Tallahassee Community College

Tallahassee State College (TSC) is a public college in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is part of the Florida College System and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has accredited the school. Peak enrollment was fall 2014 when TSC reported 38,017 students. From 1970 to 2024, the institution was known as Tallahassee Community College.

History

Tallahassee Junior College (TJC) was founded in 1966 by the Florida Legislature. The first classes for almost 700 students were held at Godby High School and Rickards High School, before campus construction commenced. The following year, 3 buildings on Appleyard Drive opened for the school's second year. The campus was built on what had been Tallahassee's airport, Dale Mabry Field, which closed in 1961. In 1970, TJC was renamed Tallahassee Community College (TCC) to encourage community education; occupational programs lasting one or two years were added, including nursing. The 1,000th person graduated and dental hygiene was offered. Enrollment was nearly 3,000.

In 1976, enrollment exceeded 5,000 and President Fred Turner retired. Marm Harris replaced him. The Artist Series program attracted community members and leaders to the campus, increasing awareness of the school. That same year the Lifetime Sports Complex was opened and the college foundation began meeting.

Jim Hinson became the third president in 1983 and the school continued to flourish. TCC students won the state's Math Olympics title. A study found that the school has a positive economic impact of $47.2 million in Leon County. In 1986, TCC became Florida's fastest growing college with enrollment increasing by almost 1,000 students. Enrollment had doubled at the end of 1990. In 1988, the school led community colleges in Florida with the percentage of faculty holding Ph.Ds. Athletics were re-established with a strong emphasis on academics. New administration and library buildings were added. The campus was expanded from 54 to 140 acres. Campus infrastructure was upgraded and buildings were renovated. In 1994 the women's softball team won the championship of the NJCAA.

T.K. Wetherell became president in 1995. Beginning in 2000, the college formed partnerships with Flagler College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (2001), Saint Leo University (2006), Thomas University (2010) and Barry University (2003). This allowed students to obtain bachelor’s and graduate degrees while remaining on the TCC campus.

The TSC Athletics Hall of Fame and Alumni Association were both established. Scholarship programs including Challenge and other scholarships were funded. New buildings included the Student Union, the renovated Academic Computing Center and the Technology and Professional Programs building. The Computer Technology & Social Sciences building had been submitted when he resigned. That building was eventually named for Wetherell. Fifty new programs were added and TCC was nationally ranked in the top-25 for the number of community college graduates.

Bill Law succeeded Wetherell in 2002 and in 2006 the college's 40th anniversary was celebrated with a gala and an induction ceremony for the alumni hall of fame. The school's first capital campaign was successful, raising $10 million including $2 million from the Ghazvini family. Healthcare programs were expanded and workforce development was emphasized.

In 2008, the Learning Commons building was dedicated to William Law and the college's academic support was moved to that building. Ground was broken for the Ghazvini Center for Healthcare Education. Electronic Learning Plans were implemented that permit students to monitor progress toward academic/career goals. A grant from the Department of Defense funded the Advanced Manufacturing Training Center (AMTC) that opened in August 2010.

Jim Murdaugh became president on November 15, 2010. Healthcare training was a priority as well as other workforce initiatives while the transfer program to upper division universities remained important. The Ghazvini Center opened in the fall of 2011 near the two major hospitals in Tallahassee. TSC Wakulla moved in 2012 to a bigger Crawfordville facility and ground was broken the following year for the Wakulla Environmental Institute. A new Center for Veteran's Success opened in the Computer Technology building in 2013.
Ground was broken on a new center for TSC Gadsden in late 2014 as did planning for the Institute for Nonprofit Innovation and Excellence based in the Capitol Center. Also in 2014, a Golden Guarantee program began assuring transfer to Florida State University, Florida A&M University, or the University of West Florida. Tallahassee State College had an annual economic impact of $387.7 million .

2016 was TSC's 50th anniversary with activities and special events lasting all year. Wakulla Environmental Institute opened.

There have been six presidents in the history of the college:

Locations

The main campus is located 1.9 miles from Florida State University. The surrounding area is primarily made up of student housing and commercial amenities that cater to college students.

Campuses

* Main Campus, located on the west side of Tallahassee, opened in 1967.

Centers

* Center for Innovation
* Gadsden Center, located in Quincy, Florida, opened in 2016.
* Wakulla Center, located in Crawfordville, Florida, opened in 2006.
* Wakulla Environmental Institute (WEI), located in Crawfordville, Florida.

Public Safety

A state-sponsored law-enforcement training program was proposed in the 1990s, to be administered by the Leon County Schools.
When T.K. Wetherell became President of Tallahassee Community College (TCC) in 1995, he used his legislative influence as former speaker of the house to move the program under TCC control. The ''Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy'' was named for popular Quincy legislator Pat Thomas in 1996.
Jim Murdaugh was hired by Wetherell to lead the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy in 1999.

TCC purchased 833 acres in Gadsden County near Havana

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