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HCC History

Housatonic Community College Dates and Facts

1966

The College opened at the Stratford Community College Center as a branch of Norwalk Community College with 378 students in the first semester. Various sites were used for classes including Bunnell High School, Wooster Junior High School, Stratford United Methodist Church, Alliance Medical Inns Building, Masonic Temple, Stratford Public Library, and trailers.

1967

Housatonic Community College became an independent part of the Connecticut Community College system. The Housatonic Museum of Art was founded with works donated by artists and collectors under the leadership of Burt Chernow, HCC Art Professor. The HMA is now one of the largest permanent collections of any two-year college in the United States, the collection valued at over $13 million. HCC’s first president was Edward Liston.

1968

The Inaugural Exhibition of the HMA was held at the Museum of Art, Science and Industry in Bridgeport. Among the works from the Museum on exhibit were those by Larry Rivers, John Marshall, Andy Warhol, Elaine deKooning, Milton Avery, Robert Rauschenberg, Takeshi Kawashima, and others. Twenty three students comprised the first HCC graduating class.

1971

Housatonic moved to the former Singer Metrics Building on Barnum Ave. in Bridgeport as a temporary move while the search for a permanent site was undertaken.

1974

The College inaugurated its second president, Vincent Darnowski.

1990

The Housatonic Community College Foundation, Inc. was founded by a group of Greater Bridgeport residents, business and arts leaders to assist the College and its students beyond the fundamentals provided by the state. The Foundation was IRS approved as a tax-exempt organization.

1993

The College changed its name to Housatonic Community-Technical College in recognition of the extended mission to provide high-level technical education to students in the region. Bonding was approved for the purchase of the former Hi-Ho Mall at Lafayette Boulevard as a permanent site for the College.

1994

The State of Connecticut took title of the Lafayette Boulevard property.

1997

Classes began at the new campus on January 27. The Burt Chernow Gallery of the Housatonic Museum was named for the founder of the Museum. The opening exhibit was 20th Century Art – Selections from the Collection. The College’s third president, Janis Wertz (Hadley), was inaugurated. Burt Chernow died.

1998

U.S. President Bill Clinton visited the College on March 3. He toured the building with a specific visit to the Early Childhood School Lab. He made a speech in the PAC about early childhood education.

1999

The College name was changed to Housatonic Community College in an October vote of the Trustees.

2001

Ansel Adams Classic Images was exhibited at the Burt Chernow Galleries. Many of the photographs were on public view for the first time. Over 8,000 visitors viewed the exhibit.

2004-2005

Housatonic became one of three community colleges in Connecticut to receive an Achieving the Dream four-year grant from the Lumina Foundation to determine ways to assist at-risk students to achieve success.

2006

Ground was broken for the addition to the campus of a second building, the former Sears building, at the southern perimeter of the campus. The College celebrated its 40th anniversary. The Office of Institutional Development launched a Major Gifts Campaign.

2007

Anita Gliniecki, the College’s fourth president, inaugurated. The HCC Foundation Major Gifts Campaign – Pathways to Success exceeded its $1 million goal.

2008

Beacon Hall opened in September and Housatonic became a two-building campus, Lafayette Hall remaining the home of the Burt Chernow Galleries and the administrative offices. The buildings were named by a college-wide contest. Names selected were chosen from over 100 submissions and the final (blind) decision was made by a committee and the President. Lafayette Hall was the entry of two staff members; Beacon Hall was the entry of a student. Enrollment exceeded 5,000 students.

2009

HCC received a Developmental Education Initiative grant from the Gates Foundation, administered by MDC, Inc. to sustain and expand the student success initiatives started under the College’s participation in Achieving the Dream.

2010

Enrollment exceeded 6,000 students in the fall.

2011

The College changed its logo.

2012

The Advanced Manufacturing Center with state-of-the-art equipment was created in Lafayette Hall to train and retrain workers for work in present, digital manufacturing industries. HCC was one of three Conn. community colleges funded by the state to create the Manufacturing Centers.

2013

The College began planning the renovation and expansion of Lafayette Hall which will facilitate the enrollment and registration process, enlarge the Library and other spaces in the building. The expansion will move the building to the street and add additional floors to the building.

2014

President Gliniecki retired. Academic Dean Elizabeth Roop was named Interim President. Dr. Paul Broadie was named HCC’s fifth president.

2015

Dr. Broadie on campus April 3.

2016

Construction began for expansion and renovation of Lafayette Hall which added 47,000 sq. ft. new space, moving the front of the building to the sidewalk to include a new Welcome Center, additional 3 upper floors and 28,500 sq. ft. renovation in the B and C wings including additional Library space.

2017

Housatonic Community College celebrated its 50th anniversary. Renovation to Lafayette Hall and the garage continued. The Welcome Center and upper floor art studios and classrooms open. Consolidation of Conn. community colleges and state universities began. President Broadie becomes the interim president of Gateway Community College, overseeing both HCC and GCC.

2018

HCC held the 50th graduation. Since the first graduation in 1968, approximately 15,500 have graduated from HCC. HCC Dean of Administration Rose Ellis named Dean of Administration at Gateway CC, overseeing both campuses. Archive moved to room L156 in Lafayette Hall.

2019

Dr. Thomas G. Coley becomes president of Region Three, Shoreline-West including Gateway, Housatonic, and Norwalk CCs. Regional Presidents to take office in the 2019 summer. Dr. Broadie continues as President of HCC and Interim President of GCC.

