Cowley Community College

Cowley County Community College and Area Vocational-Technical School (usually referred to as just Cowley College) is a two-year college located in Arkansas City, Kansas. It also operates satellite facilities in nearby Winfield, Wellington, Mulvane, and Wichita, and offers distance-learning classes at nine area high schools. Cowley College is accredited by the NCA's Higher Learning Commission.

History

Cowley College held its first classes on Sept. 11, 1922. At this point, it was known as the Arkansas City Junior College (ACJC), and, like most junior colleges of the time, operated under the directorship of the local school district. Classes were held on the top floor of the Arkansas City High School, but were soon relocated to the basement, earning it the nickname "Basement University." In 1936, a combination auditorium-gymnasium was constructed, and in 1952, ACJC held its first classes in a dedicated college building.

During the mid-1960s, ACJC began a process of name changes in an attempt to keep current with state legislation designed to spur growth of junior colleges and vocational schools in Kansas. After no less than two revisions, the college was finally given the name it still has today. It was commonly abbreviated CCCC.

In 1967, the citizens of Cowley County elected a six-member Board of Trustees for CCCC, and on July 1, it assumed control of college operations. The new Board appointed Dr. Paul Johnson as the first president of the college. Johnson had been the dean of the college under the school board's direction. The county continues to elect members to the Board of Trustees in four-year terms.

In March 1968, Johnson died. He was succeeded on an interim basis by William S. Scott until the end of June. On July 1, 1968, Dr. Gwendel A. "Gwen" Nelson was appointed president of the college by the Board of Trustees. Immediately, Nelson began a far-reaching program of expansion and upgrades. When he arrived at the college, it owned no property (the land on which the buildings stood was rented from the school district), and its program offerings were limited. During his tenure, which lasted until 1987, Nelson would be instrumental in land negotiations with the school board, resulting in the college's ownership of all of its main campus and the adjacent old high school. His leadership resulted in great expansion of academic programs, including upgrading the vocational school into a state-of-the-art facility, and he would oversee the construction of six new buildings, including the college's first dormitories. Today, Cowley College continues to aggressively pursue expansion efforts, led by its fourth president, Dr. Patrick J. McAtee.

Academics

Cowley College offers 68 programs of study or majors, which culminate with one of five certificates: Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science, Associate of General Studies, and Vocational Certificate. Programs range from Liberal Arts to Business Technology to Vocational Training. Average class size for the 2005-2006 school year was 18. During this year enrollment was over 4,500 students, of which there were approximately equal portions of full-time and part-time students attending.

Athletics

Cowley College's Mascot is the Tiger. The college is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association, and is home to a variety of athletic programs. Men's sports include: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Track & Field, Golf, Tennis, and Spirit Squad. Women's sports include: Softball, Basketball, Cross Country, Track & Field, Volleyball, Tennis, Spirit Squad, and Dance Line. The men's football program was discontinued in 1983. Men's and women's soccer programs started in the fall of 2008.

Trivia

• The Cowley Tigers baseball team won two consecutive NJCAA World Series Championships in 1997 and 1998.
• Cleveland Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner played for the Tigers during the 1996 and 1997 seasons.[1]
• Each year in October, a female Cowley sophomore is elected by the student body to be crowned as Queen Alalah. This is in conjunction with Arkansas City's fall festival, called Arkalalah.
• Cowley College's Ireland Hall was constructed in 1890 as the Arkansas City High School. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the oldest standing buildings in Arkansas City.
• Cowley College's AVTS was the first vocational school in Kansas to operate in association with a junior college.

External links

• Cowley College Website