Fresno City College Celebrates 115 Years of Educational Excellence
Fresno City College, California's first public junior college, is proud to celebrate its 115th anniversary on Friday, September 12, marking more than a century of providing accessible, high-quality education to the Central Valley.
Founded in 1910 as Fresno Junior College, the institution was the vision of determined Fresno School District Superintendent Charles L. McLane. Recognizing that many local high school graduates were unable to attend distant and costly four-year universities like Berkeley and Stanford, McLane championed the establishment of a local college. With the support of the 1907 Upward Extension Act, which allowed high schools to add college-level instruction, he successfully created a two-year institution that would prepare students for transfer to universities.
The inaugural class, consisting of just 20 students, began its studies on September 12, 1910, at Fresno High School, then located in downtown Fresno. The college hired three new faculty members, who joined five existing high school teachers to offer a curriculum that not only prepared students for university but also included "practical" courses in agriculture and technical subjects—a tradition that continues today with the college's wide range of career education programs.
"Charles McLane’s vision was revolutionary," said Fresno City College President Denise Whisenhunt. "He believed that every student deserved the opportunity for higher education, regardless of their financial situation or family concerns about sending them away. That founding principle of access and opportunity is still at the heart of everything we do."
The establishment of the college was a collaborative effort, with key endorsements from Stanford President David Starr Jordan and Berkeley's Dean of Faculties, Alexis F. Lange. Both leaders agreed to accept credits from the new Fresno college, solidifying its place as a legitimate pathway to a bachelor's degree. Jordan is even credited with coining the term "junior college."
Over the past 115 years, Fresno City College has grown from its modest beginnings into a cornerstone of the Central Valley, serving tens of thousands of students annually and providing a vital pipeline to both four-year universities and highly skilled careers.
About Fresno City College
Fresno City College is the oldest community college in California and the second oldest in the nation. It provides a comprehensive range of academic and vocational programs, serving as a gateway to higher education and economic opportunity for the diverse communities of the Central Valley.
State Center Community College District
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