Through the Years | Rowan-Cabarrus Community College-菲律宾十大网赌网站

Access AR Timeline Section 1 (1963-1980)

Access AR Timeline Section 2 (1981-2008)

Access AR Timeline Section 3 (2009-2023)

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College has been a pillar in Rowan and Cabarrus counties since 1963. Take a journey through the years and explore key moments in the College’s history.

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College celebrated its 60th anniversary in the 2023-2024 academic year. Our Anniversary Celebration committee, comprised of dedicated members who meticulously reviewed and selected over 100 significant events from the College’s six-decade history, worked closely with Archives Services to ensure accuracy and authenticity. This comprehensive timeline not only highlights key moments in the College’s journey but also places these events within the broader context of significant world events, providing a meaningful perspective on our growth and evolution.

The physical timeline, prominently displayed in the Atrium of Building N106 at North Campus, is designed to be both informative and visually engaging. It features:
• Event Icons: Representing various types of events such as leadership changes, building openings, and College milestones.
• Color Coding: Yellow for College events, blue for leadership changes, green for College name changes, and maroon for world events.
• Photographs: Relevant images from each time period, enhancing the narrative of our history.
• Enrollment Line: A visual representation of enrollment numbers over the years, depicted as a line running along the bottom of the timeline.

As we look to the future, the timeline project remains a living document, continually evolving to reflect our ongoing commitment to growth and innovation. The physical timeline in the Atrium has room for future additions, and the AR and web components offer limitless possibilities for expansion.

1961

$500,000 Bond to Fund First College Building Passed

Gap In Rowan Educational Picture To Be Filled When School Opens By ROSE POST Post Staff Writer. When Joe Smith, student, walks through the doors of the Rowan County Industrial Edu- cation Center next September, he may be 18 years old, or 35, And Rowan County- as well as Joe Smith will have taken a major step into the future. Because the new center-now 60 per cent complete atop its knoll on Interstate 15 will he Rowan's first full-fledged ven- ture into adult vocational edu cation. Boys and girls can go to high school here. They can go on to college here. They can go to pri vate beauty schools or business colleges or into nurses training. But, except for a hit and mias class bere and there, the county has had no program that would train people who didn't want to go to college or who hadn't gone-in skills that would make them more productive. The Industrial Education Cen ter should change that. Its program is being planned to help three kinds of people: Those who want to learn a technical skill to enter a certain field such as a boy who wants to be a draftsman or an auto mechanic: Those who want to learn more ghout the jobs they are 10 they can step up a tung on the Ladders Those who want to take spe elul short-term couries to get more information about the jobs ts already doing. Right now, as the finish work is being done in the interior of the building. Merrill Hamilton and John Hobart, director and assistant director of the center, are interviewing potential teach- ers, registering students, and planning courses, SUPPLIES ARE COMING IN-Merrill Hamilton, director of the Rowan Industrial Education Center, is busy these days ordering and receiving equip ment for the new school. At the moment it's stack- ed in offices, warehouses and almost any place there's a spare inch. (Post Staff Photos by Bar- ringer). OPENS IN SEPT. The center will open for class work on September 3. Applica tions for the fall quarter will be taken up to August 13. Anyone interested in attending should contact John Hobart in the tem porary IEC office behind the community building as early as possible, because enrollment, at first, will be limited. Registration for fall quarter classes will be held August 20 through August 20. A recent survey of skills need. ed, made by the State Employ ment Security Commission, shows that by June of 1963, the state will need 1,462 more elee tricians than it now has, 1,422 more machinists, 835 more wel- ders, and 544 more draftsmen. Those figures will double by Continued on Page 3-C, Col. SALISBURNewspaper article with photo of Merrill Hamilton in an educational center, discussing the opening of a school.

1962

Cuban Missile Crisis

1963

Rowan Industrial Education Center Opened in Salisbury

Three men walking along a dirt path beside a white building.

Founding Leadership: First President Merrill Hamilton

Elderly man writing at a cluttered desk in a mid-20th century office.

Founding Leadership: First Board Chair Carroll Overton

Framed black and white portrait of an older man with three engraved nameplates below.

First North Campus Building Constructed in Salisbury

Black and white photograph of a modernist building with glass windows and brick walls, set in a landscaped area with grass and trees.

35th U.S. President John F. Kennedy Assassinated

1964

College’s Name Changed to Rowan Technical Institute

1966

First Training Center Opened in Cabarrus County at Former Shankletown School (Current Cabarrus Business and Technical Center)

1967

Second North Campus Building Constructed in Salisbury

Land Purchase: College Acquired 66.4 Acres Adjacent to North Campus

Architectural site plan of an educational facility with labeled buildings, parking, and sports fields.

