View source for Holyoke Community College

{{Short description|Public college in Holyoke, Massachusetts, US}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Holyoke Community College
 | image_name             = HolyokeCommunityCollege Seal.svg
 | image_upright          = .7
 | former_names           = {{ubl|Holyoke Graduate School<br/>(1946–1947)|Holyoke Junior College<br/>(1947–1964)}}
 | motto                  = {{nowrap|''Efficiunt Clarum Studio'' {{smaller|([[Latin]])}}<br>{{smaller|"They make it clear by study"}}}}<ref>Motto from college's seal shown on title page of- {{cite report|url=https://archive.org/stream/ERIC_ED368425#page/n1/mode/2up|title=Long-Range Plan, Phase I, 1992–1997|series=ERIC ED 368425|publisher=Holyoke Community College}}
* Translation taken from- {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HVe-BAAAQBAJ&q=%22Efficiunt+Clarum+Studio%22+study&pg=PA544|title=Fairbairn's Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland|page=544|year=1905|volume=I|location=Edinburgh|publisher=Inglis & Jack|isbn=9781781502457}}</ref>
 | established            = September 9, 1946<br/>July 1, 1964<ref name="HCCfounding">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501160737/http://www.library-tools.org/hcc/archives/exhibits/show/one-community-holyoke/founding-years-of-hcc|archive-date=May 1, 2018|url=http://www.library-tools.org/hcc/archives/exhibits/show/one-community-holyoke/founding-years-of-hcc|publisher=Holyoke Community College|website=HCC Archives & Special Collections|title=The Founding Years of HCC|access-date=May 1, 2018}}</ref>{{efn|City transferred ownership; formally joined the Massachusetts Community College System.}}
 | type                   = [[Public college|Public]] [[community college]]
 | accreditation          = [[New England Commission of Higher Education|NECHE]]
 | endowment              = $13.4 million<ref name="endowmentreport">{{cite report|title=Holyoke Community College Foundation Annual Report 2017-2018|archive-date=June 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619233915/https://www.hcc.edu/Documents/Alumni-Friends/Annual_Report_2018_m.pdf|url=https://www.hcc.edu/Documents/Alumni-Friends/Annual_Report_2018_m.pdf|year=2018|page=24|quote=With total assets of more than $20 million, including investments of $13.4 million, HCC has the largest endowment of any community college foundation in Massachusetts. The HCC Foundation, like its antecedent, The Friends of Holyoke Community College, exists solely to support students and the mission and programs of HCC.}}</ref>
 | president              = George Timmons
 | students               = 3,550<ref>{{cite web | title = College Navigator - Holyoke Community College | language = en | access-date = 2024-07-24 | publisher = [[National Center for Education Statistics]] | url = https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?s=MA&id=166133}}</ref> <small>(fall 2022)</small>
 | postgrad               = 
 | academic_staff         = 128 full-time faculty<br>332 adjunct<ref name="fast">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hcc.edu/about/facts-and-history/fast-facts|title=Fast Facts About HCC|publisher=Holyoke Community College|access-date=2017-03-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/01/massachusetts_salary_database_2018.html|title=Massachusetts state employee salary database 2018|last=Schoenberg|first=Shira|date=January 12, 2018|work=MassLive|location=Springfield, Mass.}}</ref>
 | city                   = [[Holyoke, Massachusetts|Holyoke]]
 | state                  = [[Massachusetts]]
 | country                = United States
 | coor                   = {{coord|42|11|40.35|N|72|39|0.87|W|type:edu|display=title}}
 | campus                 = [[Suburban]]
 | colors                 = Green & Black<br/>{{color box|#00af40}} {{color box|#000000}}
 | free_label             = 
 | affiliations           = [[Cooperating Colleges of Greater Springfield]]
 | free                   = 
 | nickname               = HCC
 | mascot                 = [[Cougars]]
 | website                = [https://www.hcc.edu/ www.hcc.edu]
 | logo                   = File:HolyokeCC logo.svg
}}

