Welcome to MCC's timeline. The timeline begins with the establishment of the college and presents significant moments and milestones in MCC's history.
1960s
Monroe Community College is Established
Sept. 1, 1960
The Monroe County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed resolution no. 246 sponsoring and establishing a community college in Monroe County.
First Board of Trustees is Appointed
Mar. 1, 1961
The Monroe County Board of Supervisors passed a number of resolutions during 1961 which included:
• Appointing board of trustee members
• Selecting “Old East High School” as the college's home
• Designating the college as Monroe Community College
• Funding the college
On July 15, 1961, Governor Nelson Rockefeller appointed four members to the board of trustees: Marion B. Folsom, Dr. Wilbour Eddy Saunders, Alice Young, and Vincent S. Jones.
First Meeting of the Board of Trustees
July 27, 1961
Dr. Samuel J. Stabins was unanimously elected as chairman of the board at the first meeting of the board of trustees, which was held at the Rochester Club.
Points of discussion included:
• A committee needed to be formed to select a location for the college
• The college's opening date would be on, or, after September 1, 1962.
LeRoy V. Good, MCC's Founding President
Jan. 2, 1962
Appointed president by MCC's board of trustees, Dr. Good's inauguration took place on Sept. 17, 1962 at the Alexander Street Campus. He would serve as college president until his death on Sept. 14, 1972.
Accomplishments include:
• Opening the Alexander Street Campus (1962)
• Middle States accreditation (1965)
• Establishing the Brighton Campus (1968)
• 4 Transfer Programs
• 21 Career Programs
• Increasing enrollment to 5,200 Day and 3,700 Evening Session Students
MCC Opens with 720 Students
Sep. 19, 1962
The first day of classes took place on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 1962 at the Alexander Street Campus in Rochester, NY with an enrollment of 720 students.
Dec. 10, 1962
Judy Lee's winning design was selected by the board of trustees on Dec. 10, 1962.
Read more about the selection of the college's seal on page 3 of the December 10, 1962 issue of the Monroe Doctrine.
Monroe Doctrine Publishes First Issue
Jan. 2, 1963
Headlines included:
• Student Donors Boost Red Cross Campaign
• SA Elects Senators
• Views, Goals Given by College President
• Tests Rate Class High
• SA Role Vital, Dean Declares
• MCC Appoints Career Dean
• A College is Born
College Mascot and Motto
Jan. 14, 1964
The college’s mascot and motto were selected by a vote of the student body and announced on Jan. 1, 1964.
Mascot: the Tribune
Motto: Potestas et Firmitas Animi translates as “Opportunity and Determination”
June 12, 1964
Eighty two graduates received an Associate in Liberal Arts degree at the first commencement held on June 12, 1964 at the Masonic Temple Auditorium.
Recall, MCC's Student Yearbook is Published
Sep. 1964
Recall’s Inaugural Edition:
•Editors: Patricia Best & John Levato
•Faculty Advisor: Barbara Lewick
•Cover Colors: Black & Gold
•Theme: “the passing of time like sands through an hour glass”
•Cost: $4 for full-time students, $5 for part-time students
Recall was published annually between 1964 and 1971.
MCC's Ground Breaking Ceremony for the New Brighton Campus
June 11, 1965
MCC's Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Samuel J. Stabins, M.D., welcomed guests to the ground breaking ceremony for the college's new $22 million campus in Brighton.
Above, is a conceptual drawing of the entrance to Building #1. Similar drawings were handed out as souvenirs to guests attending the ceremony.
June 29, 1965
MCC received accreditation within three years of the college opening. President Good, seated, poses for a photo with the visiting accreditation team earlier in March.
Nov. 20, 1965
Coach Joseph Mancarella led the Tribunes to a 2-1 win over Mitchell College at the National Junior College Athletic Association Championship Tournament.
Season Highlights:
• 14-0 Season Record
• Regional Champions
• NJCAA Champions
• Six players chosen for the All-American Team
Cabbages & Kings
First issue of MCC's literary art magazine is published.
May 19, 1966
The title is taken from a line in Lewis Carroll's poem "The Walrus and the Carpenter", which appeared in his novel, Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There (1872). Over the years, Cabbages & Kings has received numerous awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.
MCC's Brighton Campus Opens
June 1968
MCC moves to its permanent home at 1000 E. Henrietta Road in the town of Brighton. First classes were offered at the new campus in June 1968. In September 1968, MCC would have an enrollment of 4200 day and 2500 evening students.
1968
Enjoy a performance of the Alma Mater by MCC's Concert Chorus at the 2010 inauguration of President Kress.
1970s
Sep 14, 1972
The MCC community mourned the death of our founding president, Dr. Good, who passed away shortly after having surgery.
Inauguration of Dr. Moses S. Koch, MCC's 2nd President
May 2, 1974
Dr. Koch served as MCC’s president from September 1973 to March 1981.
Accomplishments include:
• Promoted Affirmative Action Programs
• Expanded Academic Governance
• Improved Community Relations
• Increased Student Enrollment from 8,500 to 11,000
Dr. Koch passed away at the age of 75 on Oct. 21, 1993, in Towson, MD.
First Annual Academic Convocation
Jun 8, 1977
At the first annual Academic Convocation, 42 recipients received MCC's highest academic award, the Medallion of Academic Achievement.
The successful candidates had a minimum G.P.A. of 3.85, and were nominated for the award by their professors, with the total number of recipients being limited to 1% of the graduating class.
To read more about the first Academic Convocation, please click on the link.
1980s
20,000th Graduate Receives Diploma
Jun 10, 1981
On Wednesday, June 10, 1981, the 20,000th MCC graduate crossed the stage at the 18th Annual Commencement Ceremony, which was held at the Dome Arena.
