Quincy College
Encyclopedia
Quincy College is a public junior college
located in Quincy, Massachusetts
. It is an open admission commuter school that offers associate's degree
s in profession
al fields of study.
The school's first classes were offered at the Coddington Elementary School in 1956 as College Courses, Inc., after a committee was created to establish a new community college
and Timothy L. Smith
, historian and professor at the Eastern Nazarene College
(ENC), was named its first director. It was sponsored by the Quincy School Department and used faculty from Eastern Nazarene. Another ENC history professor, Charles W. Akers
, became its first full-time director and transformed it into a junior college in 1958, naming it Quincy Junior College (QJC) when it was first given power to grant associate's degree
s in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
.
For many years, the Quincy community and the Patriot Ledger were disapproving of the new junior college. Since 1959, and especially after the creation of other state-controlled community colleges beginning in 1960, the school board had petitioned the Massachusetts Board of Education several times about becoming "South Shore
Community College", but the school was passed over each time and finally gave up with the creation of Brockton
's Massasoit Community College
(MCC) in 1978.
It eventually gained accreditation
from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
(NEASC) in 1980. Then in 1981, the city took to discussing spinning off the junior college and the city hospital
as private entities, but officials were afraid that such a move would force the school to close for lack of funds. In the 1980s, the school had begun to suffer from declining enrollment, so the idea of merging with Massasoit Community College arose in 1985, talks of joining the state system independent from the Brockton school emerged again in 1986, and it was suggested that the Quincy school, Massasoit, and the Blue Hills Technical Institute all become campuses of a new South Shore Community College, but the talks and their various options died out by 1988. Quincy Junior instead dropped "Junior" from its name in 1990 and established a satellite campus
in Plymouth 1991.
In 1992, not only did NEASC threaten to revoke accreditation, but then-president O. Clayton Johnson filed a lawsuit against the Quincy School Committee for racial discrimination and was fired the next year for insubordination
. Under ENC professor and interim president Donald Young in 1994, the school established its own governing board at the suggestion of NEASC, thereby keeping its accreditation from NEASC. That same year, however, the new board named professor Linda B. Wilson as the next interim president over the city council's objections, and she resigned the next year over conflicts with the board.
Then from 2003 to 2005, the college was struck by a series of controversial scandals in which then-President Sean Barry and administration officials were accused of financial mismanagement and use of scholarship funds for entertainment and travel expenses, leading to Barry's firing and an FBI investigation. Due to fabrication of documents suggesting that surgical technology students were receiving operating room experience they did not actually have, the program was suspended for two years, regaining its accreditation in 2007.
The college has also had a tumultuous relationship with the city recently over rent for its downtown buildings, including an attempted eviction
in 2003. Coddington Hall, the school's former main building, is owned by the City of Quincy and was taken over in 2007 as temporary classroom space for Quincy High School during the construction of a new high school. This necessitated vacating the building and moving many of the school's programs to a location in North Quincy
.
Quincy College, one of the last municipally owned colleges in the USA, has sought for independence from the city of Quincy and hopes to be fully independent by 2011.
neighborhood of Quincy, with another two buildings and a bookstore remaining in the Quincy Center area. There is an additional one-building campus in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The school does not have residential facilities, as it is a commuter school.
rather than by the state
. It is one of only two colleges in the United States organized this way. Until the 1990s, it was run by the Quincy School Committee, but now has its own governing board.
with Cambridge College
for four-year baccalaureate
degrees and with Excelsior College
for online learning. It is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
(NEASC). The school is an open enrollment
institution, meaning that it accepts all students with a high school diploma or equivalent to matriculate, regardless of academic abilities, without selectivity. In 2007, there were 3,932 students enrolled.
Bruce Ayers
has been a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
since 1998.
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
located in Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
. It is an open admission commuter school that offers associate's degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
s in profession
Profession
A profession is a vocation founded upon specialized educational training, the purpose of which is to supply disinterested counsel and service to others, for a direct and definite compensation, wholly apart from expectation of other business gain....
al fields of study.
