Indian River State College

Sixty years of milestones

1959 INDIAN RIVER JUNIOR COLLEGE (IRJC) FORMED
The Florida Legislature establishes IRJC and Lincoln Junior College (LJC) to offer general education programs for university transfer.

1960 DR. MAXWELL KING APPOINTED IRJC PRESIDENT
The first 348 IRJC students take classes at 310 Preston Court behind Fort Pierce Elementary School. The first LJC students attend classes at Lincoln Park Academy, where Leroy C. Floyd Jr. is President.

1962 FIRST COMMENCEMENTS
IRJC’s first graduating class is comprised of 28 local men and women. Lincoln Junior College graduates 27.

1963 IRJC MOVES TO VIRGINIA AVENUE
The College moves to its present Main Campus location on 65 acres of land donated by the City of Fort Pierce.

1965 IRJC AND LINCOLN JUNIOR COLLEGE MERGE
Leroy C. Floyd Jr. becomes Dean of Students for the merged institution.

1968 IRJC NAMES HERMAN HEISE PRESIDENT
During President Heise’s first year, the College is designated the Vocational and Technical Training Center of the Treasure Coast, signaling growth of occupational programs at the College and responsiveness to community needs.

FIRST POLICE ACADEMY GRADUATES

1970 COLLEGE RENAMED IRCC
The College continues to grow in scope and role and is renamed Indian River Community College (IRCC).

LIBRARY DEDICATED TO CHARLES S. MILEY

1974 MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING TEAM BEGINS WINNING STREAK
IRCC activates the longest unbroken U.S. championship-winning streak in any sport at the collegiate level.

1976 FIRST BRANCH CAMPUS OPENS IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
Named for James and Valeda Mueller, IRCC establishes its first branch campus at 6155 College Lane in Vero Beach.

WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING BEGINS THEIR RUN OF CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES
1979 IRCC SERVES MORE THAN 20,000 ANNUALLY
Commencement ceremonies, held at Main Campus, grow larger each year.

1980 MCALPIN FINE ARTS CENTER OPENS
The performance center is named for Ira McAlpin Jr., who served on the IRJC Advisory Committee and later as Chair of the District Board of Trustees.

1982 CHASTAIN CAMPUS OPENS IN STUART
The Campus is named for Thomas Chastain, a rancher from Indiantown, who advocated for higher education in Martin County.

WQCS, IRCC’S PUBLIC RADIO STATION, GOES ON THE AIR

1986 DIXON HENDRY CAMPUS OPENS IN OKEECHOBEE
The Campus is named after Judge William Hendry and Ben F. Dixon, who served on the IRCC District Board of Trustees and played a leading role in establishing IRCC in Okeechobee.

1988 DR. EDWIN R. MASSEY NAMED THIRD PRESIDENT
Massey, the College’s longest serving president, ushers in an era of new facilities, quality enhancement, expansion of programs and services, and technological innovation.

MARGARET INGRAM RECOGNIZED WITH FIRST DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD

1992 BRANCH CAMPUS ESTABLISHED IN PORT ST. LUCIE
Built on 40 acres donated by developer Thomas J. White Sr., the campus opens in St. Lucie West, the region’s fastest growing area.

1993 HALLSTROM PLANETARIUM AND SCIENCE CENTER OPEN
The Treasure Coast gets its own planetarium, complete with a full schedule of fun and educational star shows for school-age children and weekend multimedia performances for the public.

1996 MAIN CAMPUS GROWS TO 130 ACRES
Programs continue to expand, the new Alto “Bud” Adams Jr. River Hammock offers student housing.

1997 IRCC OFFERS FIRST ONLINE CLASSES
The College adds internet-based classes as distance learning options.

1999 MARY L. FIELDS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER Opens
Replicating a hospital replete with nursing suites, emergency room and dental clinic, the Center provides students with authentic training in more than 20 healthcare disciplines.

CHASTAIN CAMPUS INTRODUCES INCUBATOR FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND TECHNOLOGY START-UPS
2000 FOUNDATION PROGRAMS RECOGNIZE FACULTY AND ENTREPRENEURIAL INNOVATION
In keeping with its commitment to excellence, the IRCC Foundation establishes its Endowed Teaching Chair and Entrepreneur of the Year programs.

2001 FIRST CONFERENCE CENTER
IRCC’s first community conference facility, named in honor of Dan and Marge Richardson, opens in Vero Beach.

