TMCC Celebrates 35 Years

History

Truckee Meadows Community College is celebrating 35 years of educating students in Reno and Sparks. TMCC started as the vision of Governor Mike O'Callaghan and the Nevada State Legislature in 1971, and is now the fastest growing college in the state and one of the fastest in the country. TMCC strives to meet the needs of our growing and diverse community by adding new educational facilities with the latest technology and curriculum in pioneering fields of study.

Growth

According to U.S. Department of Education data, in 2005 TMCC was one of the fastest-growing public two-year colleges, and was the only two-year Nevada college to make the list, placing 38th out of 50 colleges in the 10,000 or more student enrollment category.

More than 12,000 students are enrolled in classes at TMCC, 26 percent of those students live in Spanish Springs and the North Valleys neighborhoods.

TMCC President Philip M. Ringle attributes the college's success to meeting the needs of students and the community: offering innovative delivery options for students who need scheduling flexibility and fulfilling the community's need for highly skilled workers.

Community Access

TMCC takes pride in being a community college that is actually out in the community. Students now have five TMCC sites, and 30 business-partnered locations to choose from when they sign up for classes. The first of the multi-phases of construction for a campus on Dandini Boulevard in Reno was completed in 1976. The Dandini Campus became the central hub for the staff, programs and students. Starting in the 1980s, the student demand for courses and programs created a need for more facilities. In addition to expanding the Dandini Campus, the college established the IGT Applied Technology Center (2000), Meadowood Center (2003), Redfield Performing Arts Center (2003) and the TMCC High Tech Center at Redfield (2005). Thanks to the generous four-acre land donation of the HAWCO Corporation, TMCC is planning an additional facility in Spanish Springs.

Career Opportunities

TMCC offers more than 60 associate degree programs-from graphic design and computer programming to early childhood education and paralegal. In the last five years, TMCC has started several new programs to keep pace with Washoe County's continued growth and public's need for services. In partnership with healthcare professionals- such as the Northern Nevada Dental Society and the Nevada Veterinary Medical Association-and with the support of the Nevada Legislature, TMCC created dental hygiene, veterinary technician and fast-track nursing programs.