History
| Charles W. Akers Charles W. Akers Charles Wesley Akers was an historian, author, and educator.-Early life and education:Charles was born in Indianapolis, Indiana to Ira and Mary Bird Akers. Akers received his Bachelor's degree in History from the Eastern Nazarene College in 1947. He received his Master's degree and Ph.D. from... |
1958–1961 | |
| 1. | Kenneth P. White | 1961–1971 |
| Lawrence Creedon | 1971–1972 | |
| 2. | Edward F. Pierce | 1972–1982 |
| Lawrence Creedon | 1982–1983 | |
| 3. | O. Clayton Johnson | 1983–1993 |
| Donald Young | 1993–1994 | |
| Linda B. Wilson | 1994–1995 | |
| 4. | G. Jeremiah Ryan | 1996–1999 |
| 5. | Sean L. Barry | 2000–2005 |
| 6. | Martha Sue Harris | 2005–2011 |
| 7. | Peter Tsaffaras | 2011-present |
The school's first classes were offered at the Coddington Elementary School in 1956 as College Courses, Inc., after a committee was created to establish a new community college
Community colleges in the United States
In the United States, community colleges are primarily two-year public institutions of higher education and were once commonly called junior colleges....
and Timothy L. Smith
Timothy L. Smith
Timothy Lawrence Smith was a noted historian and educator, known as the first American evangelical historian to gain notability in research and higher education.-Early life and education:...
, historian and professor at the Eastern Nazarene College
Eastern Nazarene College
The Eastern Nazarene College is a private, coeducational college of the liberal arts and sciences in Quincy, Massachusetts near Boston, in the New England region of the United States. Known for its strong religious affiliation, distinctive liberal arts core curriculum, and excellence in science...
(ENC), was named its first director. It was sponsored by the Quincy School Department and used faculty from Eastern Nazarene. Another ENC history professor, Charles W. Akers
Charles W. Akers
Charles Wesley Akers was an historian, author, and educator.-Early life and education:Charles was born in Indianapolis, Indiana to Ira and Mary Bird Akers. Akers received his Bachelor's degree in History from the Eastern Nazarene College in 1947. He received his Master's degree and Ph.D. from...
, became its first full-time director and transformed it into a junior college in 1958, naming it Quincy Junior College (QJC) when it was first given power to grant associate's degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
s in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
For many years, the Quincy community and the Patriot Ledger were disapproving of the new junior college. Since 1959, and especially after the creation of other state-controlled community colleges beginning in 1960, the school board had petitioned the Massachusetts Board of Education several times about becoming "South Shore
South Shore
South Shore may refer to:In Canada:*South Shore , Quebec, the region of the greater Montreal area on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River*South Shore , geographic region of Nova Scotia*South Shore—St...
Community College", but the school was passed over each time and finally gave up with the creation of Brockton
Brockton, Massachusetts
Brockton is a city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States; the population was 93,810 in the 2010 Census. Brockton, along with Plymouth, are the county seats of Plymouth County...
's Massasoit Community College
Massasoit Community College
Massasoit Community College was founded in 1966, and named for Massasoit, the Great Sachem of the Wampanoag. Massasoit Community College offers associate degree programs in arts, sciences, and applied sciences, and one-year and short-term certificates for a range of occupations and interests...
(MCC) in 1978.
It eventually gained accreditation
Educational accreditation
Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. is the U.S. regional accreditation association providing educational accreditation for all levels of education, from pre-kindergarten to the doctoral level, in the six-state New England region. It also provides accreditation for some...
(NEASC) in 1980. Then in 1981, the city took to discussing spinning off the junior college and the city hospital
Quincy Medical Center
Quincy Medical Center is a teaching hospital located in Quincy, Massachusetts. It was affiliated with the Boston Medical Center as part of the "Boston Medical Center Alliance for Quality". However, in 2010, the affiliation had changed to Tufts Medical Center....
as private entities, but officials were afraid that such a move would force the school to close for lack of funds. In the 1980s, the school had begun to suffer from declining enrollment, so the idea of merging with Massasoit Community College arose in 1985, talks of joining the state system independent from the Brockton school emerged again in 1986, and it was suggested that the Quincy school, Massasoit, and the Blue Hills Technical Institute all become campuses of a new South Shore Community College, but the talks and their various options died out by 1988. Quincy Junior instead dropped "Junior" from its name in 1990 and established a satellite campus
Satellite campus
A satellite campus or branch campus is a campus of a college or university that is physically detached from the main university or college area, and is often smaller than the main campus of an institution....
in Plymouth 1991.