1966

The College opened at the Stratford Community College Center as a branch of Norwalk Community College with 378 students in the first semester. Various sites were used for classes including Bunnell High School, Wooster Junior High School, Stratford United Methodist Church, Alliance Medical Inns Building, Masonic Temple, Stratford Public Library, and trailers.

1967

Housatonic Community College became an independent part of the Connecticut Community College system. The Housatonic Museum of Art was founded with works donated by artists and collectors under the leadership of Burt Chernow, HCC Art Professor. The HMA is now one of the largest permanent collections of any two-year college in the United States, the collection valued at over $13 million. HCC’s first president was Edward Liston.

1968

The Inaugural Exhibition of the HMA was held at the Museum of Art, Science and Industry in Bridgeport. Among the works from the Museum on exhibit were those by Larry Rivers, John Marshall, Andy Warhol, Elaine deKooning, Milton Avery, Robert Rauschenberg, Takeshi Kawashima, and others. Twenty three students comprised the first HCC graduating class.

1971

Housatonic moved to the former Singer Metrics Building on Barnum Ave. in Bridgeport as a temporary move while the search for a permanent site was undertaken.

1974

The College inaugurated its second president, Vincent Darnowski.

1990

The Housatonic Community College Foundation, Inc. was founded by a group of Greater Bridgeport residents, business and arts leaders to assist the College and its students beyond the fundamentals provided by the state. The Foundation was IRS approved as a tax-exempt organization.

1993

The College changed its name to Housatonic Community-Technical College in recognition of the extended mission to provide high-level technical education to students in the region. Bonding was approved for the purchase of the former Hi-Ho Mall at Lafayette Boulevard as a permanent site for the College.

1994

The State of Connecticut took title of the Lafayette Boulevard property.

1997

Classes began at the new campus on January 27. The Burt Chernow Gallery of the Housatonic Museum was named for the founder of the Museum. The opening exhibit was 20th Century Art – Selections from the Collection. The College’s third president, Janis Wertz (Hadley), was inaugurated. Burt Chernow died.

1998

U.S. President Bill Clinton visited the College on March 3. He toured the building with a specific visit to the Early Childhood School Lab. He made a speech in the PAC about early childhood education.

1999

The College name was changed to Housatonic Community College in an October vote of the Trustees.

2001

Ansel Adams Classic Images was exhibited at the Burt Chernow Galleries. Many of the photographs were on public view for the first time. Over 8,000 visitors viewed the exhibit.

2004-2005

Housatonic became one of three community colleges in Connecticut to receive an Achieving the Dream four-year grant from the Lumina Foundation to determine ways to assist at-risk students to achieve success.

2006

Ground was broken for the addition to the campus of a second building, the former Sears building, at the southern perimeter of the campus. The College celebrated its 40th anniversary. The Office of Institutional Development launched a Major Gifts Campaign.

2007

Anita Gliniecki, the College’s fourth president, inaugurated. The HCC Foundation Major Gifts Campaign – Pathways to Success exceeded its $1 million goal.

2008

Beacon Hall opened in September and Housatonic became a two-building campus, Lafayette Hall remaining the home of the Burt Chernow Galleries and the administrative offices. The buildings were named by a college-wide contest. Names selected were chosen from over 100 submissions and the final (blind) decision was made by a committee and the President. Lafayette Hall was the entry of two staff members; Beacon Hall was the entry of a student. Enrollment exceeded 5,000 students.

2009

HCC received a Developmental Education Initiative grant from the Gates Foundation, administered by MDC, Inc. to sustain and expand the student success initiatives started under the College’s participation in Achieving the Dream.

2010

Enrollment exceeded 6,000 students in the fall.

2011

The College changed its logo.

2012

The Advanced Manufacturing Center with state-of-the-art equipment was created in Lafayette Hall to train and retrain workers for work in present, digital manufacturing industries. HCC was one of three Conn. community colleges funded by the state to create the Manufacturing Centers.

2013

The College began planning the renovation and expansion of Lafayette Hall which will facilitate the enrollment and registration process, enlarge the Library and other spaces in the building. The expansion will move the building to the street and add additional floors to the building.

2014

President Gliniecki retired. Academic Dean Elizabeth Roop was named Interim President. Dr. Paul Broadie was named HCC’s fifth president.

2015

Dr. Broadie on campus April 3.

2016

Construction began for expansion and renovation of Lafayette Hall which added 47,000 sq. ft. new space, moving the front of the building to the sidewalk to include a new Welcome Center, additional 3 upper floors and 28,500 sq. ft. renovation in the B and C wings including additional Library space.

2017

Housatonic Community College celebrated its 50th anniversary. Renovation to Lafayette Hall and the garage continued. The Welcome Center and upper floor art studios and classrooms open. Consolidation of Conn. community colleges and state universities began. President Broadie becomes the interim president of Gateway Community College, overseeing both HCC and GCC.

2018

HCC held the 50th graduation. Since the first graduation in 1968, approximately 15,500 have graduated from HCC. HCC Dean of Administration Rose Ellis named Dean of Administration at Gateway CC, overseeing both campuses. Archive moved to room L156 in Lafayette Hall.

2019

Dr. Thomas G. Coley becomes president of Region Three, Shoreline-West including Gateway, Housatonic, and Norwalk CCs. Regional Presidents to take office in the 2019 summer. Dr. Broadie continues as President of HCC and Interim President of GCC.