Celebrating 50 Years

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50^th Book
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Who could have imagined fifty years ago that empty farmland atop Onondaga Hill would become a college campus, one of the largest in the SUNY system, serving over 12,000 students? On its Fiftieth Anniversary today's Onondaga Community College is an unmistakable CNY landmark that has been steadfast in its dedication to students and their success.

Our History

’60s

May 1, 1961 - Onondaga County Board of Supervisors undertakes sponsorship of a Community College
May 12, 1961 - State University of New York Board of Trustees approves creation of a community college for Onondaga County
July & September, 1961 - Onondaga County Board of Supervisors and Governor Nelson Rockefeller name initial College Trustees
September 28, 1961 - First Board of Trustees meeting held; Ransom G. MacKenzie elected Chair
April 4, 1962 - Francis Almstead officially becomes first College President
September 24, 1962 - First classes begin at Midtown Plaza, with enrollment of 1,294 students
October 8, 1962 - Evening and extension classes begin
June 7, 1964 - College graduates first class at Onondaga County War Memorial
1964 - OCC Alumni Association established
January 1966 - Dr. Karl D. Larsen appointed Interim President
June, 1966 - Dr. Marvin A. Rapp appointed President
November 15, 1966 - Permanent campus site dedicated on former County Farm
November 27, 1967 - College Master Plan for new campus unveiled
February 24 & August 5, 1968 - OCCFT recognized by Onondaga County as the exclusive bargaining agent for College Faculty, and first contract ratified by County Legislature
October 25, 1968 - Construction begins for new campus

’70s

February 2, 1970 - First building (Service & Maintenance) officially opens; first classes held at new campus
April 21, 1970 - Governor Rockefeller dedicates new campus
January, 1972 - Sidney B. Coulter Library opens
May 21, 1972 - Commencement ceremony held at Service & Maintenance
October, 1972 - President's Office moves to Onondaga Hill campus
January, 1973 - Albert Gordon Student Center opens
May 20, 1973 - Commencement ceremony held at Student Center
June 30, 1973 - College receives accreditation from Middle States Association
June, 1973Dr. Roy A. Price appointed Interim President
Fall, 1973 - Enrollment tops 5,000 students
Fall, 1973 - Last units of OCC move out of Midtown Plaza
1974 - Bookstore controversy and trial
March, 1974 - ACA Union formed as the exclusive bargaining agent for mid-level administrators
September, 1974 - Nicholas Ferrante Hall opens
May, 1975 - Dr. Roger J. Manges appointed President
January 6, 1976 - Academic One (Mawhinney Hall)opens for classes
July 13, 1976 - Board of Trustees passes classroom smoking ban
September 16, 1976 - OCC leases its first computer system
Spring, 1977 - Health Center (Health & Physical Education) opens
July, 1977 - Dr. Albert T. Skinner appointed Interim President
Fall, 1977 - College Hour established
November, 1977 - Dr. Andreas A. Paloumpis appointed President
November 14, 1978 - Campus loop road dedicated as Ransom G. MacKenzie Drive

’80s

April 8, 1980 - Emeritus status established for retiring faculty
May 13, 1980 - OCC Foundation established
1983 - Drama Department closed
October, 1983 - Dr. Thomas D. Sheldon appointed Interim President
February, 1984 - Dr. Bruce H. Leslie appointed President
Spring, 1985 - Adjunct faculty join the OCCFT union
February 3, 1987 - OCC's first celebration of Black History Month
September 1, 1989 - OCC bans smoking in all buildings
October 4, 1989 - Fitness Trail opens on campus