Dr. Peter A. Spina is Appointed MCC's 3rd President
Jan 1, 1982
Dr. Spina served as MCC's president from Jan. 1, 1982 through Aug. 31, 1999.
Accomplishments include:
• MCC Foundation (1983)
• 2+2 Dual Admission Degree Programs (1985)
• Child Care Center (1991)
• Damon City Campus (1992)
• Online Classes (1997)
NJCAA Women’s Soccer Champions
Nov 6, 1982
The MCC women's soccer team defeated SUNY Morrisville 2-1, to become the first ever champions in NJCAA women's soccer.
The women's soccer team would repeat as NJCAA champions in 1985, 1986, 1989, 1995, 2001, and Division I champions in 2004 and 2005.
1990s
Child Care Center Breaks Ground
Oct 9, 1990
Chairman Richard Guon (center) and President Peter Spina (center right) supervise several little helpers during the ground breaking ceremony at the site of the Brighton Campus' new child care center. The child care center opened its doors on May 28, 1991.
On June 24, 2010, the center was renamed the Richard M. Guon Child Care Center in memory of Chairman Guon's many contributions to MCC and its students.
Between 1991 and 2010 the center had provided care for almost 2,000 children.
Damon City Campus Opens in Rochester, NY
Jan 21, 1992
The Damon City Campus opened in the former Sibley's building at 228 East Main Street.
Named for trustee E. Kent Damon, the downtown campus would become home to a number of academic programs including:
• Law/Criminal Justice
• Education
• Human Services
The Applied Technologies Center Opens
Jan 13, 1997
The center opened with over 950 students studying automotive technology, HVAC, and tooling and machining.
In 2012, MCC was selected to receive a $14.6 million federal grant to lead a group of SUNY community colleges in developing training programs in advanced manufacturing.
2000s
Inauguration of R. Thomas Flynn, MCC's 4th President
Oct 28, 2000
President Flynn would serve as college president from 2000-2008. He was appointed by the board of trustees on February 9, 2000 and served until his retirement in 2008.
Accomplishments include:
• Added 12 Associates programs
• Enrollment increased 21 percent
• Established an Office of Online Learning
• Public Safety Training Facility Opens (2002)
• Alice Young Commons (2003)
• Homeland Security Management Institute (2003)
• Louis S. and Molly B. Wolk Center for Excellence in Nursing (2007)
NJCAA Women’s Basketball Champions, Division II
Mar 24, 2001
The women's basketball team defeated Frederick Community College (MD) 69-41 to win the 2001 NJCAA Division II championship tournament held in Hagerstown, MD.
The team would repeat as Division II champions in 2004 and 2005, and as Division I champions in 2006.
Public Safety Training Facility Opens
Jul 2001
The Public Safety Training Facility moved to its 17 acre campus at 1190 Scottsville Road in July 2001. In collaboration with Monroe County and the city of Rochester, MCC offers certificates and degrees in fire protection technology, law enforcement and paramedic/emergency medical services.
Sept 11, 2002
September 11 Remembrance Walkway Dedication Ceremony
Alice Holloway Young Commons
Jul 16, 2003
The residence hall complex opened in August 2003 with over 400 students residing in Alexander, Pioneer and Tribune Halls. With the opening of Canal Hall in August 2007, a total of 772 students could live on campus.
R. Thomas Flynn Campus Center Opens
Feb 4, 2004
At a ribbon cutting ceremony, MCC's new campus center was named for College President R. Thomas Flynn to honor his 30 years of dedicated service to the college and its students.
NJCAA Women's Soccer Champions, Division I
Nov 21, 2004
The women's soccer team defeated Young Harris College 6-2, to win the NJCAA Division I soccer championships held in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Lady Tribunes would repeat as Division I Soccer Champions in 2005.
NJCAA Women’s Basketball Champions, Division I
Mar 26, 2006
The Lady Tribunes defeated Odessa College (TX) 76-64 to win the Division I Championship tournament held in Salina, KS.
NJCAA Women's Softball Champions
May 20, 2006
The women's softball team defeated Brookdale Community College (Lincroft, NJ) to win the Division III championship.
The women's softball team would repeat as Division III champions in 2007 and 2008.
June 2006
MCC defeated Louisburg College (GA) to win the Division III championship tournament held in Chautauqua, New York.
The men's golf team would repeat as NJCAA Division III champions in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Wolk Center for Excellence in Nursing
Aug 28, 2008
With a generous grant from the Louis S. and Molly B. Wolk Foundation, MCC was able to fund the construction of a state-of-the-art teaching facility to house MCC's nursing program.
Oct 14, 2008
The 56,000 square foot athletic facility was made possible with the help of a generous donation from Arunas and Pamela Ann Chesonis, for whom the facility is named.
Mar 21, 2009
The inaugural celebration of scholarly research and academic excellence brought faculty and students together to attend presentations, discussions and poster sessions on a wide variety of subjects.
Alan Lightman, MIT physicist and noted author of Einstein’s Dreams, gave the keynote speech.
2010s
Inauguration of Dr. Anne M. Kress, MCC's 5th President
Apr 10, 2010
NJCAA Women's Lacrosse Champions
May 9, 2010
The Lady Tribunes defeated Onondaga Community College 8-7 to win the NJCAA women's lacrosse championship held in Herkimer, NY.
MCC Celebrates its 50th Anniversary
2012
Feb 26, 2012
MCC defeated Williston State College 4-2, to win the 2012 NJCAA men's ice hockey championship. The tournament was held at the Sports Centre at MCC.
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