Lenoir Community College - History

History

Lenoir Community College is part of the North Carolina Community College System, which was established in 1963 under enactment of a general statute by the legislature. The NCCCS, currently a network of 58 institutions, serves more than 750,000 citizens annually. One of the oldest institutions in the system, LCC is located in Kinston at the intersection of highways U.S. 70 and N.C. 58. Its primary service area is Lenoir, Greene, and Jones counties. LCC offers both degree and non-degree programs serving approximately 3,500 curriculum students and 12,500 extension students annually. The following dates from 1958 to 2008 are significant landmarks in LCC’s history.

In 1958, the College was chartered by the State Board of Education. In 1960, LCC began operations as the Lenoir County Industrial Educational Center with Daniel C. Wise as director and approximately 80 students enrolled in classes that were held at Contentnea High School. In 1961, the vocational and technical curricula were initiated with classes held at Stallings Field, a former air base.

In 1963, the center moved to its 18-acre permanent campus and a new facility, later named the Bullock Building, and held its first graduation in June. Also in 1963, the IEC was separated administratively from the Lenoir County Board of Education, and the first Board of Trustees was organized.

In 1964, the board secured the status of technical institute for the center, and in November, the institution attained community college status. The Board of Trustees appointed Daniel C. Wise, who served until the summer of 1965, acting president. In 1965, Dr. Benjamin E. Fountain became president and the College expanded to 58 acres beginning long-range planning of campus development. In 1966, the first year of the transfer program was offered at Stallings Field. In 1968, the program was moved to the new Administration Building on the permanent campus. LCC was initially accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and has maintained it ever since.

In 1970, Dr. Jesse L. McDaniel became president and served for 18 years. During this time the main campus was expanded to 90 acres, seven new buildings were constructed, and the Jones County and Greene County Centers were opened.

In 1988, upon the retirement of Dr. McDaniel, Dr. Lonnie H. Blizzard took the reigns as president. In 1989, a new building for aviation education was built at the Kinston Regional Jetport, and the Health Science Building was completed on the main campus. In 1998, the Waller Building was completed on the main campus at a cost of $4.5 million. The building included a 650-seat auditorium. Dr. Blizzard retired after 10 years of service, and in July, Dr. Karin Pettit was named president. New construction at the Greene County Center provided a 15,000 square foot facility costing $1.6 million. In 1999, the college purchased two acres of land on the corner of highways 58 and 70.

In 2000, a state community college construction bond referendum was passed with LCC receiving more than $12 million for renovation and new construction. In 2001, Dr. Pettit left for another position and the board hired longtime LCC employee, Joyce Cherry, to serve as interim president. Mrs. Cherry provided the leadership necessary for the stability of the College during the time of transition. On April 22, 2002, Dr. Stephen Scott, former vice president of the North Carolina Community College System, took over the leadership as president. In 2003, Dr. Scott resigned to become president of Wake Technical Community College, and Joyce Cherry was again named interim president until a new president was selected.

On May 10, 2004, Dr. Brantley Briley became president of LCC. During the year, significant acquisitions and construction began changing the landscape of the campus. Twenty-seven acres of land were purchased on the east boundary and almost nine acres to the south of the campus. These purchases increased total acreage on the main campus to 128. In December, a $5.4 million construction project was begun which includes an addition to the Waller Building to house Culinary Arts and an annex to the Waller Building to house the Learning Assistance Program, science classrooms, and labs. In 2005, nine acres of land were purchased in Jones County, and plans were initiated to construct a new Jones County Center. The Jones County Center opened in its new location in April 2009. At the Greene County Center, a $2.1 million addition was completed in 2008. The College has plans to construct and renovate other buildings with the remaining bond funds, making the facilities at LCC equal to any in North Carolina and ready for the future.

The College celebrated its 50th anniversary on April 3, 2008. A 278-page full color coffee table book was produced in house by the LCC Printing Department marking the College’s 50 year history. During the yearlong celebration, LCC experienced record enrollments for both fall and spring semesters, and a significant increase in its Foundation endowed scholarships through a special program, “Fifty for Fifty,” 50 new endowments for 50 students.

The College continues to experience record enrollment and continues to expand its programs and services to meet the needs of the communities it serves.