San Diego City College History
San Diego City College is a public, two-year community college administered by the San Diego Community College District. Other colleges in the same District are San Diego Mesa College and San Diego Miramar College. There are also six continuing education centers and the Educational Cultural Complex which offers both college and continuing education courses.
Chronology
1914 City College held its first classes in San Diego High School located across the street from the present campus. First known as a junior college; it was the third community college established in California.
1921 City College moved from the high school to share facilities with the State Normal School, a four year teachers' college which became San Diego State University.
1939 San Diego Evening Junior College was created by splitting the institution into two entities, day and evening. The Evening component was created to meet the growing need for college courses for daytime working people.
1946 City College moved back to San Diego High School and reorganized into three branches: San Diego Vocational High School, San Diego College Arts and Science Center, and San Diego Evening Junior College.
1954 College renamed San Diego Junior College and Vocational School. The vocational reference was dropped in 1957 and it was known as San Diego Junior College until 1961 when it became San Diego City College.
1972 San Diego voters authorized a separate Community College District.
1973-74 A separate Board of Trustees was elected for the Community College District and the Board appointed its first Chancellor as the District's chief administrative officer.
1976 Educational Cultural Complex opened, built on 10 acres in southeast San Diego providing college credit courses, high school completion courses, skills training and continuing education courses.
1979-80 Evening College program merged with City College day program and other day programs at Mesa and City Colleges.
1989 City College celebrated its 75th anniversary.
1994 20th anniversary of Curran Plaza celebrated; plaque to former mayor Frank Curran dedicated; 80th birthday of City College cited.
1995 Schwartz Square dedicated in honor of Larry Schwartz, educator, facilitator, and negotiator.