1968

Martin Luther King, Jr. Assassinated

1969

Clyde Harriss Appointed Second Board Chair

Framed black and white portrait of an older man with glasses and a suit.

North Campus Parking Lot Paved

Parking lot filled with vintage cars at dusk with overhead lights and silhouetted trees.

Apollo 11 Landed on the Moon

1970

College Granted Accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Introduced the Warrior as the School Mascot and Blue & White as the School Colors

Black-and-white photo of a basketball team labeled "The Warriors" posing in a gymnasium. Transcribed Text: The Warriors FIRST ROW: Coach, Eddie Myers; Brud Gorman; John Skipper; Stanley Haley; Joe Livingstone; Floyd Kerr; SECOND ROW: Roland Horton; Brunner Rose; Ted Arey; Jerry Goodlett; John Marshall.

1971

Third North Campus Building Constructed in Salisbury

A partially constructed building with columns, surrounded by construction materials and leafless trees.

1973

Rowan County Bond Passed that Doubled the Size of North Campus ($2.5 Million)

High School Juniors and Seniors Take Classes on Campus for the First Time

Vietnam War Ended: G.I. Bill Led to Increased Enrollment of Veterans

1975

Fourth and Fifth North Campus Buildings Constructed in Salisbury

A ribbon-cutting ceremony with men in formal attire in front of a modern building.

William Murdoch Appointed Third Board Chair

Black and white photo of William Murdoch in a suit seated at a desk with papers and glasses.

1976

Building N101 Named the C. Merrill Hamilton Building

Newspaper article about the naming of Rowan Technical Institute buildings. RTI Buildings Named For Hamilton, Jenkins Buildings on the Rowan Technical Institute campus will no longer be designated by numbers. Members of the Rowan Tech board of trustees officially named the buildings and areas of the campus yesterday honoring President Merrill Hamilton and the late Joe Jenkins. The original Rowan Tech building, designated since it was constructed as Building 100, will be known as the C. Merrill Hamilton Building in the future. It contains offices, general classrooms, and laboratory space. The fire training area was named the Joe Jenkins Training Area, honoring a fire and safety program student who was killed in a fire about a year after his graduation. For the most part, other buildings and areas were named to indicate their use. Building 200, which includes most of the laboratory and shop space, will be the Vocational Building. Building 300 will be the Administration Building. The upper level of Building 500, which is the library will be known as the Learning Resource Center. The lower level will be the Student Center. The auditorium which connects the new Building 500 and Building 600 will be the Teaching Auditorium, and Building 600 will be the Health-Science Building, since it will include programs in those areas. The vehicle storage building was named the Vehicle Storage Building, the access road to the campus will be State Road, because it is a state road, and the street in front of the campus itself will be Rowan Tech Drive. The street east of the Hamilton Building will be Warrior Drive, reflecting the name chosen by students as their team name, and the parking lots will be Upper East Parking Lot. Lower East Parking Lot, West Parking Lot, and Circle Drive. Recommending the names, board Chairman Bill Murdoch repeatedly noted that a specific name was chosen because "that's what it is." He had a number of requests that the buildings be named, he told the board, and appointed a special committee to make recommendations. Serving as chairman, Murdoch worked with Frank Patterson, board member: Raymond Gilbert, Vernon Clodfelter, and Dr. William Comer, staff members; and Tom Washam, student body president. The rationale for the names selected. Murdoch said, was to honor the one most outstanding contributor to the "development and success of Rowan Tech since its beginning and a former student who lost his life to save others. Naming the remaining buildings after their chief function, the committee decided, will not restrict future naming of buildings for outstanding people whenever the situation is deemed necessary by the students, the faculty, or the trustees. Major contributor to the scheme. Murdoch said, was Tom Washam. The committee also recommended to the administration that there be some continuity to the numbering of rooms within the buildings. "Does anyone." Murdoch asked the board and staff members attending yesterday's board meeting. "know where room No. 257 is?" Apparently no one did, since there was no response. That pointed up. Murdoch said, the difficulty people have in finding their way about the campus since there is no continuity to numbering rooms which indicates the floor on which they are located or the direction in which they go. The board also approved the designation of one reserved parking space on campus for President Hamilton. The president, Murdoch pointed out. parks in the Lower East Parking Lot and walks all the way across campus to his office and should not have to do this. Hamilton protested that reserving the space violates the principle on which he's operated the institute that there be no reserved parking places, but the board passed the recommendation nonetheless. Stokes Devereux, who made the motion to take the action, got a laugh when he said he didn't know if it was the right thing to do or not. "He may need the exercise." Devereux commented Hamilton thanked the board for naming the building in his honor. DEDICATION The two new buildings on campus the Learning Resource Center-Student Lounge and the Health Science Building will be dedicated on Sunday, September 12, at 2 p.m, followed by an open house. Commenting that he hopes "everybody will come." Hamilton said he'd like taxpayers to see what their tax dollars have purchased. The first 13 years in Rowan Tech's development, he told the board, has been marked by growth in terms of students, buildings and program offerings. "The acceptance of the new buildings brings the total floor space to 170,000 square feet and places Rowan Tech in a new phase of development." In some respects, he said, the institute has "arrived and the arrival is significant, but raises the question: Where does Rowan Tech go from here? For the first time in about 10 years most programs of instruction will be housed in adequate facilities. The library has been expanded so it can meet the needs for now and some years to come and for the first time students will have a place to eat in leisure, to assemble, and to relax. BUILDINGS Carroll Overton, chairman of the building committee, reported furniture. equipment and cabinet work continues in the new buildings but it is expected all fixed cabinets and equipment will be installed for the opening of the fall quarter. Science equipment has been moved and instructors are organizing materials. The next thrust of his committee. he said, will be renovations to better utilize areas in the Hamilton and Administration buildings. OTHER MATTERS The board also: -Was told Hugh Hurst will be presented the Distinguished Service Award at graduation exercises Thursday night at 8 o'clock at Keppel Auditorium. -Was told approximately 65 persons attended a meeting of the Central Piedmont consortium, made up of 10 community colleges and institutes in this area, yesterday at Rowan Tech. Bill Murdoch presided. Board members present were Carroll Overton. Stokes Devereux, Mrs. Mabel Yar- borough. C. C. Erwin, Clyde Harriss, Mrs. Ruby Kesler. John Isenhour and Bob Mauldin. a county commissioner, who was a guest.

