1967
Camden County College was founded in 1967, following a 1962 state law that enabled the establishment of community colleges, voter approval of the College's creation in 1965 and the appointment of its first trustee board in 1966. Early in the year, the Salvatorian Fathers offered to sell
Mother of the Savior Seminary in Blackwood and the 320-acre tract
of land surrounding it for the campus.
In March, Otto R. Mauke was selected as the institution's first
president.
In June, the sale of the campus was concluded and the
president and his administrative staff moved into what is now
Washington Hall. Wilson West housed the library, business office
and deans' offices. The cafeteria was located in Wilson Center,
and the gym and the auditorium were in Lincoln Hall. Jefferson
and Wilson East were classroom buildings. Other original buildings
included Roosevelt Hall and the president's house, Holly Run Manor.
Farmland surrounded all of the buildings, and the only campus
parking was in front of Wilson Hall.
Classes began on September 25 with 455 full-time and nine part-time
students. Associate in arts and associate in science degrees were
offered. Career programs included accounting, business administration,
marketing, secretarial science, electro-electronic technology
and mechanical engineering technology, and transfer programs were
available in liberal arts, liberal arts-science option and engineering
science.
1968
By 1968, campus renovations had allowed the Office of the President
and other administrative offices to relocate to Roosevelt Hall.
A total of 100 additional students had been drawn to CCC through
the "100 Go to College" program, which selected high
school dropouts who showed great potential for college success
and offered them the courses that would prepare them to take high
school equivalency tests and the opportunity to enroll full-time
at the College.
1969
The college's presence in Camden began in the spring with an evening
program that was offered to 20 students who had completed 10th
grade but not graduated from high school. The intention was to
help students pass their General Educational Development Test
so that they could begin full-time study on the Blackwood Campus
that fall.
In April, the trustees and the Camden County College Faculty Association
announced that they had reached an agreement on their first negotiated
contract, which included a salary range of $7,400 for a first-year
instructor with no experience to $17,600 for a full professor
with 25 years of experience or related activities. It was the
first contract negotiated between college faculty and trustees
in the state.
In June, the first Camden County College commencement was held
for 172 recipients of degrees and 50 recipients of completion
certificates for the "100 Go to College" program. The
keynote address was provided by William Walsh Hagerty, president
of what was then Drexel Institute of Technology. Joining him on
the platform were Student Government Association President William
Wilhelm and Class of 1969 President Edward Pascht.
1970
A $9 million building program led to the construction of Adams
Hall, which housed the college bookstore and the college computer
center. Toward the end of the year, construction had begun on
five new buildings: Madison Hall, Taft Hall, Wolverton Learning
Resources Center, the College Community Center and a powerhouse.
In the fall, off-campus courses began being offered in the evening
at Pennsauken High School and on Carman Street in Camden.
1971
By 1971, associate's degrees had been added in animal science
technology, dental hygiene, electro-mechanical engineering technology,
electronic data processing, laboratory technology, human services,
human services-teacher's aide, law enforcement and administration,
liberal arts-theater arts and ophthalmic science.
1972
Four new buildings opened on the Blackwood Campus: the College
Community Center, Madison Hall, Taft Hall and Wolverton Learning
Resources Center. Future expansion would include Papiano Gymnasium
and Truman Hall.
A bilingual program that taught students in both Spanish and English
was begun in Camden.
1973
The fall semester marked the opening of the Camden City Extension
Center at 319 Cooper St.
1974
A new program was the Camden County College/United States Army
Cooperative Program, which allowed students the opportunity to
enter college and military service at the same time. Also new
was a major in dental assisting.
During the year, 21 students entered the dental assisting program
under the direction of dentist William Copperthwaite.
1975
Plans were announced to offer a nursing program in cooperation
with Cooper Hospital beginning in September.
1976
By this year, programs of study in dietetic technology and hearing
sciences had been implemented.
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The Second Decade
1977
A
major in laser electro-optic technology was implemented during
the fall.
Campus entertainment included concerts by Robert Palmer and the
House of Assembly as well as the Fool's Gold Coffee House Artist
Showcase.
1978
The Camden City Extension Center moved to Seventh and Cooper streets.
Weekend courses were introduced during the fall semester, and
a career certificate in computer programming could be earned by
attending classes on Saturdays and Sundays only.
1980
Approved were cooperative programs in nursing with Helene
Fuld School of Nursing in Camden County and Our Lady of Lourdes
School of Nursing. Each would allow enrollees to earn associate's
degrees from the college and nursing diplomas from one of the
nursing schools.
1984
The study of robotics was introduced as an option to the electro-mechanical
technology major.
In the fall, New Jersey voters approved a $90 million state science
jobs bond that included financing for the Computer Integrated
Manufacturing Center.
