Burlington County College - History

History

• 1966 - Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders founds Burlington County College with the appointment of a nine-member board of trustees. The trustees elect Lewis M. Parker as their first chair.
• 1967 - The College's Board of Trustees appoint Dr. N. Dean Evans as the founding president.
• 1969 - Burlington County College opens in temporary facilities at Lenape High School, Medford, with 728 full-time and 323 part-time students.
• 1971 - BCC moves into its first two permanent structures on the Pemberton Campus: the multileveled college center and the health and physical education building.
• 1972 - Two reasons to celebrate: BCC graduates its first students and receives accreditation by the Commission on Higher Education, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• 1974 - BCC opens its first daytime off-campus facility in Willingboro to accommodate growing enrollment
• 1975 - First production of Foundation Theatre, Burlington County's only non-profit professional theatre company, housed on BCC's Pemberton Campus
• 1979 - BCC welcomes new president, Dr. Harmon Pierce, who opens second off-campus center in Cinnaminson
• 1987 - Dr. Robert Messina, Jr. becomes BCC's third president and expands community outreach sites.
• 1990 - BCC establishes the Learning Institute for Elders (LIFE), offering academic, cultural and social opportunities for county residents over 55 years old.
• 1994 - The first classes are offered in the new Academic Center, Pemberton Campus
• 1995 - Opening of the Technology & Engineering Center, Mt. Laurel Campus, a joint venture with the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT); the first broadcast of BCC's radio station, WBZC 88.9 FM
• 1996 - The Integrated Learning Resource Center/Library opens on the Pemberton Campus and WBZC is named National College Radio Station of the Year.
• 1998 - BCC's innovative High Technology Small Business Incubator opens on the Mt. Laurel Campus to encourage the growth of entrepreneurial businesses.
• 1999-2000 - BCC maintains Middle States accreditation in ten-year renewal requirement and celebrates four "Milestones at the Millennium": 30th Anniversary of College opening, 25th Anniversary of Foundation Theatre, 10th Anniversary of LIFE and 5th Anniversary of WBZC 88.9 FM.
• 2001 - College attains highest enrollment in its history for the Fall semester. Health Center opens on Pemberton Campus to serve students and staff.
• 2002 - College opened The Enterprise Center at BCC, the Science Building, Academic Replacement Center and Central Power Plant on its Mt. Laurel Campus. Dr. Robert C. Messina celebrates his 15th year as BCC President.
• 2003 - BCC renamed the Academic Replacement Center to Laurel Hall and dedicated the Pavilion connecting the Science Building and the Enterprise Center at BCC honoring The Vottas who owned the farm on which the Mount Laurel Campus currently resides. BCC also moved its Willingboro Center to Route 130 in the Willingboro Town Center.
• 2004 - The newest site, The Mount Holly Center, opened its doors in October 2004. It moved the Business and Career Development Center which occupied 60 High Street to its current location at the corner of High and Mill Streets in Downtown Mount Holly.
• 2005 - The College Opened the Student Gallery and Art Store, a student run facility in the Mount Holly center to showcase and sell original artwork and supplies. This year also saw record breaking enrollment.
• 2006 - The college entered into a partnership with Drexel University, Drexel at BCC, to bring Drexel faculty to the Mount Laurel Campus to offer bachelor's degree programs.
• 2007 - The college entered into a partnership with Wilmington University, Wilmington University at BCC, to bring WU faculty to the Mount Laurel Campus to offer bachelor's degree programs.