Jefferson State Historical Timeline
May 3, 1963 – Jefferson State Junior College established as one of twelve junior colleges authorized by the State Legislature, Act 93.
September 30, 1965 – Jefferson State Junior College opened with approximately 1,200 freshmen enrolled under the leadership of President Leroy Brown.
March 25, 1966 – Bill Lankford named first basketball coach.
May 13, 1966 – Don Green named first baseball coach.
June 24, 1966 – First class of Jefferson State Junior College nursing students began clinical training at East End Hospital.
July 7, 1966 – Alabama Board of Nursing gave full approval to Jefferson State Junior College’s nursing program.
August 11, 1966 – Wilmer McNair appointed first Director of Financial Aid.
October 13, 1966 – Fall total enrollment listed at 3,106 students.
March 18, 1967 – Fifteen junior colleges, including JSJC, formed an athletic conference.
April 19, 1967 – Jefferson State Junior College announced fifth building, H. Y. Carson Hall, nearing completion and plans for two additional buildings to include classrooms, maintenance and an auditorium.
May 4th – 5th, 1967 – Jefferson State observed Pioneer Days celebrating the founding of the College and recognizing the substantial growth.
May 8, 1967 – The first James B. Allen Award, the highest collegiate honor for a junior college student, was presented to Martha Sue Roberts.
June 4, 1967 – First commencement held with Governor Lurleen B. Wallace addressing graduates.
September 6, 1967 – Jefferson State welcomed 77 new faculty members.
September 27, 1967 – Fall enrollment reached approximately 3,600 students.
December 15, 1967 – Dr. Leroy Brown, JSJC’s first President, obtained the College’s first federal grant of $3 million for a gymnasium, student center and addition to the science lab.
January 17, 1968 – Jefferson State received first work-study funds for 160 students.
April 10, 1968 – Jefferson State, only three years old, ranked fourth largest in enrollment statewide behind the University of Alabama, Auburn University and Jacksonville State University.
October 9, 1968 – Jefferson State announced record enrollment of 4,343 students.
December 5, 1968 – Jefferson State earned initial accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, marking JSCC the first junior college in the state to receive national accreditation.
January 3, 1969 – Jefferson State among twelve colleges in the state awarded funds from the Justice Department to offer studies in law enforcement.
June 6, 1969 – Jefferson State awarded 204 degrees to graduates.
May 11, 1970 – Bethune Deramus Hall and H.Y. Carson Hall buildings were dedicated and the groundbreaking was held for the new student center building.
September 25, 1970 – Fall enrollment increased to 4,750 students.
December 4, 1970 – Plans unveiled for Jefferson State Fire Station in Center Point.
February 17, 1971 – Dr. Leroy Brown named Alabama State Superintendent of Education.
April 16, 1971 – Dr. George Layton named Jefferson State Junior College’s second President.
October 6, 1971 – Jefferson State announced record fall enrollment of 5,600 students.
May 25, 1972 – Fitzgerald Student Center dedicated.
November 3, 1972 – Construction plans announced for a school of nursing facility.
May 30, 1973 – Jefferson Sate partnered with Berry High School to establish off campus extension center to accommodate the southern part of Jefferson Shelby Counties.
October 7, 1973 – Governor George C. Wallace dedicated new physical education and recreation building.
June 30, 1974 – New nursing building opened.
July 9, 1975 – George C. Wallace and Lurleen B. Wallace Halls were dedicated.
1976 & 1977 – Jefferson State’s Pi Pi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa named Most Distinguished Chapter in the nation.
May 3, 1976 – A 28-acre community park opened on campus near the Jefferson State athletic complex.
May 27, 1976 – The Funeral Service Program received accreditation by the American Board of Funeral Service Education Inc.
May 15, 1977 – Jefferson State dedicated new Harold C. Martin Career Education Building.
November 9, 1977 – Jefferson State opened a new career lab in Lurleen Wallace Hall to assist youth with career information.