1985
In January, The Art Gallery at Camden County College opened in
the College Community Center with an exhibition of paintings and
ceramics created by students and alumni.
1986
During the fall, the Computer Integrated Manufacturing Technology
Program was introduced. Courses were offered in Truman Hall pending
the construction of the $4.3 million Danch CIM Center, which was
made possible by a consortium of CCC and Atlantic Community College,
Burlington County College, Cumberland County College, Gloucester
County College, the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Salem
Community College.
In
the fall, Coach Barbara Keck's field hockey team captured the
Region 19 title and qualified for the National Junior College
Athletic Association tournament.
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The Third Decade
1987
In
May, Robert W. Ramsay was inaugurated as the second president
of Camden County College during a ceremony held at commencement.
The College celebrated its 20th anniversary with the planting
of 20 trees, a special student art show, a special choir concert
and the opening of the 40,000-square-foot Danch CIM Center.
1988
In May, the Camden County College Board of Trustees named the
campus dental clinic after its founding director, the late William
H. Copperthwaite, who had led the college's dental programs for
17 years.
During the summer, a day camp run by the Mid-Atlantic PostSecondary
Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing debuted for children with
hearing loss and a center offering vocational training to deaf
students opened.
In September, the first class of recruits graduated from the Camden
County Police Academy on the Blackwood Campus.
1989
The Camden County College Child Care Center opened with a full
pre-school program for children aged 2½ through 5 and an
after-school program for children aged 6 through 11.
In the fall, health and fitness technology was introduced as a
major.
Future soap opera ("All My Children"), sitcom ("Hope
& Faith"), morning talk show ("Live with Regis and
Kelly") and commercial (Pantene, Cooper Hospital, Electrolux
Appliances) star Kelly Ripa enrolled for fall classes.
1990
During the spring, construction on the new Camden City Extension
Center building - which would house Glassboro State College courses
as well - was begun.
In September, the 10,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Laser Institute
of Technology for Education and Research (LITER) was opened as
the first classroom building devoted to laser and fiber-optic
teaching and research on a community college campus.
1991
In July, the Camden City Extension Center moved into a new five-story,
50,000-square-foot building at Broadway and Cooper Street. The
facility housed classrooms, a science laboratory, a child care
center, computer rooms, an art room and offices for student services
and administrators.
In September, the Criminal Justice Studies Center opened on the
Blackwood Campus with classrooms and offices for both the college's
law enforcement studies and a new home for the Camden County Police
Academy.
1992
The New Jersey Board of Higher Education approved the licensure
of the Camden City Extension Center as a branch campus.
In June, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the Helene Fuld
School of Nursing in Camden County's new building on the Blackwood
Campus.
In October, as part of the 25th anniversary celebration, a Silver
Anniversary College Convocation was conducted. Activities included
the honoring of charter faculty and staff members who were still
working at CCC.
1993
In September, Phyllis Della Vecchia began her tenure as Camden County College's
third president. Her selection followed a comprehensive nationwide search.
1996
In April, the Camden County College Visa affinity card was introduced
as a fund-raising mechanism for the library through the Camden
County College Foundation.
The Teaching and Learning Center was launched in September to
assist faculty in providing students with the most effective classroom
experiences possible.
In October, the CIM Center South or "S" addition to
the Danch Computer Integrated Manufacturing Center was opened
to enhance growing academic programs in computer
education. Also that month, the Blackwood Campus Library celebrated
its connection to the countywide CamNet database system.
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The Fourth Decade
1997
In
May, the William G. Rohrer Charitable Foundation made a gift of
$1 million to help fund the construction of the William G. Rohrer
Center - a satellite location for the College - in Cherry Hill.
The Camden County College Web site was launched as one of the
first Internet presences by an institution of higher education
in New Jersey.
Throughout the year, the College celebrated its 30th anniversary.
1998
In April, items such as a CCC college catalog, a playlist from
the campus radio station, a pager and a set of acrylic fingernails
were buried in a time capsule on the Blackwood Campus as part
of the ongoing 30th anniversary celebration. The capsule was set
to be opened in 2022.
1999
A signing ceremony was held in September with Temple University
to celebrate its new core-to-core transfer agreement with the
College.
In October, the Hanna Memorial Music Collection of compact discs
was established at the Blackwood Campus Library in remembrance
of longtime cataloguing librarian Marian Hanna by her children.
2000
A state-of-the-art Photography Center was opened in Lincoln Hall
in February. Modeled on top commercial and university laboratories,
the facility was constructed as a suite with darkroom, washout,
studio, classroom and storage spaces.
In April, the William G. Rohrer Center was dedicated in Cherry
Hill as the College's third campus location. The technology-rich
site, which was named for the longtime mayor of Haddon Township,
was conceived as the headquarters for CCC's business and industry
training as well as a location for area residents to take traditional
academic courses.
