The history of the American community college—how we came to be—has a particular relevance to where we stand today, facing a world that has been permanently altered by the pandemic.
In 1901, Joliet Community College (IL) was established as the first true “community college” in America. According to Drury (2003) "Several social forces contributed to the development of the community college . . . The most prominent forces behind this movement were the need for workers to be trained to operate the nation's expanding industries . . . and the national drive towards social equality. Society perceived schooling as a means of upward mobility and contributing to society. More schooling was thought to be beneficial to society as a whole."
I’ll digress here for just a moment and share a little “California pride” about the role of our state in developing the community college system. According to Drury, California made significant contributions in the 1930s. He notes that “Principal John W. Habeson of Pasadena Junior College took the initiative to hire full-time guidance counselors, including two full-time deans for guidance. Pasadena also built strong cooperative relationships with businesses. Habeson also established advisory committees, consisting of local businessmen, on vocational needs.” In addition, “William Snyder of Los Angeles Junior College [our own LACC!] instituted surveys of employers to determine business needs for vocational education. . . A. J. Cloud of San Francisco Junior College initiated efforts oriented to other than student interest groups in the community. In fact, it has been suggested that Cloud was the first to coin the term 'community college.' This term ultimately became the descriptor for community colleges.”
Of interest to us today is that community colleges have historically been a center of societal “re-construction,” if you will, after significant national trauma. During the Great Depression era (1929-1939), for example, community college enrollment spiked from 56,000 to 150,000 as out-of-work citizens sought to develop marketable skills. Community colleges played a significant role in the education of returning veterans after World War II, again providing occupational training and preparing veterans to transfer to a baccalaureate institution. When the “baby boom” of the 1960s hit college campuses, community colleges again provided significant access to education for individuals from all levels of society.
What’s the purpose of this history lesson? Community colleges again are facing the impact of national trauma similar to that experienced in the Great Depression and World War II. And, as my short foray into the past clearly shows, community colleges met the challenge and provided the academic programs, the support services, and the “learning community” that was necessary to help propel our society forward.
We have the tradition of excellence in tribulation, of meeting the challenge to provide the education demanded by a society in the process of re-building itself. Let us truly realize our potential as a community of educators to provide the learning environment and the support services that will help our students move beyond the trauma of the pandemic and into productive lives.
We have done it before; we can do it again.