Through the Years

1961

1962

1963

1964

1966

1967

1968

1969

First North Campus Building Constructed in Salisbury

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.

35TH U.S. PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATED Founding Leadership: First President Merrill Hamilton

Scan the code or visit www.rccc.edu/timeline for an interactive experience.

COLLEGE'S NAME CHANGED TO ROWAN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE

Founding Leadership: First Board Chair Carroll Overton

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

1971

1973

1975

1976

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

Land Purchase: College Acquired 66.4 Acres Adjacent to North Campus

Second North Campus Building Constructed in Salisbury

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

Clyde Harriss Appointed Second Board Chair

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ASSASSINATED

APOLLO 11 LANDED ON THE MOON

1977

1978

President Merrill Hamilton Retired

North Campus Parking Lot Paved

Rowan Industrial Education Center Opened in Salisbury

$500,000 Bond to Fund First College Building Passed

1970

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

Third North Campus Building Constructed in Salisbury

Fourth and Fifth North Campus Buildings Constructed in Salisbury

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

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

G.I. Bill Led to Increased Enrollment of Veterans

COLLEGE’S NAME CHANGED TO ROWAN TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Building N101 Named the C. Merrill Hamilton Building

VIETNAM WAR ENDED

Dr. Richard Brownell Named Second College President William Murdoch Appointed Third Board Chair

1979

NATIONAL ENERGY CRISIS College Established Council to Explore Ways to Reduce Energy Usage

1980

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

Computers Installed on Campus

1981

1982

1983

1986

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

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

Harold Kenerly Appointed Fourth Board Chair First Telecourses Offered through the College

Cabarrus County Advisory Committee Established

College's Service Area Expanded to Include Cabarrus County

College Acquired the Corban Center in Concord

CHALLENGER EXPLODED

1987

1989

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

1990

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

Rowan County and Salisbury City Schools Consolidated Construction Began on South Campus

COLLEGE’S NAME CHANGED TO ROWANCABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

1991

First Community College to Offer Phlebotomy Training in the State

1992

FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL

1995

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2003

College Transitioned from Quarters to Semesters

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

Distance Learning Centers Established

Small Business Center Opened

First Multi-Campus Community College in NC

$2 Million Bond Passed by Cabarrus County to Match NC General Assembly Funding

1993

Higher Education Bond for $11 Million Approved

by NC General Assembly

Building N102 Named the Brownell Building

Ray Paradowski Appointed Fifth Board Chair Classes Began at South Campus Cloverleaf Campus Opened

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

Launched College Website and First Internet Course

Internet Service Available on Campus

SEPTEMBER 11 TERRORIST ATTACKS Second South Campus Building Constructed in Concord

2005

Awarded Most Outstanding Workforce Developer by Department of Labor

Cabarrus Business and Technical Center Opened as College Campus Pillowtex Closed in Kannapolis

2007

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

2008

First Early College Program Began Dr. Carol Spalding Named Third College President

GREAT RECESSION Dr. Richard Brownell Retired and Named President Emeritus

2009

2010

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

College Became Tobacco-Free

North Campus Fire & Emergency Services Training Facility Opened

$2 Million Federal Grant to Expand Health Programs Carl M. Short, Jr. Appointed Sixth Board Chair

PHILIP MORRIS CLOSED

College Celebrated 50th Anniversary and Rebrand

$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

2019

2020

2022

2023

EV Charging Stations Installed at North Campus

Navigation Station Opened as a Full-Service Center for Student Success Services Cannon Charitable Interests Major $1 Million Donation Enabled College to Upgrade IT Infrastructure

2018

$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

North Carolina Manufacturing Institute Began

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

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

$8.1 Million Raised in First Major Gifts Campaign

$45 Million Rowan County Bond Approved for Technology Education Complex

Advanced Technology Center Opens

First Phase of Solar Project Completed on North Campus

Top Quality Matters School in North Carolina

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

Outdoor Learning Center Opened on North Campus

NCCCS Distinguished Partners of the Year

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

Rowan-Cabarrus, City of Kannapolis, Castle & Cooke

COVID-19 PANDEMIC BEGAN NCCCS President of the Year Dr. Carol S. Spalding

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

College Celebrated 60th Anniversary Cyndie Mynatt Appointed Seventh Board Chair

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

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

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