College Archives

Schoolcraft College Timeline


1957
Executive committee established with one school board member from six interested districts. The committee initiated a state law making possible the formation of a college district between one or more school districts.

1959
House Bill 360, amending the Community College Districting Act of 1955 introduced. Signed into law by Governor G. Mennen Williams.

1960
September 21, 1960 First meeting of the Citizen’s Study Committee comprised of thirty members from the Livonia, Clarenceville, Plymouth/Canton, Garden City, Redford and South Redford school districts.

1961
February 1961 Publication of the 184 page Citizen’s Survey of Northwest Wayne County Community College Possibilities.
October 24, 1961 Schoolcraft College established by the voters from the Livonia, Plymouth-Canton, Garden City and Clarenceville school districts.
November 11, 1961 First Board of Trustees meeting. Harold Fischer was elected chairman, Jane Moehle vice-chairman, Ward McCain secretary, and Charles Kirkpatrick treasurer. Additional members of the first Board of Trustees include Paul Mutnick, L. Clark Oldenburg and James F. O’Neil.

1962
January 24, 1962 Dr. Eric Bradner selected as first Schoolcraft College president.
June 11, 1962 Millage to fund the college is approved by voters.
August 31, 1962 The Reynold Esch property is chosen as the site for the future college. It is located at the corner of Haggerty and Seven Mile Roads in Livonia. 137 acres is purchased from Nellie Esch for $1,800 per acre ($250,000).
August 12-17, 1962 Trip to California by Dr. Bradner, trustees Harold Fischer and Clark Oldenburg, and architects Lyn Grazini and Jonathon Taylor representing the firm of Eberly Smith, Inc. The purpose of the trip was to study facilities and campuses of community colleges in California which was a leader in the community college movement.

1963
February 1963 College name changed from Northwest Wayne County Community College (NWCCC) to Schoolcraft College. After a name contest failed to provide a name for the college, Lois Waterman, first Dean of Students, and Trustee Jane Moehle visited the Burton Historical Collection at the Detroit Public Library. A librarian suggested naming the college after Henry Rowe Schoolcraft who was a 19th century explorer, scholar, and Indian agent who played a part in the early development of Michigan.
June 8, 1963 Campus Groundbreaking ceremony for the administration building, the Forum, the library and a service building (shipping, receiving and maintenance).
June 1963 Northville School district petitions to join the Schoolcraft College District.

1964
April 28, 1964 Official school colors of blue and gold approved by the board of trustees upon the recommendation of the Chairman for the Committee for the Selection of School Colors.
August 31, 1964 First day of classes
Tuition – $8.00 per resident credit hour
$12.00 per non-resident credit hour
Enrollment – day classes 1083, evening classes 907
Bell Tower constructed. Carillon Bells purchased by Floyd Kehrl for $6,500. Bells installed November 1965. The Tower is 90 feet tall. The five small bells are from rural schools in the five local K-12 districts which comprise the College District – Livonia, Northville, Plymouth-Canton, Garden City and Clarenceville. The small bells do not ring.

1965
March 11, 1965 Michigan Commission on College Accreditation grants the college accreditation.
April 25, 1965 The College Hymn first performed at the campus Dedication Service by the College Choir.
All hail to thee, Oh, Gold and Blue
We lift our voices in praise of thee
Semper Altius Aspice.
May knowledge, hope and vision here begin.

Composer – Wayne Dunlap
Lyricist – Ralph Kelly
June 16, 1965 Waterman Campus Center groundbreaking ceremony. The building is named for Lois Waterman the first Dean of Students 1962-1965.
Opened Fall 1966.
Dedication March 12, 1967
June 25, 1965 Technical-Applied Science Building groundbreaking ceremony.
Opened Fall 1966
Dedication April 9, 1967
July 25, 1965 Graduation of the First Practical Nursing class. Out of twenty-seven students who started the program, twenty-three received their pins.

1966
January 19, 1966 Ocelots chosen by vote of the student body as the school mascot from the following list of suggestions: Frontiersman, Ocelots, Saxons, Sun Devils, Vikings.
February 1966 First student newspaper, The Commuter, published.
May 1, 1966 First general Commencement held outside on the campus mall. Sixty students received associate degrees or certificates of completion.
Fall 1966 Culinary Arts Program started.
September 22, 1966 Phi Theta Kappa, Omicron Iota chapter established with the induction of the first five charter members of the organization. Phi Theta Kappa is the national scholastic honorary organization for two-year colleges.
October 1966 Schoolcraft College Foundation organized.