1977

President Merrill Hamilton Retired

President Merrill Hamilton in a suit and striped tie leans on a handrail outdoors with trees and a building in the background.

Dr. Richard Brownell Named as the College’s Second President

Dr. Richard Brownell in a Sepia-tone portrait in a suit with a striped tie.

1978

National Energy Crisis: College Established Council to Explore Ways to Reduce Energy Usage

1979

College’s Name Changed to Rowan Technical College

Comparison of a beat-up old car with a "Rowan Tech. Inst." sign and a more modern Lamborghini with a "Rowan Technical College" sign. Transcribed Text: Bottom of left image: "The beat up condition of this old car represents the former name of Rowan Tech as seen in this obsolete sign . . ." Right image: Bottom of right image: ". . . while this Lamborghini symbolizes the modern Rowan Technical College."

1980

State Board of Community Colleges Assumed Jurisdiction from the State Board of Education

Computers Installed on Campus

A person inserting a floppy disk into an old computer.

1981

College Starts the Largest Industrial Training Program in NC History for Philip Morris

Cabarrus County Advisory Committee Established

First Telecourses Offered through the College

The image shows a black and white photograph of a room featuring a soundproof booth and a row of cubicles with equipment. On the left, there is a large, rectangular booth with glass doors and windows. Inside, a person is seated at a table, working with documentation. The booth is isolated from the rest of the room. On the right side of the image, three wooden cubicles are aligned, each containing a chair and what appears to be an audio or telecommunication device on the desks. The room has a plain ceiling and carpets, suggesting a professional or institutional setting.