’90s

1991 - AAUP censure from 1972 lifted
1991 - Former Unity Mutual building leased to house OCC's Center for Community Education
1992 - First OCC Scholarship Classic golf tournament held
Spring, 1993 - OCC partners with WCNY-TV to offer courses via television
March 14, 1993 - OCC wins its first National Championship with Men's Basketball
January 15, 1994 - Traffic light installed at Route 175 entrance
May 16, 1994 - STAR telephone registration system installed
1994 - Center for Teaching Excellence established
May 1, 1995 - Onondaga Nation flag flown on campus for first time
July, 1996 - Barrett L. Jones appointed Interim President
August, 1997 - Dr. Neal A. Raisman appointed President
November 27, 1997 - Former Unity Mutual building dedicated J. Stanley Coyne EXCELL Center
March, 1999 - Midtown Plaza demolished
July, 1999 - Dr. Joseph J. Bulmer appointed Acting President
August, 1999 - Ralph & Fay Whitney Applied Technology Center opens
September, 1999 - OCC North opens in Seneca Mall
December 6, 1999 - WOCC-FM (student radio station) goes on the air

’00s

July, 2000 - Dr. Debbie L. Sydow appointed President
Spring, 2000 - OCC hosts the Scholastic Art Competition for the first time
February 21, 2001 - Academic Computing Center opens in Academic One featuring 101 computers and 2 laser printers
June 22-24, 2001 - Syracuse Jazz Fest held at OCC for first time
Fall, 2001 - First four online courses offered
Fall, 2002 - First 16 technology-equipped "smart" classrooms open
May, 2003 - Staff Association formed
May, 2003 - Student grades available online
January, 2004 - Administrators Council formed
Spring, 2004 - Student Central opens
Spring, 2004 - ANGEL Course Management System launched
2004 - Dental Hygiene Department closed
March 1, 2005 - OCCFT and ACA unions merge to form OCCFTA
Spring, 2006 - Renovated Gordon Student Center reopens
September, 2006 - Residence Halls open
June, 2006 - Academic One dedicated as Donald M. Mawhinney, Jr. Hall
2007 - OCC becomes a signatory of the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment
July, 2007 - Wireless network access available throughout campus
August, 2007 - First class of Campus Peace Officers graduates
Fall, 2007 - Enrollment tops 10,000 students
October 10, 2008 - David Murphy Field opens
November, 2008 - College acquires former County Poor House property and buildings
May 16, 2009 - Commencement ceremony streamed live online
May, 2010 - College Pool officially closed
May, 2010 - Construction commences on SRC Arena
June, 2011 - Regional Higher Education Center opens in renovated former Poor House building
May, 2011 - College breaks ground on Academic II
June, 2011 - Solar panels installed on the roof of Whitney

The History of OCC

Onondaga celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2001, and that historical marker served to remind us that aside from a few yearbooks, official College documents, and sundry photographs, no formal document chronicling the planning, establishment and evolution of the College exists. In looking ahead to Onondaga's 50th anniversary, an effort was undertaken to ensure that the content and spirit of Onondaga Community College's rich and eventful history is accurately captured and properly preserved. The result of this effort is "Celebrating the Promise: The First Fifty Years of Onondaga Community College, a comprehensive book about the College from its early roots to present day. The book is available at the Barnes and Noble bookstore on campus for $39.99.

Calendar of Events

Join the celebration and take part in the 50th anniversary events scheduled to take place throughout the year:

January

Scholastic Art Awards Exhibit
January 19 – March 2
Whitney Applied Technology Center

Mon – Fri 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sat – Sun 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Onondaga Community College Archive Exhibit
January 18 – February 26

Onondaga Historical Association
Museum Hours:
Wed – Fri 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sat – Sun 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Closed Mon – Tues

Campus Convocation
January 27
11:30 a.m., SRC Arena and Events Center

Onondaga 50th Anniversary Community Celebration
January 27
7 – 10 p.m., SRC Arena and Events Center
Ticket required

“Celebrating the Promise: The First Fifty Years of Onondaga Community College 1961-2011”
January 30
Commemorative book on sale to the public in the Gordon Student Center: Campus Bookstore

View the rest of the Fall semester events

News

50th Anniversary Community Celebration
Join us for a celebration of history, community and success on Friday, January 27, 2012 from 7 – 10 p.m. in the SRC Arena and Events Center.