1967
March 31, 1967 Purchased 4.69 acres & house (⅓ of existing south parking lot from Rosalina and Robert Johnston 17950 Haggerty Road) for $48,000. Sale and removal of the residence was later awarded to Marvin Gans, instructor for $1,501, which he moved to Six Mile Road in Northville Township.
April 19, 1967 Purchased 4.812 acres (18000 Haggerty Rd, center ⅓ of existing south parking lot from Orpha Bryn) for $40,000
April 28, 1967 Liberal Arts Building groundbreaking.
Opened September 1968
July 2-28, 1967 First Summer Music School and Festival.

1968
April 1968 Full North Central Association accreditation received with a review in three years.
October 21, 1968 Physical Education Building groundbreaking.
Opened September 1970

1969
January 14, 1969 Purchased building from Max & Helen Campbell (built by them in December 1964) and leased to the college for $1. A temporary Campus Center (Food Service) occupied this spot from 1964-1967 followed by Student Affairs (known as the Student Services Building) from 1967-1995 and later (1996) Continuing Education Center (CEC).
February 1969 “Dirty Word Incident” – Student unrest over the Vietnam War erupted on Campus when a student tried to display a poster with offensive language. Board of trustee president Harold Fischer resigned during the controversy.
March 27, 1969 Purchased approximately 5 acres and house (17350 Haggerty Road, from Clarence and Audrey Gabel) for $72,000. Used as the Accounting Office from 1975-1995.
Department of Community Services established. The department is now called Continuing Education and Professional Development (CEPD).
October 15, 1969 Vietnam War Moratorium held on the mall. Part of a nationwide moratorium designed to show support for ending the Vietnam War.
November 1969 Student newspaper name changed to The Backdoor

1970
College Relations Office established.
Human Relations/Personnel Office established.

1971
January 25, 1971 Purchased 3.692 acres (east portion behind the Newman House from the Archdiocese of Detroit, John Cardinal Dearden) for $17,575.
April 28, 1971 Board of trustees name the library after Dr. Eric Bradner the first college president. Official rededication ceremony held on October 24, 1972.
May 31, 1971 Dr. Eric Bradner retires.
July 1, 1971 Dr. C. Nelson Grote becomes second Schoolcraft College president.
August 1971 The College receives ten year reaccreditation from the North Central Association.
September 1971 Child Day Care Center established at Pilgrim United Church of Christ on Seven Mile Road. Moved to the Livonia campus and located in the first house beyond the South Parking Lot in January 1973. Registration fee $5 plus 60 cents an hour per child.
September 1971 Student newspaper name changed to The Campus Globe.

1972
May 4, 1972 Technical-Applied Science Building addition groundbreaking ceremony.
Opened August 1973
May 23, 1972 At the request of the College board of trustees, the State Board of Education officially changes the college name of Northwest Wayne County Community College to Schoolcraft Community College District.
November 1972 Florence Information and Service Center in Garden City opened with first classes held Winter 1973.
December 7, 1972 First Bell Tower lighting held. Twenty four strings of 2400 multicolored bulbs used to light the tower.
December 13, 1972 Liberal Arts building addition groundbreaking ceremony.
Opened September 1973

1973
January 10, 1973

Purchased 12.47 acres east of south parking lot to expressway from State of Michigan in addition to 16.21 acres including 3 houses (17800, 17750 & 17400 Haggerty) in exchange for 26.01 acres of Schoolcraft property at $154,000. The houses were used for the following college resources:

  • 17800 Haggerty
    Child Care Center (1973-1995)
  • 17750 Haggerty
    Instructional Center (Fall 1975)
    Community Services (1976-1980)
    Women’s Resource Center (1981-1995)
  • 17400 Haggerty
    Placement Center (1973-1982)
    Purchasing (1983-1995)
The land exchange permitted the State to construct the I-275 expressway.
January 1973 Women’s Continuum Program established with a state grant of $27,430.
January 1973 Student Activities holds first Get Acquainted Week which is now called School Daze.
July 1, 1973 Placement Office established. During its first six months of operation, 158 students found employment through the Placement Office.
July 1, 1973 Office of Veteran’s Affairs established to handle the influx of Vietnam veterans returning to school.

1974
September 1974 Tuition Fall Semester: $11 per resident credit hour
$22 per non-resident credit hour
Enrollment: 6992
September 1974 Women’s Resource Center established and located in Bradner Library.
October 7-11, 1974 The first Futures Week entitled “Facts, Dreams and Plans Toward the Year 2000” held.

1975
September 17-18, 1975 The United Nations proclaims 1975 as International Women’s Year. Schoolcraft College and Wayne State University sponsor an International Women’s Year Festival at the Waterman Campus Center.
September 1975 Because of increased enrollment and limited parking, Harrison Center replaces Florence Center in Garden City.

