By Cristian Romero
The Scene staff
St. Louis Community College turned 60 years old in April, prompting Chancellor Jeff Pittman to hold forums on all its campuses.
About 10 students and 30 employees showed up for the Forest Park forum on April 20 in the Mildred E. Bastian Center for the Performing Arts. It was also live-streamed, allowing people to watch from homes or offices.
Pittman discussed everything from the college’s founding to the recent passage of Proposition R. Voters approved a property tax increase to allow a $350 million bond issue for upgrades and modernization.
“Our main goal will always be to create a diverse learning environment for people to succeed and graduate with little to no debt at all,” Pittman said.
STLCC’s roots go back to 1962, when voters approved creation of the Junior College District of St. Louis-St. Louis County. It included three campuses: Forest Park, Meramec and Florissant Valley.
A fourth campus, Wildwood, opened in 2007.
The district was designed to provide an alternative to four-year institutions for students who wanted to continue their educations past high school and earn associate degrees or get vocational training.
In the beginning, nearly 800 students attended college-level classes at McCluer High School in Florissant and Roosevelt High School in St. Louis at night. Early career programs included nursing, data processing, culinary arts and automotive technology.
In 1964, 67 students graduated in the district’s first class. The following year, voters approved a $47.2 million bond issue to construct campuses.
“Before the (Forest Park) campus was built, there used to be an amusement park on the site,” said Monica Holland, library manager.
The amusement park was called Forest Park Highlands.
It burned down on July 9, 1963, leading the college to buy the land for $1.8 million.
Students and employees submitted 15 potential names for the campus, ranging from Louis IX Community College to Lewis and Clark Community College.
Forest Park welcomed its first students in 1967, but campus construction continued until 1970.
The architecture was considered very innovative at the time. Building shapes and window placements for A, B,C and D Towers were patterned off a computer card, which was modern technology at the time.
STLCC tuition cost $17 per credit hour in 1975, compared to $116.50 today.
Pittman used his speeches this month to update students and employees on his districtwide plan for spending tax revenue generated by the Proposition R rate increase. He calls it “STLCC Transformed.”
Pittman noted that the plan, which includes demolitions and renovations, won’t be implemented all at once. There are priority projects for the next three to five years, as well as long-term projects.
Pittman will hold more forums the week of May 2 related to STLCC Transformed. Students and employees also will receive surveys to fill out.