50 Years of Community Connections
Engaging in the community has been a key component of the Onondaga spirit for the past 50 years.

50th Anniversary Year Kicks Off 8/24
Onondaga kicked off its 50th Anniversary year on 8/24 at a ceremony to dedicate a sculpture commissioned to commemorate the anniversary.

Tweet #OCC50

Show Your Support

“Many of my classmates would not have been able to attend college had it not been for OCC. I have wonderful memories of being a part of the first class at OCC.”

– Karen, Class of 1964

“I'm not sure I would have gone to college without OCC. It truly provided a life-changing experience for me.”

– Suzanne, Class of 1965

“Your institution gave me a second chance at discovering my goals and an excellent foundation for further education.”

– David, Class of 1965

“OCC gave me that chance - I grasped it and ran. I'll always be indebted to OCC for giving me the opportunity to prove myself as a success.”

– Martin, Class of 1968

Onondaga has a long history of changing lives and now more than ever it's critical to continue this mission. Your support will create new opportunities for students and continue the tradition.

Show Your Support Today

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Thank you!

Onondaga Community College would like to thank the following committee members for all of their hard work in making the 50th Anniversary celebration possible.

Thank You Image

Steering Committee

Dr. Debbie L. Sydow - President and Chair
Dr. Joseph Agonito - Social Sciences Professor Emeritus
Jo Anne Bakeman - Adjunct Professor, HPE & HS
Tom Burton - VP, Special Projects
Dick Case - Columnist, The Post-Standard
Toni Cooke - Director, Arts Across Campus
Dr. Barbara Davis - Modern Language Professor Emerita
Frank Doble - Coulter Library Faculty
Dr. Kathy Eisele - English Faculty
David Feldman - English Professor Emeritus
Sarah Gaffney - Assistant to the Senior Vice President
Terrence J. Griffin - Asst to Provost, Educational Svcs
Amy Kremenek - VP, Human Resources and External Relations
Marty Lewis - Audio Visual Technology staff
Nancy Licata - Retired EMC staff
Dr. Cathleen McColgin - OCC Provost and Senior VP
Anita Murphy - Institutional Advancement
Rob O'Boyle - Coulter Library Faculty
Gail Rizzo - Retired Library Support Staff
Dan Rizzo - Library Professor Emeritus
Connie Saldicco - Counseling Professor Emerita
Shirley Singer - Retired Registrar
Tim Stedman - Computer Sciences faculty
Tony Vadala - EMC Faculty
Ex-officio - Barbara Rivette- Researcher/Writer
Sue Tormey - 50th Anniversary Steering Committee Coordinator

Community Advisory Committee

Nick Pirro - Honorary Chair
Barbara Rivette
Dennis Connors
Jim Reith
Dick Case
Tim Stedman
Judge Martha Mulroy
Karin Franklin-King
Kathy Eisele
Amy Kremenek
Maureen McCarthy
Nancy Skahen
Richard Calagiovanni
Susan Tormey
Terry Griffin
Tom Burton
Virginia Carmody

Editorial Committee

Joseph Agonito
Dick Case
Barbara Davis
Dan & Gail Rizzo
Frank Doble
Kathy Eisele
David Feldman
Barbara Rivette
Dan Rizzo
Tim Stedman
Debbie Sydow

Special Events and Observances Committee

Amy Kremenek - Chair
Philip Adon-McLane
Rob Bridge
Michele Collins
Russ Corbin
Kim Court
Anne DeLand
Michele Ferguson
Nancy Gabriel
Shawn Gillen-Caryl
Amanda Konopa
Sue Lamanna
Vi Marcy
Mike McMullen
Mike Mulholland
Anita Murphy
Rob O'Boyle
Shannon Patrie
Stephen Pierson
Tara Ross
Marguerite StClaire
Elaine Taggart
Wendy Tarby
Scott Titus
Eunice Williams