'''Holyoke Community College''' ('''HCC''') is a [[Public college|public]] [[community college]] in [[Holyoke, Massachusetts]]. It offers [[associate degrees]] and [[academic certificate|certificate]] programs, as well as a transfer program for students to earn credits for transfer to other colleges. It was the first community college established in Massachusetts, as it was founded by the [[Holyoke Public Schools|city's school board]] in 1946, while others were subsequently chartered under state jurisdiction after 1960.<ref name="survey">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919141619/https://www.schools.com/community-colleges/top-community-colleges-in-massachusetts|archive-date=September 19, 2017|title=Best Community Colleges In Massachusetts|website=Schools.com|publisher=QuinStreet, Inc.|quote=HCC also took the No. 1 spot for its percentage of students who graduated with certificates or associate degrees, and its average net price was the second-most affordable out of all the schools in our survey...Holyoke Community College has to its name a distinction that no other institution in Massachusetts can claim: When it was founded in 1946, it was the only community college that existed in the Commonwealth.|url=https://www.schools.com/community-colleges/top-community-colleges-in-massachusetts}}</ref>

HCC is located on a {{convert|135|acre|km2|adj=on}} campus and has satellite locations throughout the [[Pioneer Valley]], including the HCC-MGM Culinary Arts Institute, the only culinary arts program at a Massachusetts college accredited by the [[American Culinary Federation]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180501155942/http://www.holyoke.org/news/grand-opening-of-culinary-arts-institute/ Grand Opening of Culinary Arts Institute], City of Holyoke. 2018.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.acfchefs.org/ACF/Education/Enrollment/Postsecondary/ACF/Education/Enrollment/Postsecondary/#MA|title=Accredited Postsecondary Programs|publisher=American Culinary Federation|year=2017|access-date=May 3, 2018}}</ref>

The college participates in the Commonwealth Dual Enrollment Partnership (CDEP) and allows high school applicants to opt for full or part-time coursework to receive both high school and transferable college credit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hcc.edu/admission/high-school/dual-enrollment|title=High School/Dual Enrollment|publisher=Holyoke Community College|access-date=2017-04-29}}</ref> Enrolled students may also complete certain coursework at [[Mount Holyoke College|Mount Holyoke]] and [[Smith College]], as both share faculty with the community college.<ref name="columbiareport">{{cite report |url=https://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/media/k2/attachments/transfer-playbook-essential-practices.pdf |title=The Transfer Playbook: Essential Practices for Two- and Four-Year Colleges |last1=Wyner |first1=Joshua |last2=Deane |first2=KC |publisher=Community College Research Center (CCRC), Teachers College, Columbia University |last3=Jenkins |first3=Davis |last4=Fink |first4=John |access-date=May 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611110551/https://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/media/k2/attachments/transfer-playbook-essential-practices.pdf |archive-date=June 11, 2017 |url-status=dead |year=2016}}</ref> Holyoke Community College is [[Higher education accreditation in the United States|accredited]] by the [[New England Commission of Higher Education]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Massachusetts Institutions – NECHE|publisher=[[New England Commission of Higher Education]]|url=https://www.neche.org/institutions/ma/|access-date=May 26, 2021}}</ref>

==History==
{{multiple image
   | direction = vertical
   | width = 230
   | align = left
   | footer = HCC's first director, George E. Frost, discusses enrollment with high school seniors, 1950; the community college's temporary classrooms at Beech/Sargent St, used from 1969 to 1974 following the Alderman building fire
   | image1 = HCC Student advising with Dir George Frost, 1950.jpg
   | image2 = Holyoke Community College temporary campus at Beech and Sargent St, Holyoke, Massachusetts (c. 1970).jpg}}

Holyoke Community College's history is unique in that it was not only the first established community college in the state, but was initially managed municipally by the local school board. With funding provided by the [[GI Bill]] following World War II, the opportunity was granted to states to provide supplementary education in addition to coursework given through high school. In order to expedite the establishment of this coursework, the [[Massachusetts General Court]] passed an emergency act on June 13, 1946, to allow school committees to vote for post-graduate instruction.<ref>{{cite act
| title = An Act providing temporarily for a course of school instruction beyond the regular high school course of instruction for the benefit of veterans and others| number = 532| date = June 13, 1946| page = 541-542| url = http://archives.lib.state.ma.us/actsResolves/1946/1946acts0532.pdf| access-date = May 1, 2018}}  Massachusetts General Court, Acts of 1946.</ref> Following a period of evaluation, the [[Holyoke Public Schools|Holyoke School Board]] voted in favor of establishing the '''Holyoke Graduate School''' on September 9, 1946, having admitted 67 students for its founding class.<ref>{{cite news|work=Springfield Republican|location=Springfield, Mass.|date=September 10, 1946|page=8|title=Graduate School Receives Go-Ahead in Board Meeting; Enrolment [sic] of 67 Considered Sufficient to Start Program – Superintendent to Get Teachers}}</ref> On April 1, 1947, this name was changed to the '''Holyoke Junior College''' after a state act was passed allowing municipalities to operate higher educational institutions under this title.<ref name="HCCfounding"/><ref>{{cite act
| title = An Act authorizing cities and towns which provide an extended course of instruction on junior college level for veterans and others to use the designation "Junior College" in connection therewith| number = 1782| date=1947 | url = http://archives.lib.state.ma.us/bitstream/handle/2452/230251/ocm39986872-1947-HB-1782.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y| access-date = May 1, 2018}}</ref>

