1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s

1974

The Nebraska Legislature consolidates eight technical community college areas into six. Metropolitan Technical Community College opens its doors in the summer of 1974 to serve the people in Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy and Washington counties. Marm M. Harris is the first president. The first campus, a former warehouse at 132nd and I streets, has a total student population of 1,059. Forty-six programs are offered.

1975

Fort Omaha, an abandoned military base, becomes MCC's first permanent campus. Plans are made to develop another campus in the South Omaha Industrial Park on the site of a former packing plant. In September, MCC holds its first graduation.

1976

College enrollments jump 191 percent compared with 1974. Nearly 2,000 people now attend MCC. Licensed day care center opens for staff and students.

1977

MCC pioneers a special solar energy training program. The project provides window-type solar heating for 12 low-income homes in Omaha. The College plans to add a third permanent campus near Elkhorn to replace the rented warehouse at 132nd and I streets.

1978

The South Omaha Campus opens at 2909 Babe Gomez Ave. The Industrial Training Center at South helps employees upgrade skills or move into a new technology or skill area. Noncredit classes are offered in 32 community centers.

1979

The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the accrediting agency for colleges and universities, grants full accreditation to MCC. MCC awards full tuition scholarships to graduating high school seniors.

1980

J. Richard Gilliland becomes president of MCC. The College adds telephone registration to reduce the need for in-person registration. MCC selected to supplement training for General Motors. MCC opens the Elkhorn Valley Campus at 204th Street and West Dodge Road. State awards grant to provide free English lessons to Indochinese refugees.

1981

Personnel Development office created to provide staff development to meet growing personnel needs. MCC adds an administrative internship program that allows instructors to leave the classroom for administrative experience.

1982

MCC launches College 4 Kids to provide special opportunities to children in the summer. Despite high unemployment rates statewide and nationally, MCC graduates enjoy a 94 percent employment rate. MCC and Iowa Western students can now attend classes at either institution at resident rates. MCC employees begin master planning for college.

1983

All credit classes now available through telephone registration. MCC hosts Health Fair of the Midlands. The North Central Association grants ten-year accreditation to MCC. Credit class schedules are mailed to 209,000 households in the four-county area. Starlet Gilbert becomes the 5,000th person to earn her GED at MCC.

1984

Gov. Bob Kerry signs law allowing MCC to offer academic transfer for a bachelor's degree. MCC offers credit classes at Offutt Air Force Base and opens a learning center at the Omaha Correctional Center. MCC starts program with Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. to help employees upgrade or change jobs. Bidg 10, a new $4 million classroom facility, opens at the Fort Omaha Campus.

1985

College for Lifelong Learners, a noncredit program for students 55 years and older, is offered. Learning centers are now open at all three campuses to provide students special assistance.

1986

Weekend College opens to accommodate nontraditional students. MCC's offer to recruit and train a telemarketing pool for an information center helps to lure Greyhound Lines, Inc., to Omaha. The Fremont Area Center opens in the Eastville Shopping Center.

1987

MCC receives the largest grant in its history, a $24 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant helps to upgrade and expand many student services and programs.

1988

Fall quarter enrollment is 6,630 students. MCC starts program to train nuclear power industry workers who monitor and control radioactive levels.

1989

Distance learning classes begin between the South Omaha and Elkhorn Valley campuses. MCC participates in reconstruction efforts in war-torn Afghanistan. More than 350 people attend an MCC-sponsored public forum on Gangs, Drugs and Youth Violence.

1990

US WEST Business Resources, Inc., and the Communications Workers of America award MCC a contract to provide career assessment and training to employees in a 14-state region. MCC, the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, area businesses and the Omaha Public Schools combine resources to establish the Omaha Job Clearinghouse, a school-to-work program to help high school graduates who are not planning to attend college. MCC recycles more than ten tons of paper.

1991

MCC hosts the Nebraska State Recycling conference. Time Option program allows students to start their college education through television at home.

1992

On the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' voyage to the New World, MCC focuses on the controversy surrounding the discovery of America. MCC participates in a joint venture with the Nebraska Indian Community College. MCC and eight public schools participate in TECH-PREP, a program to equip students with skills for the global economy. The Legislature changes MCC's name to Metropolitan Community College.

1993

MCC opens the Sarpy County Center in Brentwood Crossing market Center in La Vista. Folkfest at the Fort, a folk music festival, draws 1,000 people to the Fort Omaha Campus.

