50th-Anniversary-Celebration

50th Anniversary Celebration

Opening Doors to Opportunities

Efforts began in the spring of 1966 to create Columbia State as prototype for the other Tennessee community colleges that were to follow. In a brief span of 18 months, the college was conceptualized, personnel were hired, temporary quarters were secured, classes were scheduled, and three full quarters of instruction were provided while a new campus with six buildings was completed and readied for occupancy by the fall of 1967.

When planning for Tennessee's first community colleges, the state board of education's Junior College Committee visited Maury County to view prospective sites. A committee of 600 Maury County citizens made a presentation to the Junior College Committee which finally recommended the first community college be built in Columbia. Two other locations were chosen as well for future colleges thus providing a community college in each of Tennessee's three divisions.

On June 30, 1965, Commissioner Warf toured sites in Maury County and selected the 204-acre Hickman farm, located four miles west of downtown Columbia, as the location for Columbia State. Warf and Governor Clement turned the first spades of dirt at the groundbreaking ceremony on October 20, 1965.

In the fall of 1966, Columbia State opened its "doors" despite the construction not being complete on the new campus. Facilities for the college were used all over town, including First Baptist Church, Columbia Military Academy, and the Memorial Building. The first student body started with 363 students but quickly grew to 538 by the winter quarter.

Perhaps the most exciting day for Columbia State was March 15, 1967 when the First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, came to dedicate the new campus. She declared that Columbia State represented the "new beat and rhythm of our land... when a Columbia Community College rises from a once empty field, the country expands not outward, but upward."

Today, Columbia State has grown to five campuses serving nine counties in southern Middle Tennessee. We remain committed to student success and opening doors to opportunities.

Through the Decades

Pre-1965

1957 – The Public Higher Education in Tennessee study, commonly referred to as the Pierce-Albright Report, was completed. The report identified a significant need to expand higher education in Tennessee. The report identified three areas that were considered underserved by higher education, including the south central Middle Tennessee region. (The other two areas were the Chattanooga and Jackson areas.) This report would later serve as a cornerstone in the history of Tennessee’s community colleges.
Late 50s/Early 60s – The report generated great interest and led to the development of a Maury County committee that sought to have a college established in Columbia. The committee was comprised of some 600 people and was led by John W. Finney, editor of the Columbia Daily Herald, and Hardin Hill, a local engineer and civic leader. In addition, the Maury County Quarterly Court pledged one million dollars toward development costs if the new college was located within 12 miles of the courthouse.
Early 1963 – Gov. Frank G. Clement and state of Tennessee Education Commissioner, J. Howard Warf, met with leaders of the Tennessee General Assembly to reach an agreement to proceed with the development of new higher education institutions. The legislation (Chapter 379 of the 1963 Public Acts, Section four, Item 43) appropriated $100,000 to the State Board of Education for the preliminary planning and establishment of “additional, regional-type institutions of higher learning” as recommended in the 1957 report.

Aug. 9, 1963 – The State Board of Education adopted a resolution for the chairman, Commissioner Warf, to appoint five board members to make preliminary plans for a state college that would be located in the south central area of Tennessee. Although there was significant need in the other two areas of the state, the south central area had a long-standing desire and support to obtain a college dating back to the early 1900s. This college would serve as the prototype for those that followed.
Dec. 12, 1963 – The state’s junior college committee visited Maury County to view prospective sites.
Dec. 16, 1963 – The 1963 Higher Education Facilities Act was approved. This federal legislation authorized a grant program to assist with financing construction of two-year colleges.
Feb. 7, 1964 – The state’s committee, now known as the Committee for a Junior College in South-Central Tennessee, adopted a progress report that noted after careful consideration, they had come to the conclusion that a “multi-purpose college” was needed in the area.
Dec. 17, 1964 – After much discussion and research, the junior college committee adopted a landmark resolution for the establishment of three community-junior colleges, one in each of the state’s grand divisions.