On July 1, 1964, with approval from the state department of education, the school board relinquished control and the college was given its current name, '''Holyoke Community College'''.<ref name="HCCfounding"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Building Rite At College Tuesday at 9|page=32|quote=Known as Holyoke Junior College when it was controlled by the local school board, the college was taken over by state officials when the area community college was approved for this city|work=Springfield Republican|location=Springfield, Mass.|date=December 2, 1964}}</ref> On January 4, 1968, the Holyoke Community College building burned to the ground. Classes continued in various locations across Holyoke. A temporary campus was opened in June 1971 and the current campus opened on February 19, 1974.

In its nearly 75 year history the college has had only four presidents, as of {{currentyear}}, with founding director Dr. George E. Frost serving until 1975, at which time alumnus and former Speaker of the Massachusetts House Dr. [[David M. Bartley]] succeeded him. With Bartley's retirement in 2004, William F. Messner became the third, and with his 2016 retirement the current president, Dr. Christina Royal, became the fourth and the first woman to serve the office.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502052532/https://www.hcc.edu/library/archives-and-special-collections/hcc-records|archive-date=May 2, 2019|url=https://www.hcc.edu/library/archives-and-special-collections/hcc-records|website=Holyoke Community College|title=Holyoke Community College Records}}</ref>

In October 2019, the college announced it would launch the state's first Cannabis Education Center in partnership with the Cannabis Community Care and Research Network (C3RN). The program provides certificate training for patient advocates, [[budtender]]s, extraction and laboratory roles, as well as offerings within its culinary program.<ref>{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025120838/https://www.gazettenet.com/CannabisEdCenter-hg-102319-29567794|url=https://www.gazettenet.com/CannabisEdCenter-hg-102319-29567794|title=Holyoke Community College to offer cannabis industry training programs|last=Voghel|first=Jacquelyn|work=Daily Hampshire Gazette|location=Northampton, Mass.|date=October 24, 2019|archive-date=2019-10-25}}</ref>

===Foundation===
[[File:Holyoke_Community_College_October_2016.jpg|thumb|right|HCC's main campus, sitting at the edge of the municipal watershed for the [[Holyoke Water Works]], the area to the west of campus is entirely forested]]
Following a devastating fire that destroyed the then-refurbished college building (the former [[George P. B. Alderman|Alderman]] Holyoke High School), the yellow bricks from the former facility were sold off to raise funds for an independent charitable corporation, created by Mayor [[William S. Taupier]]. This charity, known as the Friends of Holyoke Community College, was initially founded for the purpose of conducting fundraising to construct new facilities.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mayor Forms Corporation to Aid Community College|work=Springfield Union|location=Springfield, Mass.|date=January 27, 1968|page=6}}</ref> The idea of rebuilding such a school in Holyoke was left in doubt by the state but after hundreds of letters and phone calls from residents to [[John Volpe|Governor Volpe]], funding was granted for an entirely new campus in the Homestead Avenue neighborhood.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028040352/https://www.hcc.edu/library/archives-and-special-collections|url=https://www.hcc.edu/library/archives-and-special-collections|archive-date=October 28, 2017|publisher=Holyoke Community College|title=Archives and Special Collections|quote=HCC's newly renovated campus burned to the ground on a bitterly cold day in January of 1968. It was the resourcefulness and innovative spirit of the college and community that enabled students to resume their studies in temporary facilities within a matter of days. Later, flooding the governor's office with hundreds of letters and phone calls, the community and college joined forces to insist that the school be rebuilt in Holyoke.|year=2017}}</ref> The Friends of Holyoke Community College would be renamed the '''Holyoke Community College Foundation''' in 1985,<ref>Query for "Holyoke Community College Foundation, Inc.", [http://corp.sec.state.ma.us/CorpWeb/CardSearch/CardSearch.aspx Massachusetts Corporation Card File Database], Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts</ref> a separate [[501(c)(3)]] [[nonprofit organization]] which fundraises to supplement state appropriations to the college through benefactor scholarships, educational grants, and the annually-awarded [[Elaine Marieb]] Faculty Chair for Teaching Excellence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hcc.edu/alumni-and-friends/the-hcc-foundation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028040231/https://www.hcc.edu/alumni-and-friends/the-hcc-foundation|archive-date=October 28, 2017|title=The HCC Foundation|publisher=Holyoke Community College|year=2017}}</ref> As of 2018, the foundation presided over the largest endowment of any community college foundation in the Commonwealth.<ref name="endowmentreport"/>