1976
March 23, 1976 As part of the United States Bicentennial, the Schoolcraft College and City of Livonia Bicentennial committees cosponsor a lecture by Alvin Toffler on the topic of “Learning for Tomorrow”.

1977
February 1977 $90,000 Federal Grant received to establish articulation agreements with the College’s five school districts for high school vocational students to continue their education at the community college level. 2 + 2 programs also established with Wayne State University, Grand Valley State Colleges, and the University of Michigan Dearborn.
August 12, 1977 First Summer Convocation held for Spring and Summer Graduates. Convocations held from August 1977-August 1980.
December 17-18, 1977 First Christmas Madrigal Dinners. The last dinners held December 6-7, 2002.

1978
Computer terminals installed in the admission, financial aid, personnel, accounting and cashier’s offices.

1979
July 1979 By an act of the Michigan Legislature, the number of board of trustee members is reduced from eight to seven members.
The Special Need Services program becames the Opportunity Center in 1979. Renamed the Learning Opportunity Center in 1980 and is now called the Learning Assistance Center.

1980
June 30, 1980 The Adventures in Learning program for talented and academically gifted children (TAG) begins after a successful 1979 summer pilot program. The program is now called Kids on Campus and includes enrichment classes for grades 1-9, academic skills workshops and day camps.

1981
January 13, 1981 Waterman Campus Center Culinary Arts addition groundbreaking ceremony.
Dedication – October 31, 1982
Opened Fall 1982
June 30, 1981 Dr. C. Nelson Grote retires to accept the presidency of the Community Colleges of Spokane, Washington.
Edward McNally, vice-president for Student Affairs, named interim president.
September 14, 1981 Dr. Richard McDowell becomes third Schoolcraft College president.
Fall 1981 Computer Communication Center – an interdisciplinary computer laboratory for students in the data processing and electronics programs and the word processing classes established.
October 27, 1981 The College receives ten year reaccreditation from the North Central Association.

1982
January 1982 Telecourses (Distance Learning) offered Winter semester. First class is “It’s Everybody’s Business” Bus 101.
July 1982 Administration building is named for Dr. C. Nelson Grote second college president.
July 1982 Career Planning and Placement Center CPPC established.

1983
Winter 1983 Computer on-line registration process for traditional students begins. (COIN – College On-Line Information Network)
May 1983 Presidential Recognition Awards established.

1984
February 1984 Publication of Reaching Out…A History of Schoolcraft College by Dr. Samuel Hudson.
March 1984 College Archives established.
June 1, 1984 First Golf Tournament fundraiser sponsored by the Schoolcraft College Foundation raised over $5,000 for the Endowment Fund.
September 1984 Tuition Fall Semester: $28.50 per resident credit hour
$39.50 per non-resident credit hour
Enrollment: 8,512
Fall 1984 MacGuffin literary journal first published.

1985
January 1985 Radcliff Center replaces Harrison Center in Garden City.
June 1985 Business Development Center established and located in Bradner Library.

1986
March 1986 Schoolcraft Development Authority incorporated to oversee the leasing of Schoolcraft College property. Seven Mile Crossing opens in 1988.
March 24, 1986 First successful millage since June 1966 passed.
October 24, 1986 25th Anniversary – Since 1961, 12,000 students have received Associate Degrees or Certificates.
25th Anniversary Time Capsule filled and stored in the college archives until the 50th anniversary of the College, October 24, 2011.
November 1986 New logo replaces the official College Seal for publications. Motto “Semper Altius Aspice” means “Look Ever Upward”.

1987
May 11, 1987 Entered into 17 acres lease agreement with developer PR Duke (North side of Schoolcraft College property - 7 Mile Crossing).
September 1987 School newspaper name changed to The Schoolcraft Connection.
November 1987 Women’s Soccer team wins NJCAA National Championship.

1988
July 1988 Police Academy established at Radcliff Center with classes beginning Spring 1989.
September 1988 Numerical grading system implemented for Fall semester.
November 4, 1988 Vice President George Bush visits campus during the 1988 presidential campaign.
November 1988 Women’s Volleyball team wins NJCAA National Championship.

1989
January 1989 Infant-Toddler room established at Radcliff Center.
September 1989 General Education Goals implemented Fall semester 1989. The Goals are now called Core Skills.

1990
June 27, 1990 Final payment to the Garden City Public Schools for the Radcliff Center.

1991
January 1991 Schoolcraft College Foundation reaches $1 million Endowment Fund goal.
March 1991 The College receives ten year reaccreditation from the North Central Association.
September and October 1991 30th Anniversary – Family Fun Fest and Flash Back to 1961.

