SCC Microsite Timeline
1920
BJC opens in a classroom in the Apollo High School building, a total of 44 students enroll.
Burlington Junior Colllege (BJC)
1920
BJC Men’s Blackhawk Basketball Program Established
1922
The first class 12 students graduate from Burlington Junior College.
Inaugural Class Graduates From Burlington Junior College
1926
BJC Women’s sports programs established
1929
BJC receives its first accreditation from the Committee on Admissions from Higher Institutions located at the University of Illinois.
BJC Becomes Accredited
1930
Discontinued in 1940.
BJC Football Program established
1953
KCC opens its doors to the first class of students. It is located at Keokuk High School.
KEOKUK COMMUNITY COLLEGE (KCC)
First graduating class
1961
Changes Name to Burlington Community College (BCC). Boosted in part by returning veterans utilizing their GI Bill to go to college, BCC outgrows its space in Apollo High School and moves to the recently-vacated Saunderson Elementary School across the street thanks to a $100,000 donation to from John H. Witte, Jr. to pay for renovations.
BJC
Moved to Saunderson School
1962
KCC gets its first dedicated facility on Keokuk High School property.
KCC Addition Built at Keokuk High School
1965
Community colleges across the state of Iowa are organized into 15 districts. Burlington Community College and Keokuk Community Colleges merge to become Southeastern Community College. Career education programs are added.
Legislation Passes Establishing Iowa’s Community Colleges
1965
SCC Men’s Blackhawk Basketball Team Wins 2nd Place at NJCAA TournamentTimeline Story
1966
One year later SCC enrollment surpasses 1,000
BJC and KCC merged to form SCC
1968
Serves as SCC President until 1986
Mr Carlton “Cal” Callison Named SCC president
1970
SCC begins providing vocational instruction to inmates at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. It will later offer instruction in the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility as well.
SCC develops vocational instruction program at Iowa State Penitentiary
1972
SCC builds and opens first building (present-day Callison Hall) along with six mobile units in West Burlington, vacating the old Saunderson School building.
SCC
Moves to present location in West Burlington
1975
SCC purchases ground and moves its Keokuk campus to Messenger Road, vacating its facility on the Keokuk High School property. The new campus consists of five mobile units.
SCC Keokuk
Moves to Messenger Road
1977
The County College Fair Service Agency is created. The new entity builds the Des Moines County Fair Grounds, including the Agri-Stock Arena and the Agri-Sports Gymnasium for shared ownership and use among entities.
CCFSA Created, Fair Grounds and Gymnasium Open
1989
Two residence halls open on the West Burlington campus. They are funded by a capital campaign.
first residence hall
First residence hall opens
1990
Emeritus Hall is the first of five permanent buildings open on the Keokuk campus. The new buildings eventually replace the original mobile units.
Emeritus Hall Constructed on the Keokuk Campus
1990
From Alum and Founder of the Modern K-Mart, Clifford Lloyd Yohe
SCC Receives $1 Million Grant
1991
Trustee Hall opens on the West Burlington campus. The facility houses all new science labs, classrooms, offices, and a TV studio.
Trustee Hall
Trustee Hall opens
1992
1978 SCC Alumnus Cindy Murphy spearheads the establishment of the SCC Alumni Association, one of the first active community college alumni associations in the state.
Southeastern Community College Alumni Association Established
Alumni Association established
1997
Serves as SCC president until 2001
Dr. Daniel J. Phelan Named SCC President
1997
SCC opens a learning center in Fort Madison, offering adult education, continuing education, and credit classes to local residents.
Fort Madison Center Opens
1998
SCC opens a learning center in Mount Pleasant, offering adult education, continuing education, and credit classes to local residents.
Mount Pleasant Center Opens
2001
Serves as SCC president until 2005
Mr. James C. Richardson Named SCC President
2000, 2003 & 2004
Under the direction of Coach Joe O’Brien, the Blackhawks win three national championships in five years. Blackhawk Basketball continues its tradition of being the winningest men’s basketball program in the nation.
SCC Men’s Blackhawk Basketball Team Wins Three NJCAA National Championships
2003
SCC Women’s Blackhawk Softball Team Wins NJCAA Division II National Championship
2005
Serves as SCC president until 2012
Dr. Beverly S. Simone Named SCC President
2007
Construction Trades Building Opens on West Burlington Campus
2008
Welding Technology Building Opens on West Burlington Campus
2011
Animation and Graphics Communications Building Opens on West Burlington Campus
2012
Currently serving as SCC president
Dr. Michael L. Ash Named SCC President
2014
SCC’s Regional Emergency Response Training Center opens in Fort Madison. It provides specialized training for first responders.
SCC Regional Emergency Response Training Center Opens in Fort Madison
2015
Retired local businessman Lawrence Matteson and his wife Marilyn make a $3.5 million gift to SCC’s Building the Dream campaign. It is one of the largest gifts to a community college ever in the state of Iowa. The monies will fund the College’s Matteson Health and Science Complex on the West Burlington campus.
Lawrence & Marilyn Matteson Make $3.5 Million Gift to SCC
2016
The Great River Health Systems Health Professions Center opens on the West Burlington campus. The facility features state-of-the-art teaching and learning technology for the College’s health programs.
Great River Health Systems Health Professions Center Opens
2017
The Industrial Technology Training Center opens in Keokuk. The facility features spacious modern electrical and mechanical training labs to support the College’s Industrial Maintenance Technology program.
The Industrial Technology Training Center Opens on the Keokuk Campus
2017
Built and operated in partnership with local developers, Blackhawk Tower, a four-story residence hall, opens on the West Burlington campus. The facility can house up to 126 students and staff.
Blackhawk Tower Opens on the West Burlington Campus
2018
Thanks to a $1 million donation from the Witte Foundation, the John H. Witte, Jr. Hall of Sciences opens on the West Burlington campus. The facility features state-of-the-art biology, chemistry, and physics labs, and a 3D training simulator room.
The John H. Witte, Jr. Hall of Sciences Opens on West Burlington Campus
2018
With the opening of the skywalk between the Great River Health Systems Health Professions Center and the John H. Witte, Jr. Hall of Science, the Matteson Health & Science Complex is completed.
The Matteson Health & Science Complex is Completed
2019
After installing over 200 solar panels on the roof of the Industrial Technology Training Center in 2018, the College installs another 1000 solar panels in a field adjacent to the Keokuk campus. The total output is enough to power the campus and the neighboring St. Vincent’s Elementary School, the project partner.
SCC Goes Green With Completion of 2-acre Solar Field on the Keokuk Campus
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