== Campus ==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Buildings on Campus
!Abbr.
!Building
!Year 
!Uses
|-
|BC
|David M. Bartley Center
for Athletics & Recreation
|2000
|Athletics
|-
|CC
|Campus Center
|1981
|Admissions, Advising, College Store, Dining Services,
Student Engagement
|-
|DON
|Donahue 
|1974
|Computer Lab, Library
|-
|FPA
|Fine & Performing Arts 
|1975
|Leslie Philips Theater, Mac Lab
|-
|FR
|Frost
|1974
|Administration, Financial Aid, IT Helpdesk, Student Accounts,
Student Records
|-
|KC
|Kittredge Center for Business
& Workforce Development
|2006
|
|-
|MRB
|Marieb
|1974
|Health and Life Sciences
|}

==Locations==
In addition to the main campus on in the Homestead Avenue area of Holyoke, the community college also maintains a number of satellite campuses, generally associated with specific programs, including:<ref>{{cite web|title=Other Locations|website=Holyoke Community College|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502052151/https://www.hcc.edu/about/visit-hcc/other-locations|url=https://www.hcc.edu/about/visit-hcc/other-locations|archive-date=May 2, 2019}}</ref>
* Center for Health Education, 404 Jarvis Avenue, Holyoke
* Education to Employment Center, 79 Main Street, Ware
* HCC-MGM Culinary Arts Center, 164 Race Street, Holyoke
* Ludlow Area Adult Learning Center, 54 Winsor Street, Ludlow
* Picknelly Adult & Family Education Center, Holyoke Transportation Center, 206 Maple Street, Holyoke