In 1992, not only did NEASC threaten to revoke accreditation, but then-president O. Clayton Johnson filed a lawsuit against the Quincy School Committee for racial discrimination and was fired the next year for insubordination
Insubordination
Insubordination is the act of willfully disobeying an authority. Refusing to perform an action that is unethical or illegal is not insubordination; neither is refusing to perform an action that is not within the scope of authority of the person issuing the order.Insubordination is typically a...
. Under ENC professor and interim president Donald Young in 1994, the school established its own governing board at the suggestion of NEASC, thereby keeping its accreditation from NEASC. That same year, however, the new board named professor Linda B. Wilson as the next interim president over the city council's objections, and she resigned the next year over conflicts with the board.
Then from 2003 to 2005, the college was struck by a series of controversial scandals in which then-President Sean Barry and administration officials were accused of financial mismanagement and use of scholarship funds for entertainment and travel expenses, leading to Barry's firing and an FBI investigation. Due to fabrication of documents suggesting that surgical technology students were receiving operating room experience they did not actually have, the program was suspended for two years, regaining its accreditation in 2007.
The college has also had a tumultuous relationship with the city recently over rent for its downtown buildings, including an attempted eviction
Eviction
How you doing???? Eviction is the removal of a tenant from rental property by the landlord. Depending on the laws of the jurisdiction, eviction may also be known as unlawful detainer, summary possession, summary dispossess, forcible detainer, ejectment, and repossession, among other terms...
in 2003. Coddington Hall, the school's former main building, is owned by the City of Quincy and was taken over in 2007 as temporary classroom space for Quincy High School during the construction of a new high school. This necessitated vacating the building and moving many of the school's programs to a location in North Quincy
North Quincy, Massachusetts
North Quincy is a neighborhood of Quincy, Massachusetts. It is separated from the city of Boston by the Neponset River, and borders the Quincy neighborhoods of Squantum, Montclair and Wollaston...
.
Quincy College, one of the last municipally owned colleges in the USA, has sought for independence from the city of Quincy and hopes to be fully independent by 2011.
Campus
The main campus is in the North QuincyNorth Quincy
North Quincy may refer to one of the following places:*North Quincy a neighborhood in Quincy, Massachusetts.**North Quincy a station on the Red line subway**North Quincy High School...
neighborhood of Quincy, with another two buildings and a bookstore remaining in the Quincy Center area. There is an additional one-building campus in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The school does not have residential facilities, as it is a commuter school.
Organization
Quincy College operates under the auspices of the City of Quincy. The college is unusual in this respect, as it is the only one of Massachusetts' 16 community colleges to be run by a cityCity
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
rather than by the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
. It is one of only two colleges in the United States organized this way. Until the 1990s, it was run by the Quincy School Committee, but now has its own governing board.
Academics
The college confers Associate degrees and certificates of completion in a wide variety of studies. Quincy College operates an articulation agreementArticulation (education)
In Australia and United States education, articulation or more specifically course articulation, refers to the process of comparing the content of courses that are transferred between postsecondary institutions such as TAFE institutes, colleges or universities...
with Cambridge College
Cambridge College
Cambridge College is a private, non-profit college based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, specializing in adult education.It offers distance learning and blended learning programs toward undergraduate and graduate degrees in education, counseling, psychology, management, health care management, and...
for four-year baccalaureate
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
degrees and with Excelsior College
Excelsior College
Excelsior College is a private, non-profit institution of higher education in Albany, New York. It is a constituent member of The University of the State of New York, and has its own charter and Board of Trustees. Excelsior College offers degrees at the undergraduate and graduate level...
for online learning. It is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. is the U.S. regional accreditation association providing educational accreditation for all levels of education, from pre-kindergarten to the doctoral level, in the six-state New England region. It also provides accreditation for some...
(NEASC). The school is an open enrollment
Open enrollment
Annual enrollment is a period of time, usually but not always occurring once per year, when employees of U.S. companies and organizations may make additions, changes or deletions to their elected fringe benefit options...
institution, meaning that it accepts all students with a high school diploma or equivalent to matriculate, regardless of academic abilities, without selectivity. In 2007, there were 3,932 students enrolled.
Notable persons
AlumnusAlumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
Bruce Ayers
Bruce Ayers
Bruce J. Ayers is an American small business owner and politician who represents the 1st Norfolk District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and is a former member of the Quincy, Massachusetts City Council .-References:...
has been a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
since 1998.