1982

College’s Service Area Expanded to Include Cabarrus County

Citizens Seeking Land For Rowan Tech Branch By HELEN ARTHUR Special to The Observer. CONCORD - A citizens group spearheading a move to build a Cabarrus County branch of Rowan Technical College is seeking land for the project. The proposed branch would specialize in high-technology instruction. "Hopefully, actual construction may begin in 12 or 18 months," said Bill McCrary of Concord, chairman of the Rowan Technical College-Cabarrus Advisory Committee. "But everything would have to fall in line the money, the land." The committee is seeking 20 to 25 acres "preferably donated," McCrary said near 1-85 and N.C. 73 in western Cabarrus County for a site. Plans are for the $3.5 million branch to teach technological skills needed by workers at the Philip Morris cigarette factory under construction in the county, and for state-of-the-art textile machinery. In October, Cannon Mills Co.'s new owner, David Murdock, announced his Kannapolis-based company plans to invest $200 million over five years in modernized mill equipment. McCrary and Rowan Tech president Dr. Richard Brownell reported on the project last week to the Concord Chamber of Commerce, which has promoted the idea of a branch community college for the past two years. Brownell said tentative plans were for "a fairly modest building" of 36,000 square feet, to hold 20 classrooms for some 500 to 600 students, for day and night classes. To finance the facility, approximately $1.5 million would have to come from Cabarrus County "in public funds, some kind of tax dollars," McCrary said, with another 25% anticipated from philanthropists, and the remaining 25% from area industries. Mc-Crary would not say how much the group had raised or where the tax money would come from. Students would be offered such high-tech classes as electronic data processing, systems analysis, electronic engineering, record processing and secretarial science - anything in the computerized fields, Brownell said. Phil Smith, Concord chamber executive vice president, said the idea has intrigued chamber members. Brownell told the chamber at its meeting last week that Philip Morris Co. decided in March 1980 to build its $300 million cigarette plant in Cabarrus County. "This requires the largest new industry-training project in the history of North Carolina," Brownell said. Rowan Tech expects to train more than 2,000 workers from Cabarrus, Rowan and surrounding counties within the next two or three years. The active movement to seek a Rowan Tech branch in Cabarrus began last fall. The 16-member advisory committee of Cabarrus citizens was formed last spring. Serving with McCrary are bank president Bub Coltrane; hospital assistant administrator Curtis Copenhaver; businessmen Roy Davis, Robert Lowrance, H.B. McEachern, Hugh Morrison; retired high school principals Fred Drummond of Kannapolis and Ralph Glenn of Concord; Drs. Ladd Hamrick and Keith Miller; school administrator and county commissioner Harold Nash; Employment Security Commission manager Bobby Overcash; retired Jackson Training School teacher Frank Liske, and Bill Hillhouse of Duke Power Co Rowan Tech: President Dr. Richard Brownell and Bill McCrary of Concord explain map of branch proposal.

1983

Harold Kenerly Appointed Fourth Board Chair

College Acquired the Corban Center in Concord

1986

$2 Million Approved by the NC General Assembly for the Construction of South Campus in Cabarrus County

Challenger Exploded

1987

College Received Award for Partnership with Philip Morris from the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges

College’s Name Changed to Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

What's in a name? RTC to get new one. By ANN E. ROBEY. Staff Writer. SALISBURY - A request to adopt a name change to include the word "community" for Rowan Technical College generated sharp discussion at the Rowan County Board of Commissioners meeting Monday. Most of the RTC Board of Trustees members were in attendance at the meeting when Chairman Harold Kenerly told the commissioners that the trustees were in favor of changing the name to keep in line with what other schools have done and to improve the perceived image of the college. "It is simply a matter of standardizing," Kenerly said. "It puts us in step with what the rest of the state and even the country are doing. We all are training in technical education. No more than 15 percent can be taught liberal arts." Kenerly asked the commission to endorse a name change and said an ad hoc committee would be formed to make a recommendation on what the name should be. "I would hate to see our school at a disadvantage because it doesn't have the word 'community' in it," said Commissioner Bill Swaim. "There is a perception that a community college has higher standing than a technical college." However, Commissioner Jamima DeMarcus objected to giving blanket approval for the change without knowing what the final name might be. "I don't object to changing to community college," DeMarcus said. "But I am not comfortable approving a name before hearing the name. I would like to see the name you propose before voting to approve it." DeMarcus, in a prepared statement, stressed the commitment of the people in Rowan County to the college and told Kenerly that the trustees should be "very sensitive to the good people of Rowan County." Swaim moved to allow a name change to include "community college," but DeMarcus offered a substitute motion to defer a vote until the trustees brought a name proposal to the board. "I have confidence in this board, but I also see us giving you a blank check," said Commissioner George Knox. The substitute motion was defeated, and the motion to allow the change was approved with DeMarcus casting the lone negative vote. The ad hoc committee will recommend to the full board of trustees a new name for the school that will probably incorporate some reference to the proposed new Cabarrus County campus. In other business, the commission approved a contract with CTS Management Company Inc. to consolidate and manage the county's transportation fleet. The Sanford based firm currently coordinates transportation in several other North Carolina counties and municipalities. Rowan has been negotiating for transportation management for more than a year in order to streamline services, reduce costs and better utilize vehicles. Additionally, with a consolidated transportation plan in effect, the county will be able to get new vehicles using state funds for 90 percent of the cost. Agencies using the vehicles would include Parks and Recreation, ARC, SOAR, Office on Aging, Vocationa Workshops, DSS, the Health Department and Tri-County Mental Health. The commissioners also appointed members to a newly established Tourist Authority which will be the agency for disbursing funds obtained through the 1 cent hotel/motel tax. Jim Hicks will represent the Chamber of Commerce and will serve as chairman of the authority. The commission recommended Lec Wallace, or the manager of the Holiday Inn, if Wallace declines, and the manager of the Howard Johnson to represent the hotel/motel industry; Ed Norvell to represent the Historic Salisbury Foundation; Charlie Peacock from the N.C. Transportation History Museum; two at-large members, Tom Harrell and David Wilson.