1992
March 16, 1992 Barbara Bush visits the Culinary Arts department during the 1992 presidential campaign.
September 1992 Weekend College at Radcliff Center started Fall 1992.
September 20, 1992 First Culinary Extravaganza held in the Waterman Campus Center raised over $32,000 for scholarships.

1993
January 11, 1993 Purchased 15.3 acres from Garden City Schools for $615,000, subsequently known as the Radcliff Center.
August 4, 1993 McDowell Center groundbreaking ceremony
Dedication – October 24, 1994.

1994
April 1, 1994 Touch-Tone telephone registration begins with Spring classes.
September 1994 Tuition Fall Semester: $45 per resident credit hour
$68 per non-resident credit hour
Enrollment: 9,536
December 1994 The Bradner library computerized DYNIX catalog system is fully operational. The card catalogs are removed during the remodeling of the circulation area.

1995
March 28, 1995 Child Care Center groundbreaking ceremony
Dedication – October 24, 1995.
Spring 1995 Michigan Community College Journal first published Spring 1995. Name changed to The Community College Enterprise Spring 2002.
April 26, 1995 Debt-free! The College pays off $3 million bond issued in 1966 to become one of only four community colleges in Michigan that is debt free.

1996
May 1996 Business Development Center receives Michigan’s Trainer of the Year award.
Fall 1996 The Continuing Education Services department moves to the renovated Student Services Building.
September 24, 1996 Bookstore renovation completed in July with a grand opening.

1997
Winter 1997 Women’s Resource Center receives State honor for the “From Chocolate Chips to Micro Chips” program
April 1997 www.schoolcraft.cc.mi.us web site launched.
Spring 1997 Kiosks installed in campus buildings for students to have access to their grades and other college information.
August 1997 Over 1,500 personal computers located on campus in student labs and employee offices.
September 1997 The Distance Learning on-line business program, Omnibus, started with Madonna University.

1998
Fall 1998 Schoolcraft Honors program begins.

1999
July 1999 The Children’s Center earns accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Only 7 percent of the nation’s early childhood programs have earned this honor.

2000
Winter 2000 The Open Entry/Open Exit program begins as a pilot program in Computer Information Services department. The OE/OE program is for self-paced and motivated students who do not need a traditional classroom setting.

2001
January 2001 Schoolcraft Development Authority begins to study the possibility of leasing college property beyond the South Parking Lot. College Park restaurants open November 2004.
February 2001 The College receives ten year reaccreditation from the North Central Association.
May 16, 2001 VisTaTech groundbreaking ceremony
Grand Opening – Ribbon Cutting September 5, 2003
June 30, 2001 Dr. Richard McDowell retires.
July 1, 2001 Dr. Conway Jeffress becomes 4th Schoolcraft College president.
July 23, 2001 The Schoolcraft College Salon team wins first place gold medals in the American Culinary Federation’s Junior Hot Food National Competition in Las Vegas.

2002
Spring 2002 Web Advisor on-line registration begins for credit and continuing education students.

2003
July 30, 2003 Entered into 45 acres lease agreement with developer Schoolcraft Commons (Walkon & Etkin) on south side of Schoolcraft College property which becomes College Park.
August 1, 2003 McDowell Center deeded back to Schoolcraft from State of Michigan (Capital Outlay Project - deeded to the state during the constrution phase to satisfy repayment of the bonds; used as collateral).
August 25, 2003 Purchased Newman House and related 2.14 acres from Archdiocese of Detroit at $801,264.
Fall 2003 15-week semester replaces the current 16-week semester.

2004
April 2004 Phi Theta Kappa, Omicron Iota Chapter wins the Service Hallmark Award and is named one of the top 100 chapters in the nation.
September 2004 Tuition Fall Semester: Resident $62.50 per credit hour
$93.00 per non-resident credit hour
Enrollment: 10,245

2005
October 2005 Bradner Library renovation completed. The reconfigured space provides for the newly formed Learning Support Services department, which includes the Learning Assistance Center, Bradner Library, and College Archives. The Media Services department is also located in the Library.

2006
October 12, 2006 Biomedical Technology Center groundbreaking ceremony. Due to inclement weather the groundbreaking was held in the VisTaTech Center.

2007
Enrollment reaches an all time high for Winter semester, 11,061.

2008
January 21, 2008 Governor Jennifer Granholm visits Schoolcraft College for a special round table discussion on Diversity and Michigan’s Future.
September 5, 2008 Official ribbon cutting ceremony marks the opening of the Biomedical Technology Center.