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