==Notable alumni==
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{{div col}}
* [[Craig Blais]], American poet and scholar, assistant professor of English at Anna Maria College, recipient of the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry, with published works in The Antioch Review and Yale Review.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Anna Maria College|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503223941/https://www.annamaria.edu/faculty-profiles/liberal-arts-sciences-profiles/286-faculty-profile-craig-blais|archive-date=May 3, 2018|url=https://www.annamaria.edu/faculty-profiles/liberal-arts-sciences-profiles/286-faculty-profile-craig-blais|title=Faculty Profile: Craig Blais}}</ref>
* [[Paul Boland]], impressionist and singer<ref name="News-Pilot1992-06-17">{{cite news |date=June 17, 1992 |title=Ricardos-Boland |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89724547/news-pilot/ |newspaper=[[News-Pilot]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=September 4, 2024 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129023210/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89724547/news-pilot/ |archivedate=November 29, 2021 }}</ref>
* [[Augusten Burroughs]], writer (dropped out)
* [[Richard H. Demers]], former mayor of Chicopee, Massachusetts, and former member of House of Representatives, real estate developer.<ref>{{cite book|title=Public Officers of the Massachusetts General Court 1980–81|url=https://archive.org/stream/publicofficersof19791980bost#page/128/mode/2up/|access-date=August 20, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Sabina Gadecki]], actress and fashion model
* [[Fran Healy (baseball)|Fran Healy]], professional [[baseball]] player and [[sportscaster]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Garry |title=From MLB to TV interviews, Holyoke’s Fran Healy remains pride of the Paper City |url=https://www.masslive.com/living/2019/10/from-mlb-to-tv-interviews-holyokes-fran-healy-remains-pride-of-the-paper-city.html |access-date=13 February 2024 |work=[[The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts)|The Republican]] |date=28 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Michael F. Kane]], politician
* [[Yankee Candle|Michael J. Kittredge II]], founder of the Yankee Candle Company.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.masslive.com/business/2019/07/a-tremendous-impact-yankee-candle-founder-michael-kittredge-gave-time-expertise-as-well-as-money-to-holyoke-community-college.html|date=July 25, 2019|last=Kinney|first=Jim|title='A tremendous impact’: Yankee Candle founder Michael Kittredge gave time, expertise as well as money to Holyoke Community College}}</ref>
* [[Luis Daniel Muñiz]], Puerto Rican politician and senator for the Mayagüez-Aguadilla district.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senado.pr.gov/Pages/Senators/HON--LUIS-DANIEL-MUNIZ-CORTES.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512045421/https://www.senado.pr.gov/Pages/Senators/HON--LUIS-DANIEL-MUNIZ-CORTES.aspx|archive-date=May 12, 2018|quote=Desde muy joven demostró su liderato siendo el presidente de su clase de cuarto año en la escuela superior Efraín Sánchez Hidalgo. Estudió en Holyoke Community College en Massachusetts. Posee un bachillerato en educación secundaria, en estudios sociales e historia, y una maestría en Administración y en Supervisión Escolar de University of Phoenix.|title=HON. LUIS DANIEL MUÑIZ CORTES|access-date=May 3, 2018|publisher=Senado de Puerto Rico|language=es}}</ref>
* [[Henry P. Monaghan]], constitutional law scholar, professor at [[Columbia Law School]]<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.law.columbia.edu/faculty/henry-p-monaghan|title= Henry P. Monaghan|access-date= May 4, 2022}}</ref>
* [[Richard Neal]], former city councilor and mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts, member of the US House of Representatives representing the 1st district of Massachusetts.<ref>Neal, Richard E. "[http://www.house.gov/neal/link4.html Biography]." ''Congressman Richard Neal'' (official website). [[United States House of Representatives]].</ref>
* [[Patty O'Donnell]], former member of the Vermont House of Representatives, and member of the school board of Vernon, Vermont.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/25873/patricia-odonnell#.UJxhccU5Y1N|title= Patricia 'Pat' A. O'Donnell's Biography
|publisher= Project Vote Smart |access-date= November 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324231726/https://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/25873/patricia-odonnell#.Wuua59OUvOQ|archive-date=March 24, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Joe Peters]], artist whose work has been featured in the Corning Museum of Glass.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bennett|first1=Sarah|title=High Art|url=http://www.ocweekly.com/2013-11-07/culture/glassblowing-art-long-beach/full/|access-date=7 October 2014|agency=OC Weekly|date=November 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003184655/http://www.ocweekly.com/2013-11-07/culture/glassblowing-art-long-beach/full/|archive-date=October 3, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Cooper|first1=Dan|title=Artist Joe Peters finds talent, challenge in glass|url=http://www.masslive.com/living/index.ssf/2012/01/artist_joe_peters_finds_talent_challenge_in_glass.html|access-date=7 October 2014|agency=Mass Live|date=January 11, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Todd Smola]], member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives representing the 1st Hampden district.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731091041/http://www.reptoddsmola.org/About-Todd.html|archive-date=July 31, 2017|url=http://www.reptoddsmola.org/About-Todd.html|title=About Todd|website=Representative Todd Smola|access-date=May 3, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Taino (rapper)|Taino]], rapper 
* [[Aaron Vega]], member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives representing the 5th Hampden district, serving on the Joint Committee on Higher Education, former documentary film editor with previous work with [[Ken Burns]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0891780/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr45|title=Aaron Vega|website=IMDb|publisher=IMDb.com, Inc.}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[WCCH]] (103.5 FM), the community college's FM radio station

==Notes==
{{noteslist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.hcc.edu/ Official website]

{{Cooperating Colleges of Greater Springfield |state=autocollapse}}
{{Holyoke, Massachusetts}}
{{Massachusetts Higher Education}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Holyoke Community College| ]]
[[Category:1946 establishments in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Holyoke, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Community colleges in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1946]]
[[Category:NJCAA schools]]
[[Category:Schools in Holyoke, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Two-year colleges in the United States]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Hampden County, Massachusetts]]