M.E. Pearson, Kansas City, Kansas public school system superintendent, proposed a junior college as part of his plans for the future of the city’s school system. At that time, KCK students would have to travel to The Junior College of Kansas City (now Metropolitan Community College) in Kansas City, MO.
KCKCC starts as Kansas City Kansas Junior College (KCKJC) and part of the Kansas City, Kansas public school system. Due to segregation, the college had two divisions (locations): The central division for whites, located at Central (Wyandotte) High School, and the Sumner division for African Americans, located at the Sumner High School.
In the spring of 1923, there was general election about the creation of the junior college. The results were 16,826 for and 7,282 against.
There classes started at 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Classes were taught by high school instructors who were qualified to teach college level courses. There were 56 students in the inaugural class.
Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education desegregates the junior college. School Superintendent F.L. Schlagle sites low enrollment at both divisions due to the military enlisting the college’s students.
KCKJC earns is first accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
KCKJC becomes part of Kansas’s newly formed state-wide community junior college system. The goal was to unify the education experience at the state’s two-year higher education institutions. The college would change its name to ‘Kansas City Kansas Community Junior College’ on July 1, 1965, to reflect this.
KCK Public Schools / USD 500 Superintendent O.L. Plucker serves as the college interiem president.
On August 2, 1966, voters in Wyandotte County approves a measure that expands the college district to the entire Wyandotte County. Previously, the district encompassed just Kansas City, Kansas. Vote was 6,924 to 1,749.
First Board of Trustees
Kansas City Kansas Community Junior College swears in its first Board of Trustees. The board takes over the management of the college from the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education.
Dr. Harlan R. Burns becomes the first Board of Trustees chair.
The frirst Board of Trustees were:
Jack Flint become the college's first president. He previously served as the dean of the college under Superintendent O.L. Plucker.
On May 7, 1968, voters approved a $5.7 million dollar bond for the construction of the west campus located at 72nd and State. The bond was approved 7,108 to 5,242. It was reported that this would only cover half of the needed cost to complete the new campus.
Starting in the early 70’s, KCKJC starts being referred to as ‘Kansas City Kansas Community College’
In 1971, the college’s academic policies committee approved a motion to change the college’s name to ‘Kansas City Community College’. Committee member Virginia Schneider said that the name change is needed because ‘a community college has a completely different philosophy than a junior college.’ This was part of the of proposals that the committee sent to the Board of Trustees for their June 2 meeting. The board vote to table the name change proposal until next meeting. This was at request of trustee Harlan R. Burns. He would go on make this request to table for several months until the board dropped it after the September 1 meeting.
KCKCJC breaks ground on the West Campus at 72nd and State Ave. The purpose of the new location was to ease overcrowding at the downtown location and accommodate a projected increase in enrollment.
The campus was schedule to open in 1971 but a construction strike delayed that.
The plan was to be a two-campus college: the East Campus, which was the college’s original downtown location, and the West Campus. Tax limitations by the state and lower than projected caused financial issues for the college. This would lead to the closing of downtown location in 1973. West Campus would become the Main Campus for the college afterwards.
The college begins the Nursing program as part of an effort to address a nurse shortage. Providence and Bethany Hospitals would provide the necessary clinical experience for the new nursing students. Irene Minor was the first director of the program. There were 79 applicants but only 40 admitted into the program.
In the summer of 1972, KCKCC official moves into the West Campus at 72nd and State Ave. This location would eventually be known as the main campus.
KCKCC opens a dedicated center in Leavenworth, KS. Previously, classes were held in Leavenworth public schools and on Ft. Leavenworth. At the time, 22% of the 3,950 Fall 1987 students were from Leavenworth County.
The Kansas Legislature mandates technical education schools merge or become an affiliated with a higher education institution. For KCKCC, this mandate results in the Kansas City, Kansas Area Vocational Technical School (ATVS) merging with the college, forming the KCKCC Technical Education Center.
The Technical Education Center moves into the newly Dr. Thomas R. Burke Technical Education Center location 6565 State Avenue. Previously, TEC classes were at a location next to F.L. Schlagle High School.
KCKCC moved from their downtown Leavenworth location to 1901 Spruce Street.
The 260-bed, four-story Centennial Hall is designed so students can live and learn on the same campus. Each floor is divided into wings with student and community spaces built in. Every student also has a private bedroom and shared living space. Other amenities include a group study hall, study spaces, multipurpose spaces, laundry facilities, a FEMA rated storm shelter, gaming room and an outdoor patio/grilling area.