is that burden of taxationthat presented the most difficulty for the Houston Independent School Districts steeringcommittee for a public junior college for Houston.

Houston Community College

In light of Houstons growing population and booming economy requiring an educatedworkforce, leaders from thirteen Harris County school districts conducted a study in 1968to determine the need for an area community or junior college. The need to provideaccessible and affordable higher-education and vocational training to an underserviced,

college-aged population was obvious. Harris County voters, however, voted againstcreating a community college district, as well as a 65 cent tax and $75 million bond.

Community leaders and educators stepped back and regrouped. They understood that asthe population of the Greater Houston area grew more diverse, the job market wasequally diversifying. Because of Houstons pivotal role in the booming oil and gasindustry, the city was becoming a major economic force. The expanding businessinterests in southeast Texas required a workforce that had adequate training andeducation. Knowing the growing needs of the population and the county, HarrisCountys public school leaders tried again in 1971 and on May 18 the HoustonCommunity College System, as a component of the Houston Independent School District,

was official. As a component of HISD, HCC used HISD facilities for evening classes.The new community college relied upon only tuition and state-designated monies foroperation expenses, and therefore did not put any burden on Harris County taxpayers.2

Dr. Joseph Champagne and HISDs Superintendent for Vocational Education, J.B.Whiteley, were instrumental in the effort to establish a community college for HarrisCounty. Dr. Champagne was chosen as HCCs first president from 1971 to 1973. J. DonBoney was HCCs second president. J. B. Whiteley headed the community college as itsthird president from 1975 to 1990.

Because of Mr. Whiteleys understanding for the Houston areas need for vocational

training, the community colleges first offerings were occupational and technical classesat the Houston Technical Institute (housed in HISDs San Jacinto High School onHolman). Five thousand, seven hundred and eleven students registered for those classesin August of 1971. The following January, HCC offered its first academic or universityparallel courses at six area high schools.

2 Marilynn Back Liddell,Historical Documentary of Socio-Political and Socio-Economic Factors inCreating Houston Community College (1967-1971), A doctoral dissertation presented to the graduatefaculty of the College of Education, University of Houston, December, 1982.

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In 1974 HCC housed administration offices in a building in southwest Houston, andconducted classes at eight HISD campuses and the Houston Technical Institute. By1976, a total of 28,093 students were enrolled in HCC classes for the academic year.

HCC received accreditation from the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges in1977, and the accreditation was extended for another 10 years in 1982.

In 1978 HCC and HISD built a facility in the Texas Medical Center for health careprograms. HISD transferred the Houston Technical Institute (the old San Jacinto HighSchool) to HCC. In 1980 the San Jacinto High School building received a $5 millionrenovation.

Throughout the 1980s, enrollment in HCCs career or job-related educational programsincreased. By 1985 over 112 vocational and technical programs were offered. In 1986,32,943 students were attending HCC classes.

May 30, 1987, the Texas governor approved a bill to establish an HCC Board of Trustees,separate from HISD. Initially appointed by the HISD Board, HCCs trustees afterwardswere elected public officials. Also passed at this time was a bill to allow HCC to collect atax equal to its share of the HISD tax.

In 1988 enrollment was up to 48,554. The same year, the college annexed the StaffordSchool District in Fort Bend County and increased its instructional sites to 37. HCCofficially separated from HISD with its own elected Board of Trustees and taxingauthority in 1989.

HCC named Dr. Charles Green its fourth president in 1990. HCC restructured in 1991,created five regional colleges and the College Without Walls, and selected presidents foreach. The president of HCC then became the HCC System Chancellor.

In 1996 Dr. Ruth Burgoss-Sasser became HCCs fifth leader, Chancellor of HoustonCommunity College. She was the first female Hispanic to head a major Houstoninstitution of higher learning.

Dr. Bruce Leslie was named HCCs sixth Chancellor in 2001.

A first-of-a-kind partnership between the city of Stafford and HCC spearheaded theconstruction of a new building for the Southwest College in 1995, and culminated withan entire campus in 1998. By 1998, HCC was the nations tenth largest, singularlyaccredited, higher educational institution with 50,898 students enrolled.

In 1999 the new Northeast College campus, the West Loop Center, and the John B.Coleman Building for Health Sciences opened. The Coleman building became theColeman College for Health Sciences in 2004, replacing the College Without Walls.

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HCC was ranked the second largest community college in the nation in 2001 byCommunity College Week. With the passage of a $150.8 million bond in 2003, HCCbegan a Capital Improvement Plan that promises continued growth.

In 2004 HCC was considered among the top community colleges bridging the digital

divide. Enrollment had reached 55, 090, and the college received theAchieving theDream Grant to increase the success of underserved students.

Dr. Mary Spangler joined HCC as the colleges seventh chancellor in March, 2007.

From occupying HISD classrooms in the evening to six full-service colleges, HCCcontinues to grow. Today HCC serves an area that spans 623 square miles and has 22instructional sites throughout the area. Enrollment for the Fall 2009 passed 65,000. In2008 facilities in Missouri City, the new Northline Campus and the Alief Campusopened. New facilities at Central, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest Colleges opened in2009. A Learning Hub will become a centralizing and standardizing building for student

and community use at each of these colleges.

In 2008 the Alief Community voted four to one for annexation into the HCC District. In2009 North Forest residents voted to join the HCC District. For Alief and North Forest,this means 50 percent reduction in tuition costs to students to attend classes at HCC, andmore jobs will be created for the community. In the Spring of 2010, HCC exceeded the72,000 student enrollment mark, the largest enrollment in the history of the college.

Houston Community Colleges success illustrates its dedication to the initiativesoriginally set forth for the college. Although the Official Statement of Purpose haschanged its wording over the last three decades, HCCs purpose has remained steady.HCC provides academic courses for transfer to four-year institutions, terminal degreesand certificates in more than 70 fields of work, continuing education and corporatetraining, lifelong learning and enrichment programs, and the largest adult educationprogram in Texas. Twenty-six of HCCs workforce programs have been rated exemplaryby the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Houston Community Colleges goal is to make sure everyone in and around Houston hasthe opportunity to realize, not only their own potential, but Houstons potential.

Works Cited

Educational Encyclopedia,StateUniversity.com, Net Industries, 2008. CommunityColleges - The History of Community Colleges, The junior college and the

research university., The Community College Mission, accessed 2/7/2008..

Liddell, Marilynn Back.Historical Documentary of Socio-Political and Socio-EconomicFactors in Creating Houston Community College (1967-1971). An unpublisheddoctoral dissertation presented to the graduate faculty of the College of Education,

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University of Houston, December, 1982.

Houston Community College, 35th Anniversary. Commemorative pamphlet. Houston,Texas: Houston Community College, 2006.

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