Award Winning Viewbook - Gloucester County College

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The concept of a community college in Gloucester County dates back to 1965 when the Board of
Chosen Freeholders established a citizens’ committee to determine the need for such an institution.
At a November, 1965 non-binding public referendum, the county electorate approved a community
college by an overwhelming vote. The New Jersey State Department of Education granted permission
for the Freeholders to proceed with plans for the College in April, 1966, and by that September, the first
Board of Trustees was appointed.
Some 600 charter students were enrolled in September, 1968, attending classes at Deptford High
School and Monongahela Junior High School. In February, 1970, ground was broken for the first
buildings on the new campus. That May, GCC held its first graduation for 180 men and women. 1967–2007
In autumn 1970, students began attending classes in the Instructional Center, the first building to
be completed. The College Center and Physical Education Center opened in January, 1971, and the
Fine Arts Center was completed by May, 1971. In 1986, the College Services building opened.
In October, 1988, GCC dedicated its 27,000 sq. ft. Library and the 13,350 sq. ft. Student Services Center.
In 1993, the College embarked on a new $5.2 million physical expansion project, including the Early Childhood
Education Center and the Nursing, Allied Health and Technology Center. The Nursing, Allied Health and Technology
Center has recently been renamed Health Sciences.
Also included in the expansion program was an addition to the Physical Education Center which houses the Gloucester
County Police Academy, Fitness Center, and Physical Education and Law Enforcement programs.
During the 1990s, the student/public parking area was more than doubled in capacity to accommodate 2,200 vehicles.
In 1997, GCC dedicated a 13,660 sq.ft. addition to the Library, known as the Learning Resource Center. This $3 million
project includes the ground-level Barnes & Noble College Store, an interactive television (ITV) classroom, a large academic
services lab with 60 computers, and two regular classrooms.
An $8.1 million expansion program began in 2001, including construction of the Virginia N. Scott Center for Science
and Technology, a $6.5 million facility housing chemistry and biology laboratories and state-of-the-art computer labs and
classrooms. A separate project involved a $1 million conversion of the concrete Grand Plaza into a gently sloping green
area, with walkways linking most major campus buildings.
Recent enhancements to the College include the fall 2004 refurbishing of
History
campus tennis courts and an improvement project to illuminate building identification
signage, campus directions and interior room markers. A $600,000 renovation
project to modernize the College Center kitchen and serving area, the first update
to the cafeteria since the building opened in January 1971, offers students, faculty
and staff a pleasant dining experience.
Years Celebrating Student Success