History of Edison Community College
CHRONOLOGY
1961 - Florida Legislature established Edison Junior College
and appropriated funding for a permanent campus.
1962 - Edison Junior College opened in temporary quarters at
the Andrew Gwynne Institute, with a second center at Dunbar High School.
Dr. Charles E. Rollins inaugurated
at the first President of Edison Junior College.
Dr. David G. Robinson appointed as
the college's first Academic Dean.
1963 - EJC's first athletic team, men's basketball, took the
floor under the guidance of EJC's first coach, Tom Garcia.
Donald Lee McDaniel, who was a
transfer student from Florida State University, became EJC's first graduate.
1964 - EJC's first formal commencement ceremonies were held
for a graduating class of 67 students.
1965 - New campus of Edison Junior College opened on an
80-acre site off Cypress Lake Drive, with Building B (Leonhardt Hall), Building C (Robisnon Hall, and a maintenance
building that contained showers and locker rooms for physical education and athletics.
Dr. David G. Robinson inaugurated
as second President of Edison Junior College.
1967 - Building E (Learning Resources, Doris Corbin
Auditorium, Auditorium Gallery) completed.
1968 - First District Board of Trustees appointed by Governor;
Travis A. Gresham, Jr. elected first chairman.
Lee Memorial Hospital Auxiliary
gave $50,000 to establish a nursing program at EJC.
Edison Junior College Endowment
Corporation formed.
1970 - First nursing class gradated from Edison Junior
College.
1971 - Health and Physical Education Building completed.
1972 - Name of college changed to Edison Community College to
reflect more comprehensive mission.
1974 - First credit courses offered by ECC via television.
Centers of the college opened in
Charlotte County and Collier County.
1975 - Building A (Applied Sciences)
completed.
ECC Endowment Corporation, with a
minimal balance of $34.25, reactivated to assist in development of private
funds for the college.
1976 - Edison Community College faculty elected to organize
for collective negotiations.
1979 - Building F (Humanities) completed.
1980 - Art Annex (sculpture building) added.
Groundbreaking held for USF branch
campus on 50-acre site adjacent to ECC.
1982 - Dedication of USF campus and establishment of
ECC/USF Learning Resources Center and other cooperative arrangements between
the two colleges, including the 2+2 program.
1984 - Edmund Kulakowski Observatory
established and named for former ECC astronomy and geology professor, Edmund A. Kulakowski.
ECC Retirees Association formed.
1986 - Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall opened.
1987 - Building G (Hendry Hall) completed.
1990 - Charlotte Center moved to new interim location in Punta Gorda.
Foundation for the Performing Arts
Hall established as advisory and fundraising entity for the Barbara B. Mann
Performing Arts Hall.
Charlotte County government
donated 80 acres on a long-term lease to the college for the construction of a
permanent campus in Charlotte County.
1991 - Construction began on new Collier Campus at Lely on a
50-acre site near Naples.
Dr. David G. Robinson retired from
presidency.
District Board of Trustees named
Dr. Kenneth P. Walker as the third President of Edison Community College.
District Board of Trustees
contracted with Professional Facilities Management (PFM) for professional
management of the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall.
District Board of Trustees adopted
resolution to build a permanent campus of Edison Community College in Charlotte
County.
1992 - Dr. Kenneth P. Walker inaugurated as the third
President of Edison Community College.
Share the Vision Councils formed
throughout the college district to provide input into a long-range plan for the
Edison Community College.
2002 Edison adopted as Mater
Action Plan for the next decade.
Collier Campus at Lely opened in
Naples.
1993 - Project HOPE, an early intervention program for at-risk
or troubled youth, was established at Edison Community College.
1997 Charlotte County Campus opened on a 204-acre site on
Airport Road in Punta Gorda.
1999 - Edison University Center opened on Lee County Campus
through collaborative partnerships with colleges and universities to provide
enhanced access to upper division studies for Edison graduates.
2000 - Kenneth P. Walker Health Science Hall opened on Lee
County Campus.
Florida Legislature enacted
legislation that grants authority to community colleges to offer limited
baccalaureate degrees.
2001 - Child Care Center opened on Lee County Campus.
2002 - Madeliene R. Taeni Student Services Hall opened on Lee County Campus.
Edison State College celebrates 40th Anniversary of opening of college.