Land Purchase: College Acquired 23 Acres of Land in Cabarrus County for South Campus

First Regional Multi-Campus Community College in the State

Collage of three black-and-white photographs showing Cabarrus Centers building exterior and two women working at desks, alongside descriptive text. Transcribed Text: Cabarrus Centers Rowan Technical College provides education through two centers in Cabarrus County. These are the Corban Center in Concord and the Carver Center in Kannapolis. Through these centers students are able to take introductory curriculum courses in business programs, Early Childhood Education, and Criminal Justice. Additionally, a large number of students are enrolled in basic education, Adult High School Education, and occupational extension courses. Belinda French from the Corban Center is pictured typing certificates, and Kaye Danford from the Carver Center is drafting a report.

$2 Million Bond Passed by Cabarrus County to Match N.C. General Assembly Funding

Newspaper clipping titled "Voters approve technical college bonds" detailing a local referendum result. Transcribed Text: Voters approve technical college bonds By ANN E. ROBEY Staff Writer Cabarrus County will get a new campus for Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. It was a narrow margin, 5,543 to 4,062, but Tuesday’s referendum to issue $2 million in bonds for a new campus on Trinity Church Road at the intersection of Highway 73 and I-85 was carried in 20 of 29 precincts. Kannapolis voters defeated the issue, however, with seven of the nine city precincts voting against the proposal. The only other precincts voting "no" were New Gilead, Rimer, the Northeast Fire Department and West Concord. Most of the boxes registered wide margins between the pros and the cons, but one precinct, Georgeville, had 73 voters in favor and 71 opposed. "I think the unique circumstances in Kannapolis clouded the issue," said RCCC President Dr. Richard Brownell. "I believe the people in Kannapolis do support the college. I am thankful for the support Cabarrus County has shown us." Going into the referendum there was no organized opposition to the technical college bonds. The Kannapolis Chamber of Commerce and Fieldcrest Cannon had endorsed passage. There was concern about the outcome, though, because the highly controversial proposal to begin building a countywide sewer system was on the ballot. That proposal was defeated. Brownell said the attention thus far has been on "taking it step by step," and a timetable for construction of the new facility; however, college officials are ready to begin the search for an architect. "The committee for selection of an architect will meet the first of the year," said Ron Bostian, executive vice president of the college. "We anticipate 18 months’ construction period and a campus by 1990 in Cabarrus County." "We will put out bids for an architect," said Bill McCrary, chairman of the advisory council, "and the Long-range Planning Committee will study them and present them to the board of trustees. The plans will also be studied by the N.C. Department of Community Colleges and the N.C. General Assembly." The new campus will be located on a 24-acre tract south of Kannapolis, a site targeted for annexation by the city. The $2 million bond issue will be matched by $2 million provided by the state through the Department of Community Colleges. Instructional equipment, machinery and classroom furniture will be provided through state funds. The college’s regular state budget will provide 85 to 90 percent of the operating budget at the new campus, with the county providing the remainder. Programs at the southern campus will be coordinated with those of the Salisbury campus to avoid duplication. Specific programs will be considered following a market research analysis of the technical education needs of the two counties.

1989

Construction Began on South Campus

Construction site with a multi-story building in progress, surrounded by equipment and a parked car.

Fall of the Berlin Wall

Rowan County and Salisbury City Schools Consolidated

1990

First Community College to offer Phlebotomy Training in the State

Classes Began at South Campus

The image depicts a classroom or office setting with several people gathered around desktop computers. In the foreground, a man and woman are seated next to a young girl who is interacting with a computer. The man wears a white shirt and jeans, and the woman wears a white jacket with patterned blue pants. The girl, dressed in a purple dress, sits in a swiveling office chair, her focus directed at the monitor. Another woman, standing nearby, wears a blue blazer over a colorful patterned skirt. In the background, a group of people are engaged in conversation; one is wearing a uniform, likely a police officer. Multiple computers and printers are arranged on wooden desks throughout the room, with various office equipment visible, emphasizing a technological environment. A large window reveals a view of trees outside.

1991

College Established the Rowan-Cabarrus Foundation as its Own Not-for-Profit

Ray Paradowski Appointed Fifth Board Chair

Black and white portrait of Ray Paradowski smiling in a pinstripe suit and striped tie.

