On September 30, 2015 Jefferson State Community College hosted a community celebration at its original campus to commemorate its 50th anniversary.
The celebration began at 11:00 a.m. with a historical marker dedication and the burial of a time capsule to be opened on September 30, 2065. The dedication ceremony was immediately followed by a community cook-out.
“In our first 50 years, Jefferson State has touched an estimated one million lives through education and training,” said Jefferson State Interim President Keith Brown. “Imagine where our community would be without Jefferson State.”
Jefferson State is one of the twelve original two-year colleges authorized by the Alabama State Legislature on May 3, 1963. The college’s first students began attending classes on September 30, 1965 and enrollment for the first term was 1,100.
“Jefferson State has served a vital purpose in the Birmingham Metropolitan area and we will continue to do so.” said Brown. “We will continue to provide a quality education and we look forward to the next 50 years.”
Today, the college serves approximately 12,000 students each year and is one of the largest community colleges in the state. Jefferson State currently offers more than 120 university transfer programs, 33 career programs, and numerous certificate programs at its four campuses in Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, and Chilton counties.
