Lenoir Community College (LCC) is part of
the North Carolina Community College System
(NCCCS), which was established in 1963 under
enactment of a general statute by the legislature.
The NCCCS, currently a network of 58 institutions,
serves more than 750,000 citizens annually.
One of the oldest institutions in the system,
LCC is located in Kinston at the intersection of
highways U.S. 70 and N.C. 58. Its primary service
area is Lenoir, Greene, and Jones counties. LCC
offers both degree and non-degree programs serving
approximately 3,500 curriculum students and
12,500 extension students annually. The following
dates from 1958 to 2008 are significant landmarks
in LCC’s history.
In 1958, the College was chartered by the State
Board of Education. In 1960, LCC began operations
as the Lenoir County Industrial Educational
Center (IEC) with Daniel C. Wise as director and
approximately 80 students enrolled in classes that
were held at Contentnea High School. In 1961,
the vocational and technical curricula were initiated
with classes held at Stallings Field, a former
air base.
In 1963, the center moved to its 18-acre
permanent campus and a new facility, later named
the Bullock Building, and held its first graduation
in June. Also in 1963, the IEC was separated
administratively from the Lenoir County Board
of Education, and the first Board of Trustees was
organized.
In 1964, the board secured the status of technical
institute for the center, and in November, the
institution attained community college status. The
Board of Trustees appointed Daniel C. Wise, who
served until the summer of 1965, acting president.
In 1965, Dr. Benjamin E. Fountain became president
and the College expanded to 58 acres beginning
long-range planning of campus development.
In 1966, the first year of the transfer program was
offered at Stallings Field. In 1968, the program
was moved to the new Administration Building
on the permanent campus. LCC was initially
accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and
has maintained it ever since.
In 1970, Dr. Jesse L. McDaniel became president
and served for 18 years. During this time the
main campus was expanded to 90 acres, seven new
buildings were constructed, and the Jones County
and Greene County Centers were opened.
In 1988, upon the retirement of Dr. McDaniel,
Dr. Lonnie H. Blizzard took the reigns as president.
In 1989, a new building for aviation education
was built at the Kinston Regional Jetport, and
the Health Science Building was completed on the
main campus. In 1998, the Waller Building was
completed on the main campus at a cost of $4.5
million. The building included a 650-seat auditorium.
Dr. Blizzard retired after 10 years of service,
and in July, Dr. Karin Pettit was named president.
New construction at the Greene County Center
provided a 15,000 square foot facility costing $1.6
million. In 1999, the college purchased two acres
of land on the corner of highways 58 and 70.
In 2000, a state community college construction
bond referendum was passed with LCC
receiving more than $12 million for renovation
and new construction. In 2001, Dr. Pettit left for
another position and the board hired longtime
LCC employee, Joyce Cherry, to serve as interim
president. Mrs. Cherry provided the leadership
necessary for the stability of the College during
the time of transition. On April 22, 2002, Dr.
Stephen Scott, former vice president of the North
Carolina Community College System, took over
the leadership as president. In 2003, Dr. Scott
resigned to become president of Wake Technical
Community College, and Joyce Cherry was again
named interim president until a new president
was selected.
On May 10, 2004, Dr. Brantley Briley became
president of LCC. During the year, significant
acquisitions and construction began changing the
landscape of the campus. Twenty-seven acres of
land were purchased on the east boundary and
almost nine acres to the south of the campus.
These purchases increased total acreage on
the main campus to 128. In December, a $5.4
million construction project was begun which
includes an addition to the Waller Building to
house Culinary Arts and an annex to the Waller
Building to house the Learning Assistance Program,
science classrooms, and labs. In 2005, nine
acres of land were purchased in Jones County,
and plans were initiated to construct a new
Jones County Center. The Jones County Center
opened in its new location in April 2009. At the
Greene County Center, a $2.1 million addition
was completed in 2008. The College has plans to
construct and renovate other buildings with the
remaining bond funds, making the facilities at
LCC equal to any in North Carolina and ready
for the future.
The College celebrated its 50th anniversary
on April 3, 2008. A 278-page full color coffee
table book was produced in house by the LCC
Printing Department marking the College’s 50
year history. During the yearlong celebration,
LCC experienced record enrollments for both fall
and spring semesters, and a significant increase
in its Foundation endowed scholarships through a
special program, “Fifty for Fifty,” 50 new endowments
for 50 students.
The College continues to experience record
enrollment and continues to expand its programs
and services to meet the needs of the communities
it serves. |
