Glendale Community 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...

 in Glendale

Glendale, Arizona

Glendale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, located about nine miles northwest from Downtown Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city is 226,721....

, Arizona

Arizona

Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...

 USA

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. GCC opened its doors in 1965. Since then more than 350,000 students have taken credit classes. Programs include associate degrees, certificate programs, industry-specific training and university transfer. The school enrolls about 30,000 students per year. GCC is a part of the Maricopa County Community College District

Maricopa County Community College District

The Maricopa County Community College District, in Maricopa County, Arizona, is the largest community college district in the United States. The district serves Maricopa County, the county that includes and surrounds Phoenix and is the most populous of the state's counties...

, the largest community college district in the United States. The main campus is a 147 acre (0.59488842 km²) site located at 59th and Olive Avenue in Glendale, Arizona.

GCC has grown with the communities it serves by expanding facilities and programs at its main campus and by offering classes in various sites throughout the area. GCC North ,in Phoenix, at 57th Avenue and Happy Valley Road opened in fall 2000 with 839 students from the northern part of Maricopa County. Financial backing donated by New York Architect Ron Elsensohn allowed for a major expansion of the north campus which unveiled in the fall of 2008. GCC also offers the first two years of general education requirements at the North Valley campus of Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University is a public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and has 39 satellite campuses in the state of Arizona. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.As of...

 located at 15601 N. 28th Avenue (I-17 & Greenway), in Phoenix

Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...

 and select classes at other sites like Valley Vista High School in Surprise

Surprise, Arizona

Surprise is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. The population was 30,848 at the 2000 census; however, rapid growth has boosted the city's population to 117,517 at the 2010 census, an increase of 281%...

, Arizona.

History

Created in 1962 with one college, the MCCCD currently consists of ten separately accredited colleges. Currently MCCCD is the largest community college district in the United States. On April 12, 1965, GCC was established by the Governing Board as the second MCCCD college, and charged with serving the higher educational needs of the West Valley. In August 1967, the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools first accredited GCC as an individual college. Accreditation continues today through The Higher Learning Commission / North Central Association and includes both the GCC Main campus and the GCC North site.

Programs

Degrees and Certificates of Completion include:

• Administration of Justice Studies
• Arts, Music, Performance
• Automotive
• Behavioral Health
• Biology
• Business
• Computer Applications
• Computer Graphic Design and Multimedia
• Computer Systems and Technology
• Education and Human Development
• Emergency Medical Technology
• Engineering
• English / Journalism / Public Relations
• Fire Science
• Fitness and Wellness
• Interior Merchandising
• Nursing
• Nutrition
• Psychology
• Truck Trailer Driving
• Video Production Technology

Athletics

GCC is home of multiple national, regional, and conference championship teams, All-American athletes and Hall of Fame coaches. GCC has produced seven National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national championship teams: 1967 cross country, 1968 baseball, 1988 football, 1994 women's softball, 1996 women's basketball, 2000 football, and 2005 football.

Notable alumni

• Jan Brewer
  Jan Brewer
  Janice Kay "Jan" Brewer is the 22nd and current Governor of the U.S. state of Arizona and a member of the Republican Party. She is the fourth woman, and third consecutive woman, to hold the office...
  
  , current Governor of Arizona
• Vince Furnier, better known today as Alice Cooper
  Alice Cooper
  Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
  
  

External links

• Glendale Community College
• GCC North
• The Voice Student Newspaper