1992

Small Business Center Opened

The image shows four individuals standing in a room with office furniture. Three men and one woman are engaged in conversation. The man on the far left is wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and a colorful tie, holding his hands together. Next to him stands a woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a patterned blazer over a white top. She looks toward the man speaking. The third person, a man with short gray hair, wears a striped shirt and black trousers, standing with his hands in his pockets. The last man, on the right, is gesturing with his hands, wearing a dark suit with a striped tie. In the background, there's a flip chart with partially visible text and a poster board.

1993

Cloverleaf Campus Opened

1995

Distance Learning Centers Established

A group in a classroom with distance learning equipment and a sign for Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.

1997

College Transitioned from Quarters to Semesters

Internet Service Available on Campus

The image shows a classroom setting from an earlier era, filled with vintage computer equipment. In the foreground, a woman in a pink sweater with black detailing leans over a keyboard, appearing to type or interact with the computer. Next to her, a man in a maroon jacket and striped tie is standing, holding a computer mouse connected to another computer. Both are focused on their tasks, suggesting a learning or demonstration environment. The room is lined with rows of bulky CRT monitors and desktop computers, indicating the technological period from the late 20th century. Several other individuals are visible in the background, engaged and observing the activity. The ceiling has distinct fluorescent lights, and there is an empty whiteboard at the back of the room.

Building N102 Named the Brownell Building

Richard L. Brownell Building at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College with a modern facade and circular courtyard.

1998

Launched College Website and First Internet Course

1999

Second South Campus Building Constructed in Concord

2000

Higher Education Bond for $11 Million Approved by NC General Assembly

A memorandum from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College announcing the success of a bond referendum. Transcribed Text: TO: Trustees, Faculty, Staff, and Students FROM: Ray Paradowski & Dick Brownell DATE: November 8, 2000 SUBJECT: HOORAY!! CELEBRATE!! The Higher Bonds Have Passed!! RCCC and all of the community colleges and universities in North Carolina owe you a great debt of gratitude for your support of the Higher Education Bond Referendum campaign. With support from each of you, we surpassed our fund-raising goal of $11,000. RCCC will have state-level capital funds to continue meeting the future workforce development training needs of our region. The bond funds must be used within the next six years. We will revisit both campus master plans and continue working on construction planning and other strategic issues related to effective use of the bond funds. Once again, we thank you for your steadfast support of RCCC [Signature] Ray E. Paradowski Chairman of the Board [Signature] R. L. Brownell President

2001

September 11 Terrorist Attacks

The image shows a section of a memorial display along a chain-link fence. A large white banner hangs prominently, filled with handwritten messages in red and blue ink. At the top, between two American flags, the banner reads, “In honor, respect, and gratitude to all the heroes of the WTC tragedy.” Below it, the name “Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Salisbury, North Carolina” is printed. Nearby, small American flags are attached to the fence, and a sign with a hand-drawn American flag and the words “God Bless America” is visible. A blue police barricade with the text "POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS" is placed in the foreground.

2003

Pillowtex Closed in Kannapolis

The image shows the demolition of two large industrial chimneys in a vast, open field. The main chimney, prominently featured in the center, is in mid-collapse, leaning toward the left. The second chimney is further along in its fall, closer to the ground with a cloud of dust and debris rising around its base. To the right of the image, a partially demolished industrial building is visible, with portions of the structure still standing. The sign "D. H. Griffin" is affixed to the building. The ground is barren and uneven, with reddish-brown soil visible. The sky overhead is gray and overcast, suggesting cloudy weather.

College Purchased Property for Second Entrance to North Campus from Old Concord Road

2005

Cabarrus Business and Technical Center Opened as College Campus

Awarded most outstanding workforce developer by Department of Labor

2007

Refocus, Retrain, Re-Employ (R3) Center opened in Kannapolis

2008

Great Recession

First Early college program began

Dr. Richard Brownell Retired and Named President Emeritus

a painted portrait of an older Dr. Richard Brownell wearing academic regalia. He is depicted with gray hair and glasses, and his expression is calm and contemplative. The man is wearing a blue academic gown with black velvet bars and a light blue hood, indicating an advanced degree. The gown has embroidered shields on both sides of the chest. He is standing with his hands folded in front of him. The background is a blend of muted gray and beige tones, providing a soft contrast to the vivid colors of the regalia.

Dr. Carol Spalding named Third College President

The image captures a formal ceremony on an outdoor stage, where Dr. Carol Spalding in academic regalia is being sworn in as college president. The woman stands at a wooden podium adorned with vibrant floral arrangements featuring yellow, pink, and orange flowers. She is raising her right hand, taking an oath. To her left, an older gentleman, also in academic regalia, is holding a microphone and facing her. Beside him, another man stands, and several onlookers in similar attire are seated. In the background, two flags are prominently displayed: the United States flag and the state flag. In the foreground, the caps of several attendees can be seen.

