1960s
|
August ’66: |
Board of Freeholders approves the creation of Essex County College. |
May ’67: |
Robert McCabe is appointed Essex County College’s first President. |
September ’68: |
3,400 students begin classes at 31 Clinton Street, Newark, former site of Seton Hall Law School. |
January ’69: |
Dr. Ellis White becomes the second President. |
|
1970s
|
January ’70: |
Peoples council manifesto demands main campus remain in Newark. |
May ’70: |
214 graduates receive degrees and certificates at the first ECC Commencement. |
May ’71: |
J. Harry Smith becomes the third President and the first black college president in the State of New Jersey. |
June ’72: |
Groundbreaking for Megastructure campus in Newark. |
March ’74: |
College is accredited by the Middle States Association’s Commission on Higher Education. |
September ’74: |
The College and FOCUS Center agreement to offer off-campus educational services. |
January ’76: |
First ECC Fulbright Scholar. |
April ’76: |
Opening of the Megastructure at 303 University Avenue. |
July ’78: |
Dr. George Harris becomes the fourth President. |
January ’79: |
The West Essex Extension Center opens in a former elementary school in West Caldwell. |
August ’79: |
Presidential Tuition Scholarship established. |
September ’79: |
The College and Ironbound Center agreement to offer off-campus educational services. |
|
1980s
|
May ’80: |
Dr. A. Zachary Yamba becomes the fifth President. |
February ’81: |
Accreditation reaffirmed by Middle States. |
April ’82: |
Purchase of 8-acre site in West Caldwell. |
September ’82: |
Alpha Theta Theta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa chartered. |
June ’83: |
339 graduates receive degrees and certificates at Commencement. |
September ’83: |
WISE (Women in Service to Essex) Women’s Center opens as a full service department. |
September ’85: |
Opening of expanded and renovated West Essex Extension Center. |
October ’85: |
Opening of the Gymnasium and Child Development Center. |
December ’85: |
ENET TV49 on Cablevision goes live, transmitting a signal via microwave from the MPT studio. |
January ’87: |
Nursing gets its footing and develops into current program. |
March ’89: |
Gala opening of the Mary B. Burch Theater for the Performing Arts. |
May ’89: |
West Essex is granted branch campus status by the NJ State Department of Higher Education. |
|
1990s
|
March ’92: |
Accreditation reaffirmed. |
October ’92: |
ECC celebrates its 25th Anniversary. |
October ’92: |
College domain essex.edu was established and website development begins. |
June ’93: |
498 graduates receive degrees and certificates at Commencement. |
October ’96: |
Opening of the Center for Technology and first time an engineering technology program (Civil Construction) received ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology) accreditation. |
March ’97: |
ECC Women win National Junior College Athletic Association Indoor Track Championship. |
November ’98: |
Training, Inc. moves to Megastructure. |
December ’98: |
College begins operation of the Essex County College Police Academy in Cedar Grove. |
September ’99: |
Dedication of the Clara E. Dasher Student Center. |
|
2000s
|
August ’00: |
Renovated MLK Library reopens. |
May ’01: |
Opening of the Africana Institute attended by King Of Ghana’s Asante Kingdom. |
June ’01: |
Accreditation reaffirmed. |
February ’03: |
Dedication of J. Harry Smith Lecture Hall. |
June ’03: |
Dedication of Morton A. Siegler Lecture Hall. |
August ’04: |
ECC’s “Olympic Track Dynasty” begins with former ECC student-athlete winning Bronze Medal at Summer Olympics. |
September ’05: |
Opening of the Learning Center. |
January ’06: |
First Honors Program classes held. |
April ’06: |
The first Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship is awarded to an ECC student. |
July ’06: |
Opening of Urban Issues Institute. |
September ’06: |
Groundbreaking for the Center for Health Sciences. |
March ’07: |
ECC Women win National Junior College Athletic Association Indoor Track Championship. |
August ’08: |
800 – space parking deck opens. |
August ’08: |
Eleven former student-athletes compete in the Summer Olympics, winning Gold, Silver and two Bronze Medals. |
|
2010s
|
March ’10: |
Dr. Zachary A. Yamba retires after 29 years as president. |
April ’10: |
Dr. Edythe Abdullah becomes the sixth President. |
April ’10: |
Unveiling of new Media Production & Technology Center. |
January ’11: |
Second ECC Fulbright Scholar. |
September ’11: |
First firefighter graduation class at ECC Police Academy. |
December ’11: |
Opening of the Faculty Assessment Center. |
April ’12: |
Opening of Student Success Center. |
June ’12: |
The College and North Ward Center agreement to offer off-campus educational services. |
June ’12: |
Third ECC Fulbright Scholar. |
August ’12: |
Eleven current and former student-athletes compete in the Summer Olympics, winning Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals. |
March ’13: |
Dr. Gale E. Gibson is named Interim President. |
March ’13: |
Accreditation reaffirmed. |
April ’13: |
Three students earn Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarships, bringing ECC’s total scholars to nine. |
May ’13: |
1,464 receive degrees and certificates, the largest ECC Commencement class. |
July ’13: |
45th academic year begins. |
October ’13: |
Dr. Gale E. Gibson becomes the College’s 7th President. |
March ’16: |
Dr. Zachary A. Yamba returns as the College’s interim president. |
May ’17: |
Dr. Anthony E. Munroe becomes the College’s 8th President. |
November ’17: |
The Information Commons opens following official ribbon cutting ceremony. |
2020s
|
August ’20 |
Dr. Augustine E. Boakye becomes the College’s Interim/Acting President |