Junior to Community to Comprehensive

Abstract

This chapter examines the three-stage development of today's community colleges through the lens of three community colleges that were founded during each stage of the community-college movement. Established in 1933 during the Great Depression, Union County Junior College would follow a unique pathway in the era of junior colleges. Union overcame a number of challenges in its progress toward becoming a community college. The next is Danville Area Community College, which was founded in 1946. Through the vision of its founding president, Danville epitomized the expanded mission that the Truman Commission identifies in its landmark 1947 report that coins the term, “community college.” As for the third stage in the community-college movement, the chapter examines the founding of Brookdale Community College in 1969. Born during an era of innovation, Brookdale embodied the expanded mission of a comprehensive community college.