Howard Community College
Encyclopedia
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...
in Columbia
Columbia, Maryland
Columbia is a planned community that consists of ten self-contained villages, located in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It began with the idea that a city could enhance its residents' quality of life. Creator and developer James W. Rouse saw the new community in terms of human values, not...
, Howard County
Howard County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*62.2% White*17.5% Black*0.3% Native American*14.4% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.6% Two or more races*2.0% Other races*5.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. HCC, in partnership with Prince George's Community College
Prince George's Community College
Prince George's Community College is a community college located in the unincorporated community of Largo in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States...
and 5 four year colleges, also has a campus in Laurel
Laurel, Maryland
Laurel is a city in northern Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County, Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Incorporated in 1870, the city maintains a historic district including its Main Street...
that is known as Laurel College Center (LCC). The mission at Howard Community College is to help anyone with an educational goal including: two-year college degrees, starting a four-year degree at HCC and transferring elsewhere, entering a new career, sharpening job skills, or exploring personal interests.
Mission, vision, and values
MissionProviding pathways to success
Vision
A place to discover greatness in yourself and others
Values
I N S P I R E S
Innovation
Nurturing
Sustainability
Partnerships
Integrity
Respect
Excellence
Service
Slogan
"You can get there from here"
HCC history
In 1966, Howard Community College was founded by the Board of Education in Howard County and formally authorized by the Howard County Commissioners. That same year, HCC was approved as the State of Maryland's 14th community college. A groundbreaking ceremony in 1969 began construction on 119 acre (0.48157634 km²) in the heart of the planned communityPlanned community
A planned community, or planned city, is any community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are less frequent in planned communities since...
of Columbia that, at the time, was just beginning to take shape. In October 1970, the first classes took place in a new structure called the Learning Resources Center, now the James Clark Jr. Library Building (CL), with just over 600 students attending classes in HCC's nine credit programs.
In 2006, HCC celebrated its 35th anniversary, with nearly 7,000 students seeking degrees in more than 100 programs, and another 14,000 taking noncredit classes through the Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Development. In 2003, a new instructional building was completed, the Mary Ellen Duncan Hall for English, Languages & Business (DH), which includes an inviting landscaped area now known as The Quad. The new Peter and Elizabeth Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center (HVPA), opened in the fall of 2006, and the Student Services Building, completed spring 2007, completes The Quad. The Student Services Building was renamed The Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall (RCF) in March 2007.