MORGADE LIBRARY OPENS AT CHASTAIN CAMPUS

2002 IRCC/FAU JOINT CAMPUS EXPANDS “2+2” OPPORTUNITIES
Students can complete their first two years of college through IRCC and their final two years through Florida Atlantic University (FAU) without ever leaving the St. Lucie West campus.

2003 IRCC ADDS INDIANTOWN LOCATION
Educational opportunities expand in Martin County with the opening of the Indiantown Education Center.

SCHREIBER CONFERENCE CENTER OPENS

2004 CHASTAIN CAMPUS EXPANDS, ADDS CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL
Two state-of-the-art buildings—the Clare and Gladys Wolf High-Technology Center and William A. and Helen S. Thomas Career Technology Building—open at the growing Stuart campus, along with the Clark Advanced Learning Center, a new Martin County high school serving 225 students.

2005 KIGHT CENTER FOR EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES Opens ON MAIN CAMPUS
Built to offer pioneering programs in new and emerging technology, and to support the technological needs of a growing student population, the Kight Center is impetus for IRCC’s three-time recognition as the nation’s most technologically advanced community college.

2008 STUDENTS ATTEND FIRST BACHELOR’S DEGREE CLASSES
With approval of the Florida Board of Education, IRCC offers nine new Bachelor’s Degree programs in addition to traditional two-year degrees, career training certificates and adult education programs.

IRCC BECOMES INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE TO REFLECT LARGER MISSION

BLACKBURN EDUCATIONAL BUILDING OPENS IN LINCOLN PARK COMMUNITY

IRSC AND FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY BRING THE REGION’S FIRST MEDICAL SCHOOL TO MAIN CAMPUS

WILLIAMSON CONFERENCE AND EDUCATION CENTER OPENS AT THE DIXON HENDRY CAMPUS

2009 TREASURE COAST PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING COMPLEX DEDICATED ON SEPT. 11
The 50-acre, eight-building complex quickly earns accolades as the nation’s most comprehensive public safety training facility.

IRSC GRADUATES ITS FIRST BACCALAUREATE STUDENTS

2010 IRSC CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF STUDENT SUCCESS
The College celebrates its 50th anniversary throughout the year with events in Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties.

2011 REGIONAL CENTER FOR NUCLEAR EDUCATION AND TRAINING ESTABLISHED
The National Science Foundation establishes RCNET at IRSC to address workforce demands.

2012 BROWN CENTER FOR INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP OPENS ON MAIN CAMPUS
The building is constructed to Silver LEED standards, and connects training in energy and technology with services for business start-ups to create a powerful launching pad for jobs.

2013 ST. LUCIE WEST CAMPUS RENAMED PRUITT CAMPUS, OPENS STEM CENTER
Added to the newly renamed campus is the William and Helen Thomas Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Center—a multi-faceted resource for scientific research, economic development, collaborative projects and student internships.

LASER-TEC BEGINS OPERATIONS 2015 IRSC NAMED ASPEN “TOP 10”
The Aspen Institute, an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, D.C., recognizes IRSC as a “top 10 finalist” for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The award is the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America’s community colleges.

2016 DESIGNATED AS A LEADER COLLEGE BY ACHIEVING THE DREAM
Achieving the Dream, a national, nonprofit leader in championing evidence-based institutional improvement, distinguishes IRSC as a “Leader College” for its commitment to addressing equity and achievement gaps.

2017 NAMED “TOP 3” FINALIST WITH DISTINCTION BY ASPEN INSTITUTE
IRSC is recognized as one of the top three community colleges by the Aspen Institute.

2018 VIRTUAL CAMPUS GROWS TO OFFER 15 ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS
The College offers 15 fully online degree programs and hundreds of online courses, making an IRSC education broadly accessible and convenient.

IRSC Collaborative Launches Lincoln Park Career Pathways Initiative

LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS 2019 IRSC NAMED TOP COLLEGE IN THE NATION
IRSC is awarded the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. IRSC earns top honors following a rigorous review of data, strategies and outcomes related to student learning, degree and certificate completion, high rates of graduate employment, earnings for graduates, and exceptional access and success for minority and low-income students.

HISTORIC LAURA (RIDING) JACKSON HOUSE MOVES TO MUELLER CAMPUS

2020 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
The community is invited to the IRSC 60th Anniversary Block Party & Open House, taking place on Main Campus in Fort Pierce on Saturday, May 16, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In-depth anniversary timeline at irsc.edu.