1994

MCC participates in a joint venture to bring employment training to Belize. Students In Free Enterprise team wins regional and national honors. A political science class uses interactive video to link to a class in Sweden.

1995

First Great Teachers Workshop allows faculty to share teaching techniques. Marconi Telecommunications Fair at the Fort Omaha Campus showcases developments in communications technology. The Center for Business and Industry changes its name to Workforce Development Institute and relocates to the Fort Omaha Campus.

1996

Workforce Development hosts international business seminars for local businesses. Community members help MCC outline master planning goals. President Richard Gilliland becomes a face on the barroom floor at the Omaha Press Club. Economic survey shows MCC has an indirect economic impact of $152 million in its service area.

1997

Construction begins on new educational center/library facility to be built with the City of La Vista. The Department of Correctional Services contracts with MCC to deliver educational services throughout the prison system. OJC awarded $511,000 federal grant to expand school-to-work program into high poverty areas of South Omaha. Plan announced to buy part of former Omaha Stockyards to expand the South Omaha Campus.

1998

Six MCC students honored as members of the first Nebraska All-State Academic Team. Students register for credit classes through the Internet. UNO and MCC sign computer technology transfer agreements. Metro receives $1 million Omaha Award, funded by the Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation, to set up career network centers.

1999

Microsoft's Working Connections program awards a $245,000 grant to educate and train information technology workers. More than one-third of degrees and certificates awarded at commencement are in information technology. New Sarpy Center opens in La Vista.

2000

Opportunities/Jobs/Careers (formerly Omaha Job Clearinghouse) partners with area educators and businesses to offer the X files, a program to build employment skills in high school students. ¡Exito! Program offers Microsoft Office classes to Spanish-speaking students. The ninth Annual Powwow draws many to the Fort Omaha Campus to celebrate Native American dance and culture.

2001

Jerry Moskus becomes the third president at MCC. Workforce Development receives the Edgerton Award of Commitment for providing quality service. College buys 3.5 acres of land near the Fort Omaha Campus for possible expansion and a new entrance.

2002

Public perception survey shows MCC does a good job in meeting educational needs, tuition is affordable and tax dollars are managed wisely. MCC hosts an employer's forum on the immigrant work environment. Passport To Transfer program helps students interested in transferring to a four-year institution. MCC and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln offer new degree in culinary research that blends food science and culinary arts.

2003

New automotive technology education program (AYES) targets high school students. The National Science Foundation awards $288,748 to fund a new scholarship program for e-commerce students. MCC adopts a master facilities plan to manage growth of campuses. Credit enrollment totals 23,623 students, making MCC the second largest college in Nebraska.

2004

Land option site acquired from the Bellevue Public Schools for potential growth in Sarpy County.

2005

Jo Ann McDowell becomes the first female president at MCC. Board of Governors approve new truck driver training program. Ground is broken for expansion on South Omaha Campus.

2006

President George W. Bush visits MCC's South Omaha Campus on a trip to Omaha. The Fort Omaha Campus library is renamed the Sonny Foster Library in honor Foster's commitment to education and service to north Omaha. The first annual Great Plains Theatre Conference brings theatre enthusiasts to the Fort Omaha Campus.

2007

MCC purchases a former OPPD service site that is reopened as the Applied Technology Center. Online course enrollment soars for the Summer quarter. The South Omaha Campus Connector opens. Renovations are made at the Elkhorn Valley Campus to update and streamline several areas.

2008

MCC is the first Nebraska college to receives full accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) for its Early Childhood Education Program. MCC expands its Legal Studies Program to include Pre-Law, Legal Administrative Assistant and Legal Assistant (Paralegal) concentrations. MCC and the Nebraska Medical Center (NMC) partner to serve the 50+ lifelong learning community by offering MCC's adult noncredit classes to members of the NMC Health and Wellness Club.

2009

Randy Schmailzl is appointed MCC's fifth president. Construction continues on The Institute for the Culinary Arts at Fort Omaha Campus and renovations are scheduled for completion at the Fremont Area Center and South Omaha Campus.

2010

The Institute for the Culinary Arts opens. New sustainability initiatives like Pass to Class, free Metro bus passes for credit students, and courses in solar energy begin.

2011

The buffalo hide was gifted to MCC in 2011 by artist and professor Steve Tamayo to commemorate the 20th Annual Fort Omaha Intertribal Powwow.