The College announced in October that it had acquired a city block
of land adjacent to the existing Camden City Campus building and
would be constructing a second campus building there.
In November, a newly refurbished food court was opened inside
the College Community Center and the campus Cougar Card was introduced.
2001
In April, Camden County College became the region's first institution
to mark the 100th anniversary of community colleges in the United
States when President Phyllis Della Vecchia received a plaque
depicting the pre-stamped U.S. Postal Service envelope that commemorated
the national anniversary.
CCC ranked among the nation's top 50 community colleges in terms
of associate's degree completion in education (19th), criminal
justice/corrections (27th), protective services (33rd) and health
professions/related sciences (43rd). CCC also ranked 98th in number
of degrees awarded to non-minority students.
In
the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the college
responded with a series of public forums on related topics. In
addition, the annual fall dance recital served as a 9/11 fund-raiser
for the Red Cross.
By the end of the year, technical training for the installation
of high-speed Internet service was developed by the College for
Comcast Corp. employees in New Jersey and later adopted by the
company for nationwide implementation.
2002
In May, the 34th annual commencement was the first to feature
a live Webcast of the ceremony that was made possible by the Camden
County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
In October, Gov. James E. McGreevey and numerous other state and
local officials gathered in Camden for a ceremonial groundbreaking
for the Camden Technology Center.
CCC ranked among the nation's top 50 community colleges in terms
of associate's degree completion in education (19th), nursing
(31st) and health sciences (33rd). CCC also ranked 80th in number
of degrees awarded to African-American students and 105th in number
of degrees awarded to all minorities.
Online payment was made available for the first time for registering
students.
In December, country singer Kenny Rogers made beautiful music
with the Camden County College Choir when he invited the ensemble
to serve as backing vocalists for his holiday show at Camden's
Tweeter Center.
2003
Television actress and host Kelly Ripa endorsed the college's
first Alumni Annual Fund campaign in March. A note from the former
CCC student appeared in solicitations mailed throughout the nation.
In May, the 35th annual commencement was the first conducted
"under the bigtop" of a massive event tent.
CCC ranked 10th nationwide in terms of associate's degree completion
in education. CCC also ranked among the nation's top 50 community
colleges in nursing (25th), health sciences (30th) and criminal
justice (48th).
In September, a rededication ceremony for the Blackwood Campus
Library was held. The event followed a $4.4 million renovation
that included a complete redesign, extensive technological upgrades
and structural improvements.
The University District Bookstore opened at the Camden
Technology Center in October. It was the first new commercial
venture completed in the city under the Camden Rehabilitation
and Economic Recovery Act.
New academic programs included an associate's degree in video
game design and development, which was the first offered anywhere
in the nation by a two- or four-year institution of higher
education. Also new was a certificate program in music recording
technology.
CCC was identified as one of the fastest-growing two-year institutions
of higher education in the United States, ranking 34th among schools
with 10,000 or more students.
2004
CCC ranked sixth nationwide in terms of associate's degree completion
in education. CCC also ranked among the nation's top community
colleges in communication technologies/technicians and support
services (35th) and in degrees earned by black students (81st)
and non-minority students (93rd).
In September, Gov. James McGreevey helped dedicate the $19.6 million
Camden Technology Center on the Camden City Campus. The facility
was one of the first new construction projects to be completed
under the Camden Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act that
he had signed in 2002.
New offerings included sport management programs in both the credit
and non-credit areas.
CCC was again identified as one of the fastest-growing two-year
institutions of higher education in the United States, ranking
23rd among schools with 10,000 or more students.
During the fall, the Blackwood Campus library hosted a national
touring exhibit on Frankenstein. Activities surrounding the display
included a lecture series and the awarding of the annual Franky
Award by a regional Frankenstein aficionado.
2005
An $83 million Blackwood Campus transformation project was announced
by the College and the Camden County Freeholders in May. A groundbreaking
ceremony for the first component of that plan - the Madison Connector
Building and a refurbishment of Madison Hall - was held in October.
At the end of the 2004-05 term, the college learned that it had
led the state in enrollments in two key programs. More New Jersey
Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) students
and more New Jersey high-schoolers participating in High School
Plus classes had registered at Camden County College than any
other institution of higher education in the state.
In
May, U.S. Sen. Jon S. Corzine delivered the commencement address
to the Class of 2005.
In August, a rededication ceremony was held as the College Community
Center reopened following an extensive refurbishment necessitated
by a cafeteria fire that had struck in 2003.
CCC ranked 84th nationwide in terms of overall associate's degree
completion as well as sixth in education, 44th in criminal justice
and 75th in number of associate's degrees earned by black students.
The devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in August prompted
some New Jersey students who were enrolled at colleges in Louisiana
to seek temporary enrollment at Camden County College. In addition,
students, faculty, staff and administrators banded together to
collect nearly 400 new backpacks filled with school supplies and
other useful items for youngsters displaced by the storm.
2006
For the fall semester, a plan was developed by College and bookstore
administrators to save students money on textbooks. Among the
plan's components were selling more used books and the offering
of electronic books or "e-books" at less expensive costs
than new books.
In October, a "topping off" ceremony was conducted for
the Madison Connector Building. Taking place on the Blackwood
Campus construction site, the event was the first of its kind
to be conducted at CCC.
New courses were offered on the non-credit side for motorcycle
safety training and on the credit side for bachelor's degree studies
offered through the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
CCC ranked 92nd nationwide in terms of overall associate's degree
completion as well as seventh in education, 40th in nursing and
49th in criminal justice. Other rankings included 71st in number
of associate's degrees earned by black students as well as 75th
in number of associate's degrees earned by non-minority students.
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The Fifth Decade
2007
Throughout the year, the College celebrated its 40th anniversary.
The observance began by marking the 40th anniversary of the naming
of Otto Mauke as the institution's founding president. It continued
with a public call to all former students to register their names
on the new Alumni Wall of Fame and donate or loan items for an
exhibit of memorabilia in the Blackwood Campus Library.
In February, Raymond Yannuzzi was named as the fourth president
of Camden County College.
In April, the Camden Conference Center opened inside the Camden
Technology Center on the Camden City Campus. The technology-rich
facility, which was created to host public and private functions
of all types, was constructed with a $2.4 million grant that the
College received from the New Jersey Department of Commerce.
In May, Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown and former
Philadelphia Flyers goalie Bernie Parent played in the College
Classic at Pine Hill. The annual Camden County College Foundation
golf tournament raised money toward academic enhancements and
student scholarships.
Assemblywoman
Pamela R. Lampitt delivered the keynote address during the 39th
annual commencement in May. Degrees and certificates were conferred
upon the 1,224-member Class of 2007.
New academic offerings included a practical nursing career certificate
program and a college prep partnership for students from Gloucester
City.
Classes
for the 2007-08 term began on September 4 for 14,741 credit students.
CCC ranked 83rd nationwide in terms of overall associate's degree
completion as well as fifth in education, 34th in nursing, 36th
in criminal justice and 45th in security/protective services.
Other rankings included 69th in number of associate's degrees
earned by non-minority students as well as 75th in number of associate's
degrees earned by black students.
In
September, the college's William G. Rohrer Center hosted the signing
of the New Jersey Statewide Transfer Agreement by Gov. Jon S.
Corzine. The unprecedented legislation was created by Camden County
Assemblywoman Pamela R. Lampitt to promote the seamless transfer
of New Jersey community college associate's degree graduates into
baccalaureate programs at four-year colleges and universities
throughout the state.
A
formal inauguration ceremony was conducted for President Raymond
Yannuzzi in November. Occurring in conjunction with that event
was a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Connector Building, which
was the first to be completed under the Blackwood Campus revitalization
plan announced two years earlier.
Soccer
forward Julia Weisel received Division III first-team All-America
honors from the National Junior College Athletic Association for
her performance during the 2007 season. She also earned first-team
All-Region XIX honors and was voted the second-ranked Division
III player by the Region XIX coaches.
2008
The institution's 40th anniversary celebration continued with
"Happy Together for 40 Years: CCC and You," a reception
and concert featuring the Turtles and the Grass Roots, in January.
The Camden County College Foundation event was held at the Grand
Ballroom and Scottish Rite Auditorium in Collingswood.
In
January, the eyes of the world focused on the Blackwood Campus
as former U.S. President Bill Clinton spoke as part of a rally
for wife Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign for the Democratic
presidential nomination. It was CCC's first-ever visit by an American
president.
Basketball
guard Ashley Baker received Division III first-team All-America
honors from the National Junior College Athletic Association for
her performance during the 2007-08 season. She also earned first-team
All-Region XIX honors and was voted the top Division III player
by the Region XIX coaches.
U.S.
Rep. Robert E. Andrews delivered the keynote address to the 1,461-member
Class of 2008 during the 40th annual commencement in May. As part
of the ceremony, Class of 1973 member Eugene J. Toni - who was
the first person ever to write to the college about admission
in 1967 - received the college's first Outstanding Alumnus Award.
CCC
ranked 88th nationwide in terms of overall associate's degree
completion as well as fourth in education, 23rd in communications
technologies/technicians and support services, 38th in criminal
justice and 46th in nursing. Other rankings included 71st in associate's
degrees earned by non-minority students and 95th in associate's
degrees earned by black students.
Classes
for the 2008-09 term began on September 2 for 14,936 credit students.
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