artin Community College was initially authorized as Martin Technical Institute by the General Assembly of North Carolina during the 1967 session. The State Board of Education exercised the authority the General Assembly delegated to it by contracting with the Martin County Board of Education for the establishment of a unit of the North Carolina Department of Community College System. This action was finalized on September 7, 1967.

A board of trustees was then appointed consisting of eight members, four members appointed by the county commissioners and four by the county board of education. The trustees then selected and appointed, with the approval of the State Board of Education, its first president. Following the appointment of an administrative staff, extension courses were initiated during the summer quarter of 1968. Curriculum programs in vocational and technical areas were started in the fall quarter of 1968. Administrative headquarters and classrooms were located in Everetts, North Carolina in an old public school building, which had been remodeled to serve the institute on a temporary basis.

In June 1969, a county-wide election was successfully held which qualified the institute to apply for independent status. The change was completed July 21, 1969, and the original contract with the county board of education terminated. Funds from local and federal sources were secured to begin the construction of the new facilities located on a 65-acre tract of land, one mile west of Williamston. The completion date for these facilities was set for April 1, 1971. Movement into the new facilities was completed during the week of May 24, 1971. Open house and graduation exercises were held on Sunday, May 30, 1971.

A bond election was held November 7, 1972. The vote was favorable, approving a million dollars of matching funds for construction. The 1973 General Assembly awarded $570,000 of capital construction funds to be used in constructing a Learning Resources Center (Building 2), Automotive Shop/Classroom Building (Building 3), and Business/College Transfer Building (Building 4). The Learning Resources Center was completed in the fall of 1974 at which time the Library and Learning Laboratory were moved from the original facilities. Many of the instructors relocated their offices in this new building along with the Division of Continuing Education. The Automotive Shop/Classroom Building and the Business/College Transfer Building were completed and made ready for occupancy in December 1975.

Martin Technical Institute was granted community college status by the General Assembly on June 26, 1975, with funding for a two-year college transfer program appropriated on July 1, 1976. The name was officially changed to Martin Community College on July 1, 1976.  

The construction of a new shipping and receiving building was begun in July 1982. This 3,840 square foot building was completed and made ready for use in the fall of 1983.  

Since the college was established in 1968, various off-campus facilities have been opened so that the college might be more accessible to residents in the service area. These facilities include the following:

Bertie Campus in Windsor, NC opened in 1983 to provide adult basic education, adult high school education, extension classes, and selected curriculum courses, with a new facility opening fall 1997 on Granville Street. Roper Learning Center in Roper, NC opened in 1986 to provide adult basic and adult high school education.

These facilities along with the main campus have enhanced the college's efforts in better serving the educational needs of the citizens within the college's service area.  

The first Equine facility, consisting of an 18-stall barn with a breeding shed and a riding ring, was added in the summer of 1984. In 1986, an additional 23-stall barn with a covered riding ring was added. In an attempt to meet the needs of this program and the community at large, plans for an expanded MCC Equine facility were developed. Groundbreaking was held in the fall of 1987, with Phase I being completed in 1989 and Phase II in September 1990. Phase III began August 1995 and was completed July 1996. 

To provide adequate facilities to meet changing curriculum offerings and additional special support services, renovations to the Automotive Shop/Classroom Building (Building 3) were completed in 1986. Renovations included a child care center, Physical Therapist Assistant lecture/laboratory facilities, Automotive Service Technician specialized training areas, and Commercial Refrigeration laboratory facilities. In order to consolidate the allied health facilities, the Medical Assisting program was moved to Building 3 in the fall of 1990. 

The Board approved in January 1996 a 3700 square foot telecommunications classroom which will accommodate 60 students. This facility will be located in Building 1, Room 10 and will provide a state-of-the-art two-way interactive communications center which will be tied into the North Carolina Information Highway.

About MCC / Academic Programs / Admissions / Campus Life
Contact MCC / Continuing Education / Course Schedule
Personnel / News & Information / Services & Resources / Home

© Copyright 2007, Martin Community College
Member of the North Carolina Community College System