2009

Cannon Charitable Interests Major $1 Million Donation Enabled College to Upgrade IT Infrastructure

Philip Morris Closed

Newspaper articles about RCCC's plan for retraining due to the Philip Morris plant closure. Transcribed Text: PILLOWTEX WAS SUDDEN Slower plant closing gives RCCC time Can develop retraining plan for Philip Morris BY GAII. SMITH-ARRANTS When Pillowtex Corp. closed its plants in 2003, it threw Rowan-Cabarrus Community College into overdrive. The school geared up quickly to offer retraining to thousands of the jobless in Cabarrus and Rowan counties. Many of the textile workers had not graduated from high school and wanted to stay in this area. The eventual closing of the Concord Philip Morris USA plant may not be quite that stressful for the college, said Jeanie Moore, RCCC's vice president for continuing education. With the phased-in shutdown of the cigarette manufacturing plant by the end of 2010, the school will have time to develop a plan. And the plant's work force is vastly different from that of Pillowtex, Moore said. "The (Pillowtex) workers certainly had less formal skills and training and certainly less technical skills," she said. Some lacked basic literacy skills and high school diplomas, "which (are) required in almost all work forces today," Moore said. In addition, they weren't willing to move to get another job, and "that was a real challenge for them". Philip Morris workers are technically oriented and will travel for jobs, Moore said. She also suspects they are slightly younger than textile workers, "so you won't have so many generational workers from the same family depending on that singular employer for their livelihood," Moore said. Philip Morris is planning to offer transfers for most Concord employees to its Richmond, VA. operation. For the rest, it will offer severance packages. Pillowtex employees had no similar parting benefits. Today, displaced workers can make use of free job counseling offered at the new R' Center in Kannapolis, run by RCCC. That wasn't available four years ago. Other new tools in Moore's arsenal: an emerging biotechnology curriculum at RCCC and the developing North Carolina Research Campus. By the end of 2010, when the Philip Morris plant is to be completely closed, pharmaceutical manufacturing jobs may be available at the research campus. In the past, Central Piedmont Community College in Mecklenburg County has partnered with RCCC on retraining. In targeting Philip Morris workers, CPCC will emphasize process management training and technology training in labs. focusing on electrical, electronics and mechanical skills, said Mary Vickers-Koch with CPCC. In Raleigh, N.C. House Speaker Joe Hackney, D-Orange, said the legislature is ready to help, including possibly increasing training at community colleges. The state's Rapid Response Team also is ready to coordinate transitional services, such as additional education or helping the workers find new jobs. RCCC may have to increase or reshuffle its counseling staff, Moore said. Two weeks ago, the school had already started looking at counselors' wor kloads at the busy R' Center, which opened earlier this year. Moore said she's an optimist when it comes to coping with yet another massive job loss. "Education always provides people with opportunities," she said. "We just need to direct them toward that opportunity."

2010

Carl M. Short Appointed Sixth Board Chair

College became tobacco-free

$12 Million Bond Approved by Rowan County for the Fire & Emergency Services Training Center on North Campus

North Campus Building N110 and NCRC Building Opened

2013

Navigation Station Opened as a Full-Service Center for Student Success Services

College Celebrated 50th Anniversary and Rebrand

2014

North Campus Fire & Emergency Services Training Facility Opened

$9 Million Bond Approved by Cabarrus County for Advanced Technology Center

Beacon Hatched as the College’s Mascot

College Received $1 Million Donation from Fred and Alice Stanback to Support Solar Project

Aerial view of a Rowan-Cabarrus Community College with solar panels on the roof with an overlay of Fred & Alice Stanback smiling in the corner.

2015

North Carolina Manufacturing Institute Began

2016

College Received Donation of Three Acres from David Murdock for the Advanced Technology Center (ATC) on the North Carolina Research Campus

A large brick building with a tower under a sky with sun rays breaking through clouds.

2017

$8.1 Million Raised in First Major Gifts Campaign

The image shows four individuals standing side by side, posing for a group photo. On the far left is a man wearing a dark blazer over a blue button-up shirt. Next to him is Beacon. To the right is a woman in a black dress and matching jacket, smiling at the camera. On the far right is a man wearing a light blue blazer over a plaid shirt and clear glasses. The background features a brick building wall and some greenery.

Rowan-Cabarrus Foundation Received Largest Single-Donor Gift to Date of $2.68 Million to Support Solar Project and Student Scholarships

2018

First Phase of Solar Project Completed on North Campus

Aerial view of a large flat-roofed building covered in solar panels.

