History & Mission

Inspiring Since 1961

Innovation has always been at the heart of Monroe Community College. For more than 60 years, MCC has evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of its students and community. The College has developed new and exciting degree programs, created unique educational and workforce initiatives, and built contemporary urban and suburban campus facilities.

MCC was established in 1961 under founding chairman, Samuel J. Stabins, M.D. MCC’s first Board of Trustees comprised Rochester’s leading professionals in business, health care, education and law as appointed by Monroe County and New York state. That same year, MCC was established as a member of the State University of New York (SUNY) System.

Carrying on the vision of its founders, MCC continues to provide a quality education at an affordable price. Today, the College offers more than 100 outstanding academic programs taught by award-winning faculty members for a much lower cost than private colleges. Since 1961, more than half a million people have been inspired by MCC. The traditions of innovation and value will continue for many years to come.

MCC’s Vision

Monroe Community College champions equity, opportunity, innovation, and excellence while transforming students’ lives and communities.

MCC’s Mission

Monroe Community College transforms lives and communities, fostering the success of diverse students through affordable and innovative academic, career, technical, and workforce development programs. Our shared work inspires and champions excellence in higher education and builds global engagement and understanding.

MCC’s Core Values

Monroe Community College values community, inclusiveness, integrity, excellence, empowerment, and stewardship.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Monroe Community College expects and upholds equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging in our educational programs, policies, campus life, employment, and community involvement. We believe that diversity enriches our lives and leads to understanding and appreciation of our differences and commonalities. In order to achieve academic and institutional excellence, we actively recruit, engage, and retain students, faculty, staff, and community partners who represent the diversity of our region, nation, and world.

MCC through the years

1961 – MCC is established as a unit of the State University of New York (SUNY) system.
1962 – Leroy V. Good, Ph.D. is inaugurated as MCC’s founding president. He had already established community colleges in three other states.
1962 – MCC’s Alexander Street Campus welcomes 720 students.
1965 – MCC becomes the first college in the nation to receive accreditation within three years of its founding.
1968 – A new campus on East Henrietta Road in Brighton opens to meet increasing enrollment needs.
1974 – Comprehensive training of the region’s first responders begins at the new 49,000 square foot Public Safety Training Facility on Scottsville Road.
1980s – MCC becomes the fastest-growing community college in the state, increasing enrollment during the 1980s by more than 41%.
1986 – MCC becomes a member of the League for Innovation in the Community College Board of Directors.
1991 – To meet the needs of MCC’s growing non-traditional student population, the Richard M. Guon Child Care Center opens.
1992 – The Damon City Campus opens its doors in downtown Rochester to educate students in law, criminal justice, human services and K-12 teaching.
1997 – The Applied Technologies Center, a 53,000 square foot facility on West Henrietta Road, opens to serve fast-growing industries such as precision tooling and machining, automotive technology and HVAC/R.
2003 – MCC launches its housing and residence life program with the dedication of Alice Holloway Young Commons, named in honor of Dr. Young, one of the first African-American teachers in the U.S., as well as a founding MCC trustee.
2003 – To address the educational needs of those in the region faced with responding to natural and intentional disasters, the Homeland Security Management Institute opens.
2007 – MCC’s Agriculture and Life Sciences Institute opens.
2008 – The Louis S. and Molly B. Wolk Center for Excellence in Nursing opens and earns LEED Silver certification.
2008 – The PAC Center, an academic, fitness and recreational facility named after alumna, Pamela Ann Chesonis, ‘79, opens to support student learning, athletics and overall health and wellness on campus.
2011 – MCC’s Economic Development and Innovative Workforce Services division is established.
2015 – Association of American Colleges and Universities selects MCC as one of 10 community colleges for the Developing a Community College Student Roadmap Project, leading to its national and state leadership in Guided Pathways.
2016 – MCC launches the Schools @ MCC.
2017 – MCC’s Downtown Campus opens at 321 State Street.
2020 – MCC shifts to fully remote and online learning and services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022 – State and county leaders and regional partners join MCC in opening the Finger Lakes Workforce Development Center at MCC’s Downtown Campus.

MCC’s Accreditation

MCC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), a voluntary, non-governmental, membership association that defines, maintains, and promotes educational excellence across institutions with diverse missions, student populations, and resources. MSCHE conducts accreditation and pre-accreditation (candidacy status) activities for institutions of higher education in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and any other geographic areas in which the Commission elects to conduct accrediting activities, including the evaluation of distance education and correspondence education programs offered at those institutions. MSCHE accredits institutions across the United States as well as globally.

Curricula are registered and approved by the New York State Department of Education and the State University at New York (SUNY) system.

MCC is a member of the League for Innovation in the Community College. The League provides direction and leadership for experimentation and innovation in two-year colleges. Its members are recognized as the best community colleges in the United States and Canada.

Monroe Community College Accreditation

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