Jackson College was founded as Jackson Junior College in 1928 and operated as a division of the Jackson Union School District. In 1962, Jackson County voters created Jackson Community College as a distinct entity; and in 1964, they passed a charter millage that still helps to fund the College today. Rapid enrollment and program growth in the 1960s spurred construction of a new campus on its present site. In June 2013, in light of the College’s decision to begin development of curriculum for two bachelor degree programs and increased efforts in international studies, the Board of Trustees voted to change the name to Jackson College.
Today, the College owns more than 500 acres and sits on a scenic rural site six miles south of the city of Jackson, and also operates Jackson College @ LISD TECH in Adrian, Clyde E. LeTarte Center, Hillsdale, and began offering classes at W.J. Maher Campus, Jackson in 2012.
In recent years, the College has:
renovated James McDivitt Hall and Victor Cuiss Fieldhouse;
added a state-of-the-art information technology and library building, William Atkinson Hall;
built three student housing residence halls – Campus View 1, 2 and 3;
renovated Justin Whiting Hall and added the Rawal Center for Health Professions;
constructed a new Health Laboratory Center featuring laboratory and classroom spaces;
and renovated Bert Walker Hall
An integral educational and economic force in the Jackson, Lenawee and Hillsdale communities, the College operates on general fund budget of about $45 million. Each year, more than 7,500 students enroll at JC. About 43 percent take classes on the Central Campus; 11 percent at JC @ LISD TECH, 7 percent at the LeTarte Center, 10 percent at Maher, 20 percent online, about 4 percent at locations around Jackson County, and 4 percent in the Jackson College Corrections Education Program. Among Jackson College’s total student population:
41 percent of students attend full-time, 59 percent part-time;
58 percent of students are females, 42 percent males;
63 percent of students are under the age of 24, and
Minority enrollment is at 16 percent.
Jackson College has 74 full-time faculty, 133 full-time staff and administrators and 361 part-time personnel. -
About Jackson College