Asnuntuck Community College
Encyclopedia
Asnuntuck Community College (ACC) is a community college
in Enfield, Connecticut
. It offers associate degree and certificate programs.
In its infancy, the college was named North Central Connecticut Community College. In 1972, the Board of Trustees officially renamed the college “Asnuntuck”, Native American for “fresh water”, a reference to the Podunk tribe
that once resided in the area, to the nearby Connecticut River
and Freshwater Brook, and to a strong interest in the environment and ecology.
The college has had three homes in its relatively brief life. It began in the former North School building in the Thompsonville section of Enfield, CT. In 1974, the college moved to a leased warehouse on Phoenix Avenue but gradually outgrew that location. The college moved to its current home in 1983, the former Kosciuszko Junior High School at 170 Elm Street. The years between 1989 and 1994 saw extensive renovations to improve classroom and laboratory space, revamp the auditorium, and add an annex to house the Learning Resource Center.
The college has been an autonomous institution throughout most of its existence, with the exception of a period from 1985 to 1989. During those years, it was part of the Capital Region Community College District with Greater Hartford Community College and Tunxis Community College in Farmington.
In 1992, the Connecticut legislature mandated merging the state’s community and technical colleges. While there was no area technical college for an Asnuntuck merger, the legislature also required each community college to complement its general education with a technical focus, bringing about several programmatic changes, as well as the change to the name, Asnuntuck Community-Technical College. The technical focus remains, particularly in a recently established Manufacturing Technology (formerly known as Machine Technology) program, but the state community colleges dropped the word “technical” from their names in 1999, returning to the simpler name, Asnuntuck Community College.
, approximately halfway between the metropolitan areas of Springfield, Massachusetts
, to the north and Hartford, Connecticut
, to the south. Asnuntuck serves the north-central Connecticut communities of East Granby
, East Windsor
, Ellington
, Enfield
, Somers
, Stafford Springs, Suffield
, and Windsor Locks
, and also draws students from south-central Massachusetts and the greater Hartford area.
The Asnuntuck Community College Foundation, the community's vehicle for philanthropic support of the college, offers many scholarships for new and continuing Asnuntuck students.
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 Enfield, Connecticut
Enfield, Connecticut
Enfield is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 45,212 at the 2000 census. It sits on the border with Longmeadow, Massachusetts and East Longmeadow, Massachusetts to the north, Somers to the east, East Windsor and Ellington to the south, and the...
. It offers associate degree and certificate programs.
History
Asnuntuck Community College was established in 1972 as the twelfth institution in the Connecticut state Community College System. Classes began in 1972 with an initial enrollment of 251, and 12 Associate in Science degrees and 20 Associate of Art degrees were awarded to the first graduating class in 1974. The college operated under provisional approval until it was first accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in 1977. Asnuntuck was subsequently reaccredited after comprehensive reviews in 1980 and 1985; an interim report was submitted to the New England Association in 1990, and accreditation was reaffirmed through 1995. This was followed by a 1995 comprehensive visit and a 2000 interim report that accredited the college to the present.In its infancy, the college was named North Central Connecticut Community College. In 1972, the Board of Trustees officially renamed the college “Asnuntuck”, Native American for “fresh water”, a reference to the Podunk tribe
Podunk (people)
The Podunks were an indigenous people living in some of the southern parts of what came to be known as New England. The Europeans referred to these people as the Podunk, but they did not have a name for themselves, or a written language, and they spoke an Algonquian dialect...
that once resided in the area, to the nearby Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
and Freshwater Brook, and to a strong interest in the environment and ecology.
The college has had three homes in its relatively brief life. It began in the former North School building in the Thompsonville section of Enfield, CT. In 1974, the college moved to a leased warehouse on Phoenix Avenue but gradually outgrew that location. The college moved to its current home in 1983, the former Kosciuszko Junior High School at 170 Elm Street. The years between 1989 and 1994 saw extensive renovations to improve classroom and laboratory space, revamp the auditorium, and add an annex to house the Learning Resource Center.
The college has been an autonomous institution throughout most of its existence, with the exception of a period from 1985 to 1989. During those years, it was part of the Capital Region Community College District with Greater Hartford Community College and Tunxis Community College in Farmington.
In 1992, the Connecticut legislature mandated merging the state’s community and technical colleges. While there was no area technical college for an Asnuntuck merger, the legislature also required each community college to complement its general education with a technical focus, bringing about several programmatic changes, as well as the change to the name, Asnuntuck Community-Technical College. The technical focus remains, particularly in a recently established Manufacturing Technology (formerly known as Machine Technology) program, but the state community colleges dropped the word “technical” from their names in 1999, returning to the simpler name, Asnuntuck Community College.
Location
Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield, Connecticut, is located just off Interstate 91Interstate 91
Interstate 91 is an Interstate Highway in the New England region of the United States. It provides the primary north–south thoroughfare in the western part of New England...
, approximately halfway between the metropolitan areas of Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, to the north and Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, to the south. Asnuntuck serves the north-central Connecticut communities of East Granby
East Granby, Connecticut
East Granby is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was estimated at 5,058 in 2005. The town recently celebrated its 150th anniversary with a three-day festival on June 7, 8, and 9, 2008.-Geography:...
, East Windsor
East Windsor, Connecticut
East Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 11,162 at the 2010 census.The town has five villages: Broad Brook, Melrose, Scantic, Warehouse Point and Windsorville.-Area:...
, Ellington
Ellington, Connecticut
Ellington is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. Ellington was incorporated in May, 1786, from East Windsor. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 12,921...
, Enfield
Enfield, Connecticut
Enfield is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 45,212 at the 2000 census. It sits on the border with Longmeadow, Massachusetts and East Longmeadow, Massachusetts to the north, Somers to the east, East Windsor and Ellington to the south, and the...
, Somers
Somers, Connecticut
Somers is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, USA. The population was 10,417 at the 2000 census. The town center is listed by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place...
, Stafford Springs, Suffield
Suffield, Connecticut
Suffield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It had once been within the boundaries of Massachusetts. The town is located in the Connecticut River Valley with the town of Enfield neighboring to the east. In 1900, 3,521 people lived in Suffield; and in 1910, 3,841. As of the...
, and Windsor Locks
Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Windsor Locks is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2000 census, its population was 12,043. It is the site of Bradley International Airport, which serves the Greater Hartford-Springfield region. It is also the site of the New England Air Museum...
, and also draws students from south-central Massachusetts and the greater Hartford area.
Programs
Within recent years, Asnuntuck has established its own radio station, WACC 107.7 FM and opened an on-site welding program. Many area employers use Asnuntuck to train their workers in sophisticated machine technology. Students can prepare for careers in allied health professions, the insurance and financial industry, and more. Asnuntuck Community College also has agreements with many four-year institutions, enabling Asnuntuck students who take appropriate courses and maintain the necessary Grade Point Average to enroll without loss of credit in Baccalaureate programs.The Asnuntuck Community College Foundation, the community's vehicle for philanthropic support of the college, offers many scholarships for new and continuing Asnuntuck students.