Opening Doors for 60 Years

WCC's Legacy & Lasting Commitment

In September 1966, Washtenaw Community College (WCC) opened the doors to its first students. With the start of the Fall 2025 Semester, WCC is kicking off its year-long celebration into the college's 60th birthday this September 2026.

WCC's story began with a bold vision — and overwhelming community support. In January 1965, county voters approved the establishment of a new two-year college by a 2-to-1 margin and elected its first Board of Trustees. Just over a year later, WCC welcomed its first students into temporary classrooms near Willow Run in September 1966.

WCC gold logo

From the very beginning, the college was rooted in a mission that still defines it today: to provide accessible, affordable, high-quality education that meets the needs of both students and the local workforce. Studies in the late 1950s and early 1960s made it clear — Washtenaw County needed a skilled, technically trained workforce, and local leaders stepped up to meet that challenge.

As the WCC timeline shows, the past 60 years have been marked by bold innovation, steady growth and a steadfast commitment to student success and community impact.

rose bellanca


Washtenaw Community College exists because of its supportive community. From the decisive 1965 vote that established the college to the resounding 3-to-1 approval of our millage renewal and restoration in 2020, Washtenaw County residents have supported WCC every step of the way.

As we celebrate 60 years of opening doors, the timeline that follows is a tribute to what we’ve accomplished together — milestones made possible by a community’s belief in accessible, affordable and high-quality education. On behalf of the entire college, I thank residents for helping us fulfill our mission and shape brighter futures.

Rose Bellanca, Ed.D
President, Washtenaw Community College

The WCC Timeline: 60 Years of Keeping Up the Good Work

Early 1966

Washtenaw Community College opened its doors – many doors, in fact, in many different locations in and around Willow Run in eastern Washtenaw County.

  • College Hall, WCC’s main classroom building, occupied the site of what was Foster Elementary School.
  • WCC’s Administration Building was the former Willow Run Village Fire Station.
  • Other buildings included a former meat market, bowling alley, Catholic church and a World War II Quonset hut.

early wcc building

Summer 1967

The college purchases an apple orchard from Jarvis and Pearl Franzblau for $3,500 per acre and begins construction of its 285-acre campus in Ann Arbor Township on the site.

June 1968

Washtenaw Community College hosts its first full Commencement ceremony with 47 students receiving associate degrees.

June 1969

The WCC Board of Trustees approves the college’s first tuition rate of $10 per credit hour.

1971

Temporary classroom buildings spring up on the west side of Huron River Drive, housing math and student center facilities.

temporary wcc classrooms

Fall 1973

The college introduces an innovative counseling program geared toward Vietnam War veterans.

September 1975

WCC begins offering non-credit courses. The first semester counts 500 students enrolled.

May 1982

The Open Doors sculpture by Paul Zenian, located in front of the Student Center, is dedicated as a symbol of the open door philosophy of the college.

open doors sculpture being built
open doors sculpture

January 1984

First open-access microcomputer lab opens in the Learning Resource Center.

March 1987

A regional police academy opens its doors at WCC.

1989

The United Association Instructors Training Program chooses WCC as its new home for summer training.

1994

Job Skills and Campus Events Building is named the Morris J. Lawrence Building in honor of the deceased chair of the WCC Music Department.

morris lawrence building

September 1996

The Business Education Building opens.

January 1999

The WCC library begins participation in a project to catalog the World Wide Web, the first community college to do so.

June 6, 2003

Legendary singer Marvis Staples kicks off the college’s “Living Legends” performance and lecture series.

December 2008

The WCC Jazz Orchestra performs at the National Christmas Tree evening music program at the White House.

wcc jazz orchestra

November 2014

The Entrepreneurship Center at WCC opens.

2015

WCC announces that a $4.4 million state grant will fund the opening of its Advanced Transportation Center, providing mobility education and training to meet the rapidly developing needs of the workforce.

September 2016

The college offers its first Free College Day event as part of its 50th anniversary celebration. It later extends to Free College Week.

2017

The WCC Foundation launches its new Student Emergency Fund to support students with emergent needs such as rent, transportation, food, etc.

July 2017

Nine WCC students on a study abroad trip to at Vindolanda, an ancient Roman fort in northern England, make international news by unearthing 25 well-preserved letters written by soldiers at the end of the first century A.D.

March 2020

Having made distance learning a focus since 2013, WCC adeptly transitions to all online classes during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The student success rate that semester was 77%, significantly higher than the 69% national average.

June 2020

The United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers becomes the fourth international trade union to bring its summer Instructor Training Program to WCC.

May 2021

WCC conducts its annual Commencement as a parade through campus for the graduating classes of 2021 and 2020, which saw its Commencement cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings.

July 2022

Continuing its commitment to keep higher education affordable through open educational resources, WCC announces its first Z-degree that makes it possible for a student to earn an associate degree without ever purchasing a textbook.

July 2022

WCC offers a full-service commercial driver’s license educational training program to help fill critical workforce needs.

March 2023

WCC opens its state-of-the-art Esports Arena in the Technical & Industrial Building and launches competitive club esport teams.

August 2023

WCC, local manufacturers and regional workforce development organizations launch the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing (FAME) work-and-learn apprenticeship program in Michigan.

April 2025

WCC alumna Aisha Bowe, a former NASA engineer, fulfills a lifelong dream by traveling to space on board a Blue Origin rocket.

2025

WCC completes multi-year transition of 100 percent of online and blended courses to Canvas learning management system in advance of Fall 2025 semester.

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