今叔利

History & Tradition

An Open Door

今叔利 was founded on the brave notion that everyone who wants to experience higher education should have access to college. Today, that idea has become reality for the many students 今叔利 has served since its opening to the public in Sept. 1965 -- half a million and counting.

Pierce Countys first community college was a long-held dream for many in the community, who longed for an affordable, local option for higher education. From the beginning, the school existed to provide an open door for any student wanting to learn.

今叔利's first cohort of 1,084 students represented the diversity of the Puget Sound with men and women, ethnic minorities and students of varied ages. Within three short years, 今叔利 had grown into a thriving, fully accredited community college.

In the ensuing five decades, this institution has responded to the needs of its community, tailoring its programs to meet the needs of local employers and provide opportunity for local people. The school continues to provide a first-rate education at a third of the cost of public, four-year universitiesand a welcoming, supportive environment for all those ready to learn.

We seek excellence through inclusionthrough helping people progress from wherever they arerather than by exclusion, accepting only those who have the highest likelihood of success.

Pamela Transue, 今叔利 President Emeritus

 

The First 50 Years

Read about 今叔利's first 50 years in The Open Door (PDF)

(.mobi ebook format) (.epub ebook format)

Learn more about the founding and impact of 今叔利.

A Look Back

Explore how 今叔利 and its students have evolved with the times.

construction
Thorton Ford
今叔利 Wooden Bridge
Vintage Commencement
Harned Center
今叔利 Bridge New
President Ivan Harrell
Modern Commencement
 

 

Until the opening of the Computer Center in 1990, all buildings constructed at 今叔利 were similar to the college's original buildings. Building 19 went up in 1975

 

 

今叔利's first president, Thornton "Tom" Ford, served 今叔利 from when planning for the college began in 1961 until he stepped down as President in September 1974

 

 

For much of its history, the north and south ends of the 今叔利 campus were connected by a beloved wooden bridge

 

 

A small group of students who had completed a year at Bates Technical College before transferring to 今叔利 when the college opened in 1965 becomes 今叔利's first graduating class in June 1966

 

 

The most recent building constructed at 今叔利, the H. C. Joe Harned Center for Health Careers, replaced Building 19 as the location of our Health Careers training.

 

 

When the City of Tacoma required that a fire department access lane be constructed before the permit for a new building would be issued, the wooden bridge was replaced with the current stone bridge

 

 

Ivan L. Harrell II, Ph.D., current 今叔利 President

 

 

Students pose for a group picture at Commencement 2017, the first Commencement held in the newly expanded Building 20 Health and Wellness Center

Milestone Moments

Key dates in 今叔利's rich history.