Celebrated Being Named a Top Ten Digital College for the Fourth Year in a Row

The image is a cover of the "Community College Journal" for August/September 2017, Volume 88, Issue 1. Dominating the cover is Dr. Carol Spalding in a blue suit, standing confidently with her arms crossed. She is positioned in front of a backdrop of server racks filled with cabling, emitting a soft blue and pink light. The journal's title is at the top, overlaid on the background with a white sans-serif font. The words "Embracing Tech" are prominently displayed in bold capital letters across her midsection on the left side. The background has a gradient from darker shades at the top to lighter towards the bottom. Several feature titles are aligned on the lower right side in smaller white text.

2019

Advanced Technology Center Opens

EV Charging Stations Installed at North Campus

Parking lot with an EV charging station in the foreground and parked cars in the background.

NCCCS Distinguished Partners of the Year – Rowan-Cabarrus, City of Kannapolis, Castle & Cooke

The image features four individuals standing side by side against a plain, light-colored background. They are dressed formally in suits and dresses. The first person, on the left, is a tall man wearing a dark pinstripe suit, a light blue shirt, and a patterned tie. He has short white hair and is smiling. The second person is Dr. Carol Spalding wearing a blue, textured two-piece suit with a belt and a pearl necklace. She also has a name tag on her suit and is smiling broadly. The third person is a shorter man wearing a dark suit, a light blue shirt, and a red patterned tie. He is wearing glasses and smiling slightly. The fourth person is a man dressed in a dark suit, a light blue shirt, and a solid red tie. He has a beard and is also smiling. They all appear to be standing in a professional or formal setting.

NCCCS President of the Year Dr. Carol S. Spalding

Dr. Carol Spalding and Carl Short Jr. holding a plaque in front of a Rowan-Cabarrus Community College banner.

2020

$45 Million Rowan County Bond Approved for Technology Education Complex

COVID-19 Pandemic Began

2022

Top Quality Matters School in North Carolina

Newspaper clipping announcing RCCC's 26 Quality Matters-certified online courses. Transcribed Text: Thursday, January 5, 2023 salisburypost.com 4B RCCC now offers 26 quality matters-certified online courses RCCC News Service SALISBURY — Rowan-Cabarrus Community College recently received national Quality Matters (QM) certification for more of its classes, giving the college the most QM-certified courses of any community college in North Carolina. These online courses have met rigorous standards to ensure excellence in development and delivery to support student learning and success. As of August 2022, 26 courses have QM certifications. The college has six courses undergoing QM review, with another five being internally reviewed for submission. Quality Matters is a leader in quality assurance for online education and has received national recognition for its peer-based approach to continuous improvement in online education and student learning. Colleges and universities worldwide use QM certification as a standard of excellence and rely on its tools for developing and maintaining online courses and training faculty. Originally receiving certification in 2013, Rowan-Cabarrus became one of four colleges nationally to have a faculty training course certified by QM and was the second community college in the nation and the first two- or four-year college in North Carolina to do so. RCCC was re-certified in 2018 and remains the only two- or four-year college in North Carolina with a faculty training course certified by QM.

Advanced Technology Center Renamed the Dr. Carol S. Spalding Advanced Technology Center

2023

Outdoor Learning Center Opened on North Campus

College Solar Array Recognized as the Largest PV Solar System of Any Non-Profit or Community College in the Southeast

Aerial view of north campus showing off the College's Solar Array

College Celebrated 60th Anniversary

a group of people arranged on the OLC platforms to make the number 60

College Received Donation of 26 Acres from Rowan County Adjacent to North Campus

Cyndie Mynatt Appointed Seventh Board Chair

Cyndie Mynatt and Dr. Carol Spalding sitting at a conference table with a tablet and gavel in front of them.

College Received Top 150 Nomination for Coveted Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence

Newspaper clipping about RCCC competing for the $1 million Aspen prize.

College Received $15 Million from the State Legislature for the North Campus Parking Lot and Driver Training Range

Six people hold a large ceremonial check for nine million dollars from the North Carolina General Assembly for RCCC, against a backdrop with college logos.

Historical data and photographs are provided by Archive Services and reflect our current understanding of the records.

At Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, the Archive Services team is essential in preserving the institution’s historical and operational integrity. They manage artifact acquisition, appraisal, and retention, including records that document significant events and activities. The team also focuses on the preservation of digital records, ensuring their accessibility and integration into archival systems. By processing these records, they facilitate easy access for the college community and researchers while promoting the archives through educational services and outreach.