1977 & 1978 – JSCC’s gymnastics team placed first at the NJCAA National Women’s Gymnastics Championship.
August 13, 1978 – East End Memorial Hospital Health Center opens.
August 21, 1978 – First distance learning class offered in the form of telecourses.
November 10, 1978 – Jefferson State campus radio station WJSR broadcasted for the first time.
October 21, 1979 – The Ruby K. Carson Science Building dedicated.
November 27, 1979 – Dr. Judy M. Merritt named President of Jefferson State Junior College after Dr. Layton assumed position of Assistant State Superintendent of Postsecondary Education.
1980 – Jefferson State’s men’s basketball team was runner–up in the NJCAA National Men’s Basketball Championship.
November 18, 1980 – First “Dialogue Days” session to connect citizens with community leaders was held.
December 3, 1980 – Jefferson State announced the opening of the New Options Program designed to help women acquire skills and knowledge in order to compete in the job market.
February 12, 1982 – The Carson family donated an additional 67 acres of land in order to extend the boundaries of the Jefferson State Campus.
October 28, 1984 – Jefferson State was designated the largest junior college in the state with an enrollment of approximately 7,000 students.
March 25, 1986 – Alabama State Board of Education authorized senior– adult scholarships.
February 23, 1989 – Jefferson State Junior College’s name was officially changed to Jefferson State Community College to recognize the scope of programs and services.
1991 – The Culinary Arts & Hospitality Program was accredited by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission.
October 24, 1991 – The Shelby Site was approved by the State Board of Education.
January 4, 1993 – Original building at the Shelby Site opened for classes.
September 1, 1993 – Jefferson State’s Shelby County Center exceeded enrollment expectations with approximately 1,000 students in the first year.
March 28, 1996 – The Alabama State Board of Education authorized the Shelby Site to be designated as the Shelby Campus of Jefferson State Community College.
January 23, 1997 – The Alabama State Board of Education authorized the renaming of the Shelby Campus to the Richard M. Scrushy Campus.
August 20, 1997 – Jefferson State offered its first Internet based course and uses videoconferencing to deliver classes to three area high schools.
Fall 1998 – JSCC converted to a semester system.
Winter 1998 – The first dual-enrollment student enrolled at Jefferson State.
January 1, 2000 – Dr. Joe Morris was named Vice President of JSCC.
September 7, 2000 – General Studies Building at the Scrushy Campus opened.
April 9, 2001 – Grand Opening held for the Manufacturing Center at the Jefferson Campus.
August 12, 2003 – The official service area for the college was revised to include the western part of St. Clair County and the grand opening held for the St. Clair Center at Moody.
April 8, 2004 – The Scrushy Campus became the Shelby-Hoover Campus.
October 27, 2006 – Grand opening is held for the St. Clair-Pell City Site.
April 26, 2007 – The Alabama State Board of Education again revised the service area of JSCC to include Chilton County and approved construction for a multipurpose instructional facility in Clanton.
August 18, 2007 – 62 students started classes in Clanton in space provided by local businessman Wayne McKinnon.
2008 & 2009 – Jefferson State’s Beta Lambda Delta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa was recognized as the International Most Distinguished Chapter by Phi Theta Kappa.
January 5, 2008 – Health Sciences Building, JSCC’s largest facility, opened at the Shelby-Hoover Campus.
July 2008 – The College’s Child Development program was the first in Alabama to be accredited by the Early Childhood Associate Degree Accreditation.
October 13, 2008 – Classes were offered at the newly dedicated Chilton-Clanton Site.
August 21, 2009 – iCademy, a joint venture between the community and the College to provide dual-enrollment opportunities, began at the St. Clair– Pell City Site.
Fall 2010 – Jefferson State experienced a record high enrollment of 9,700 students.
March 1, 2011 – Grand Opening was held for the Clanton Economic Development Center.
September 27, 2011 – Jefferson State named as one of the top ten digital community colleges in the country.