1965-1975

Feb. 1965 – The State Board of Education approved the resolution from the junior college committee to establish the three junior colleges.
June 4, 1965 – The Maury County committee made a presentation to the State Board of Education’s junior college committee to present information and support for the college to be located in Columbia.
June 22, 1965 – The State Board of Education adopted the junior college committee’s report and approved the locations of the first three community colleges – Columbia, Cleveland and Jackson. The exact sites were to be chosen by Commissioner Warf. The new colleges would be called “community” rather than “junior” to reflect the partnership between state and local initiatives in wide-ranging educational programming with a strong base of community participation.
June 30, 1965 – Commissioner Warf toured prospective sites and chose the 204-acre Hickman farm, located four miles west of downtown Columbia, as the future site of Columbia State.
July 12, 1965 – The Maury County Quarterly Court unanimously approved purchase of the Hickman farm and pledged an additional $250,000 toward construction costs.
October 20, 1965 - Governor Clement and Commissioner Warf broke ground for the new Columbia campus.
February 1966 – Melson Contractors, Inc. was awarded the construction contract with completion of the new campus scheduled for fall 1967.
March 29, 1966 – Dr. James Wesley Clark was appointed dean of instruction with directions to open the college for the fall 1966 semester and to provide leadership until a permanent president was hired.
Spring 1966 – A flurry of activity began as nine administrators and 21 faculty members were hired, temporary buildings were procured and readied for instruction, and classes were scheduled.
Sept. 23, 1966 – An initial student body of 363 registered.
Sept. 26, 1966 – The first college convocation was held at the Polk Theatre in downtown Columbia. Members of the State Board of Education were present, and Gov. Clement was the featured speaker. “Because of this school, young people who otherwise would have to terminate their academic career at the high school level will here find a way into the world of higher education.”
Fall 1966 – Classes were held in almost a dozen facilities across town, including First Baptist Church and the lab facilities at Columbia Military Academy. The Memorial Building on West 7^th Street served as the student center, while professors and other college personnel transported students between the various locations.
Winter 1966 – Enrollment for the winter quarter climbed to 538 as news of the college spread throughout the area.
March 15, 1967 – Mayor James Dowdy and County Judge John Stanton proclaimed this day as “Columbia State Dedication Day.” This event would mark the first visit of a sitting president to Maury County in 150 years. More than 8,000 supporters gathered in the cold that day, and excitement filled the air as they welcomed President Lyndon B. Johnson and First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson. Lady Bird Johnson unveiled the dedication plaque and declared that Columbia State represented the “new beat and rhythm of our land...” and that “when a Columbia Community College rises from a once empty field, the country expands not outward, but upward… I am honored to dedicate this college – to dedicate it forever to the service of the people and the progress of our nation.”
September 1967 – Construction of the original campus was completed in time to begin fall classes and consisted of an administration building, library, classroom building, student center, gymnasium and power building.
October 1967 – The library was dedicated to John W. Finney, who had worked for many years to bring a college to the Columbia area. He died in 1965.
February 9, 1968 – Warf announced that Dr. Harold Pryor, director of teacher education at Austin Peay State University, would become the first president of Columbia State.
June 7, 1968 – Forty-four students marched into the gymnasium and became graduates of Tennessee’s first community college.
The class of 1969 included the first 30 graduates of the nursing program.
May 14, 1969 - Columbia State holds its first Student Honors and Awards Convocation. The college's band and chorus performed.
1970 - Columbia State's baseball team was the champions of the TJCAA.
Between 1967 and 1971, the Drama Club produced such hits as Bust Stop, You Can't Take It With You, The Weatherman, Spoon River Anthology and The Man Who Came to Dinner.
1971 - The first Columbia State Foundation Board was organized.
1972 - The new library (Linney Memorial Library) was completed in 1972. The original library was converted into the Walter building, a nursing education building.
1972 - The college responded to the demand for upper-division and graduate work and created the Upper Division and Graduate Education Center, now known as the University Center.
1973 - Columbia State's Rad Tech program was accredited.
1974 - The associate degree nursing program received accreditation from the National League of Nursing.

1976-1985

1986-1995

1996-2005

2006-2015