Eastern Arizona College
Encyclopedia
Eastern Arizona College is a community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...

 located in Graham County, Arizona
Graham County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*72.1% White*1.8% Black*14.4% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.8% Two or more races*8.3% Other races*30.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...

. The main campus is in Thatcher
Thatcher, Arizona
Thatcher is a town in Graham County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the town is 4,865. It is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Thatcher is located at ....

, with satellite locations in Gila County
Gila County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*76.8% White*0.4% Black*14.8% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.0% Two or more races*5.4% Other races*17.9% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...

, and Greenlee County
Greenlee County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*77.2% White*1.1% Black*2.3% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.8% Two or more races*15.0% Other races*47.9% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...

. It is the oldest community college in Arizona and the only community college in Arizona with a marching band.

History

Eastern Arizona College was chartered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1888. Classes started in a church room in Central, Arizona
Central, Arizona
Central is a small unincorporated community in Graham County, Arizona, United States. It is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints constructed a temple in the area....

 in 1890 with 17 students and was called the St. Joseph Stake Academy. In 1891, classes were moved to Thatcher, Arizona
Thatcher, Arizona
Thatcher is a town in Graham County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the town is 4,865. It is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Thatcher is located at ....

, due to being more centralized and needing more room. The school continued to expand, though it was strapped financially. In 1908, a new 21-room building was opened that would eventually be called Old Main.

In 1932, the Church stated they could no longer afford to support the college financially and would close it unless the local valley could support it. In 1933, an election was held and the valley passed an initiative funding the school. Ownership passed to the state of Arizona in 1933. There is no religious affiliation today. In 1962, it became the newest member of Arizona's Junior College system. The 1960s was a time of growth and the college purchased nearby farmland to extend their campus.

In 1972 a fine arts center was completed. In 1979, two fires within one week destroyed Old Main. The building was razed and a new administration building was constructed on the site. During the 1987-1988 school year, Eastern Arizona College celebrated its centennial.

Eastern Arizona College has changed names nine times, growing from a one-room school house to becoming a large community college serving three counties and hosting a satellite campus for a university.

Ownership

EAC is a state-sponsored community college and comes under the guidance and control of the state of Arizona.

Campus

The main campus 32°49′58"N 109°45′46"W (32.832685, -109.762879) sits in the center of the Upper Gila River Valley with Arizona's beautiful Mt. Graham towering to the south and the Gila River to the north. The buildings on the campus are plain, while the grass, trees, and flower beds on EAC's campus are impeccably maintained year round.

On September 15, 2007, Eastern Arizona College dedicated their Bell Tower. The tower is adjacent to the administration building, between the north and south campuses.

Housing

Eastern Arizona College provides five dormitories for single students. EAC has the following houses:
  • Mark Allen
  • Wesley Taylor
  • Nellie Lee
  • Residence towers (two towers)


Married student housing is not available on-campus. Most married couples are able to find off-campus apartments.

In addition to on-campus housing, there are many off-campus places available for rent. EAC has a housing office with information for on- and off-campus living.

Academics

Eastern Arizona College is divided into nine academic divisions:
  • Business
  • Communicative Arts
  • Fine Arts
  • Health and Physical Education
  • Industrial Technology Education
  • Liberal Studies
  • Mathematics
  • Science and Allied Health
  • Social Sciences

Mascot

The College's mascot is a Gila monster
Gila monster
The Gila monster is a species of venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexican state of Sonora...

, indigenous to the region, known as Hank.

The Simpsons episode "See Homer Run
See Homer Run
"See Homer Run" is the sixth episode of the 17th season of The Simpsons.-Plot:On Father's Day, Homer is profoundly impressed by Bart's gift — a Leather Buddy multi-function knife, holding which he fantasizes about rescuing Marge from pirates — and proudly tells Bart that it is the...

" featured a suit worn by Homer as he performed his duties as "Safety Salamander." At one point Marge commented that the suit "looks like the mascot from some horrible southern college." The uncanny resemblance between Safety Salamander and Gila Hank, coupled with Marge's comment may be a reference to Eastern Arizona College.
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