November 21, 2013 – SACS approved campus designation status for the St. Clair-Pell City and Chilton–Clanton locations.
March 7, 2014 – The Veterinary Technology Program, the only accredited online program in the state, was named in top seven online programs for veterinary assisting and technology.
June 30, 2014 – After 35 years at the helm of Jefferson State Community College, President Judy M. Merritt retired.
July 1, 2014 – Keith A. Brown, Esq. appointed Interim President of Jefferson State Community College.
April 8, 2015 – The Alabama State Board of Education approved naming the Health Sciences Building at the Shelby-Hoover Campus in memory of Dr. Judy M. Merritt.
May 7, 2015 – Jefferson State hosted an Anniversary Celebration at the Shelby-Hoover Campus to commemorate 50 years of changing lives.
January 7, 2021 – Jefferson State announces a new Heavy Equipment Operator program at the Chilton-Clanton Campus.
January 11, 2021 – Jefferson State launches first Lineworker Program Class.
June 24, 2021 – Jefferson State held the grand opening for a new Welding Center on the Shelby-Hoover Campus.
July 26, 2021 – Jefferson State announced a new Histology Associate Degree Program will be offered during the fall 2021 semester.
December 9, 2021 – Jefferson State welding student Payton Schmitt wins “Project MFG National Welding Champion” during Project MFG’s YouTube sensation Clash of Trades.
March 25, 2022 – Jefferson State students Hannah Combs and Frank Lee received honors as two of the nation’s “Top Twenty Community College Students” by being placed on The All-USA Academic Team.
June 24, 2022 – Jefferson State Culinary Student Evgeniya Koshelyaevskaya wins the Baking National Championship in the SkillsUSA Competition.
August 25, 2022 – Former Jefferson State President Judy Merritt inducted into the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham Business Hall of Fame.
September 28, 2022 – Jefferson State opens new Commercial Drivers License track on the Chilton-Clanton Campus.
September 30, 2022 – Jefferson State dedicates the Dr. Joseph E. Morris Technology Center at the Jefferson Campus.
October 6, 2022 – Collaboration between Jefferson State, St. Vincent’s Ascension, and Childcare Resources results in the opening of a new training facility in downtown Birmingham.
November 16, 2022 – The first graduates of JSCC’s CDL Training Program were honored during a ceremony at the Clanton Conference and Performing Arts Center.
November 17, 2022 – Courtney Lester of Jasper was named the first recipient of the Nancy Brown Memorial Scholarship at Jefferson State. This scholarship is awarded to single parents pursuing one of the college’s short-term workforce programs and is named after JSCC President Keith A. Brown late mother.
March 22, 2023 – The Regions Foundation and Jefferson State unveiled a new Student Success Center in Lurleen Wallace Hall to provide students with free services ranging from emergency grants to food pantry access, mental healthcare, and more.
August 5, 2023 – Both Jefferson State Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society chapters were recognized among the top 10 chapters in the world at PTK’s 2023 International Convention.
June 21, 2023 – Jefferson State Dual Enrollment Students James and Amelia DeLano were the only Alabamians awarded The Congressional Award Gold Medal during the 2023 Gold Medal Summit at the U.S. Capitol.
September 29, 2023 – Jefferson State breaks ground on a new Workforce Education Center at the Jefferson Campus. The center will allow the expansion of workforce training opportunities.
September 29, 2023 – Jefferson State and I3 Academy announced a partnership to locate the I3 Academy public high school on the Jefferson Campus. The partnership is the first of its kind in Alabama and creates a kindergarten to college or career pipeline for I3 Academy students.
October 18, 2023 – Jefferson State and the University of Montevallo announce the Montevallo MBA Program will relocate to the JSCC Shelby-Hoover Campus. The new location will make it more convenient for Birmingham-metro residents to attend in-person classes.
November 29, 2023 – Jefferson State launches new Surgical Technology Program at the Shelby-Hoover Campus in the Math Science Building.
