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The present community college system in Nebraska started in 1971 when the Nebraska Legislature created eight technical community college areas across the state. One of these new areas was called the Eastern Nebraska Technical Community College Area, which encompassed Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy and Washington counties. An area vocational technical school operated by the Omaha Board of Education already served part of this area.
Metropolitan Community College was created in 1974 when the Legislature consolidated the original eight technical community college areas into six. That year, the programs, personnel, assets and liabilities of the former Omaha Nebraska Technical Community College Area merged with the Eastern Nebraska Technical Community College Area under a new name stipulated by amended legislative statutes: the Metropolitan Technical Community College Area.” In 1992, the Legislature voted to change the name to “Metropolitan Community College Area.”
With a
2006-07 enrollment of 30,217 credit students and 13,093 noncredit students, Metropolitan Community College is one of the fastest growing postsecondary institutions in Nebraska. This enrollment compares with 2,430 credit students in 1974-75, the College’s first year.
Accreditation History
During MCC’s accreditation history, evaluation teams have visited the college seven times, and MCC has submitted three special reports since it applied for candidacy in 1974.
- MCC had its first evaluation visit in December 1974, which resulted in candidacy status approval in April 1975.
- In November 1976, the college hosted a biennial visit and was approved for continuing candidacy status and for moving toward accreditation.
- After the initial accreditation visit in November 1978, MCC was granted accreditation for five years in April 1979. However, a mandated focused visit was scheduled in 1980-81 to fulfill the requirements of initial accreditation.
- Based on the April 1981 mandatory focused visit, the visiting team thought the College had not yet resolved issues raised earlier: developing a long-range master plan and reducing the Board of Governors’ involvement in administrative matters. A follow-up focused visit was schedule for the following year.
- In March 1982, the visiting team conducted a focused visit and concluded that the College had addressed the master planning concern but had not fully addressed the concern about board involvement in administrative matters. Because of this, the next comprehensive visit was moved forward one academic year to Spring 1983.
- In March 1983, the first evaluation visit for continued accreditation occurred. The commission stipulated that the college submit a five-year status report in 1987-88.
- In October 1992, a second evaluation visit for continued accreditation occurred. The visiting team recommended a 10-year continuing accreditation status with the next scheduled visit occurring in 2002-03. However, the College was required to provide a detailed description of its institutional program for the assessment of student academic achievement during 1995-96.
- In May 1996, the college submitted the requested report, which was subsequently approved. Information about previous visits and reports is available in the Resource Room.
- In October 2002, the evaluation team from the Higher Learning Commission returned and “enthusiastically and unanimously” recommended another 10 years of accreditation. The College was asked to prepare a progress report due in 2005 on assessing student achievement and integrating the assessment into curricula development, relevant planning and budgeting processes.
History of the Fort Omaha Campus
Although the construction of Fort Omaha was completed more than a century ago, the buildings and grounds today reflect a distinctively modern attitude and mission.
In early 1868, before the construction of Fort Omaha and after a major clash between the U.S. Army’s Department of the Platte and the Lakota tribe of Sioux Native Americans, the U.S. government signed a treaty agreeing that the army would abandon posts along the Bozeman Trail. To replace the abandoned posts, the army began planning for a single new post – a place where troops could be stationed and sent out by rail whenever needed. By this time, the Union Pacific Railroad reached the Rockies.
Omaha, a young but growing city, recognized the potential for economic growth and competed with other towns to win the planned post. The city cited its railroad and river transportation systems and already established businesses as the support the army would need. Civic leaders purchased 42 acres of land four miles north of Omaha from Augustus Kountze, a prominent Omaha banker, and offered to lease it to the government at an undervalued price for the new headquarters. The army accepted the offer.
The first structures were wood frame and built facing the rectangular parade ground of approximately 30 acres. The new post housed a regiment of more than 650 men. As new buildings were constructed, the early building arrangement remained.
Fort Omaha’s initial purpose was to guard the important pioneer settlement on the junction of the railroad and the Missouri River. Steamboats transferred munitions, mules, horses and supplies up the Missouri to equip Fort Omaha’s cavalry units.
When the army required department commanders and officers to live on the post in 1878, the first brick structure was built for General George Crook, Commander of the Department of the Platte from 1875-1882. (The Department of the Platte included present-day Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Montana and a portion of southeastern Idaho.) In his spacious home, General Crook entertained distinguished guests including presidents of the United States.
Metropolitan Community College received the deed to the 70-acre site in August 1975, and through extensive renovations and refurbishing, Fort Omaha became MCC’s first permanent campus. MCC’s deed stipulates that the parade ground must be maintained as an open field and that the exteriors of brick buildings cannot be changed. The College has preserved Fort Omaha’s historic look while creating an environment conducive to a progressive, two-year college.
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