North Central Texas College
Encyclopedia
North Central Texas College (NCTC) is a community college
serving Cooke County
, Denton County
, and Montague County, Texas
. NCTC operates four campuses, the main campus in Gainesville
, campuses in Corinth
, Bowie
, and a branch campus in Graham
.
As defined by the Texas Legislature
, the official service area of NCTC consists of the following:
NCTC also has a Lifelong Learning Division that recently held the first-ever Weld-Off with over 155 registrations and 42 participants. Known for its welding programs and state-of-the-art facility, the Lifelong Learning Division offers students a chance to go to school to learn a new trade or technique. Courses offered under Lifelong Learning consist of job skills and development, adult basic skills, computer training, and community education including English as a Second Language and GED courses.
. In NCTC's case, a branch of the Gainesville Independent School District
known as Gainesville Junior College was proposed by Superintendent Randolph Lee Clark, who previously started a junior college that later became Midwestern State University
. The Gainesville college was established May 20, 1924, and held its first classes in the fall of that year.
For the first 22 years of the school's existence, it shared the same building with Gainesville High School, also sharing teachers and administrators (not until 1957 were separate teachers hired for the college). In 1946 a building located next to the high school was purchased and the college had its own building.
However, by the mid-1950s the college grew to the point that sharing space with the high school was no longer practical. Local citizens passed a bond issue to build separate facilities for the college. However, discussions took place as to whether a separate entity, apart from the Gainesville ISD, should be created (including assessment of a property tax
to support it). With the support of citizens such as W.T. Bonner (who donated the first 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) of the current campus and later sold 45 acres (182,108.7 m²) more to the college), Cooke County voters approved the creation of the new district, and Gainesville Junior College became Cooke County Junior College (the Junior was later dropped in the 1970s). In 1994, the institution's name was changed to North Central Texas College to reflect its increasing instructional offerings in two Denton County cities--Lewisville and Denton.
During this time, NCTC operated under a "gentlemen's agreement" with the other junior colleges, and thus no separate schools were formed in neighboring Denton
and Montague
Counties.
In 1992, president Ronnie Glasscock led the school to two major accomplishments. First, the "gentlemen's agreement" was codified into state law (however, neither Denton nor Montague are included in NCTC's tax base). Second, Glasscock lobbied for a name change, realizing that Cooke County College would handicap the college's effort to be a true regionally focused college. He was successful, and on June 1, 1994, the Regents voted to change the college's name to its current designation.
In January 2000, NCTC opened a branch campus in Bowie (to serve Montague County). The citizens of Bowie voted a 1/2 cent sales tax increase to build the 16000 square feet (1,486.4 m²), $2.196 million facility. NCTC also opened the Corinth campus (to serve Denton County) at the same time.
The current president of NCTC is Dr. Eddie Hadlock, a 33-year veteran of the college. Dr. Hadlock previously served as the Director of Counseling, Registrar, Director of Continuing Education, Dean of Student Services, and Vice-President of Instruction.
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
serving Cooke County
Cooke County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 36,363 people, 13,643 households, and 10,000 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 people per square mile . There were 15,061 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
, Denton County
Denton County, Texas
Denton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 432,976; in 2009 the estimated population had reached 628,300. Part of the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex, it is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. The county seat is Denton. The county...
, and Montague County, Texas
Montague County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,117 people, 7,770 households, and 5,485 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile . There were 9,862 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...
. NCTC operates four campuses, the main campus in Gainesville
Gainesville, Texas
Gainesville is a city in and the county seat of Cooke County, Texas, United States. The population was 15,538 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, campuses in Corinth
Corinth, Texas
Corinth is a small town in Denton County, Texas, United States, a suburb of Dallas, and a part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The population was 11,325 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Corinth is located at ....
, Bowie
Bowie, Texas
Bowie is a city in Montague County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,219 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Bowie has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:...
, and a branch campus in Graham
Graham, Texas
Graham is a city in north central Texas. It is the county seat of Young County, and as of the 2010 Census had a population of 8,903.-History:...
.
As defined by the Texas Legislature
Texas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
, the official service area of NCTC consists of the following:
- all of Cooke and Montague Counties, and
- all of Denton County excluding the cities of FriscoFrisco, TexasFrisco is an affluent city in Collin and Denton Counties in the U.S. state of Texas and a rapidly growing suburb of Dallas. As of the 2010 Census, 116,989 people were living in Frisco up from 33,714 in the previous census. Frisco was the fastest growing city in the United States in 2009, and also...
and The ColonyThe Colony, TexasThe city is bordered on the west by Lewisville Lake and Lewisville, Texas, on the north and east by Frisco, Texas and on the south by Carrollton, Texas and Plano, Texas...
, and those portions of the county included within the Carrollton-Farmers BranchCarrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School DistrictCarrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District is a school district based in Carrollton, Texas .The district covers most of the cities of Carrollton and Farmers Branch and parts of Addison, Coppell, Dallas, and Irving...
, CelinaCelina Independent School DistrictCelina Independent School District is a public school district based in Celina, Texas .In addition to Celina, the district serves a portion of Weston...
, and ProsperProsper Independent School DistrictProsper Independent School District is a public school district based in Prosper, Texas . Located in Collin County, a portion of the district extends into Denton County.P.I.S.D...
school districts.
NCTC also has a Lifelong Learning Division that recently held the first-ever Weld-Off with over 155 registrations and 42 participants. Known for its welding programs and state-of-the-art facility, the Lifelong Learning Division offers students a chance to go to school to learn a new trade or technique. Courses offered under Lifelong Learning consist of job skills and development, adult basic skills, computer training, and community education including English as a Second Language and GED courses.
History
As with many of the early community colleges, NCTC began as an extension of the local school districtSchool district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
. In NCTC's case, a branch of the Gainesville Independent School District
Gainesville Independent School District
Gainesville Independent School District is a public school district based in Gainesville, Texas .In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.-Schools:...
known as Gainesville Junior College was proposed by Superintendent Randolph Lee Clark, who previously started a junior college that later became Midwestern State University
Midwestern State University
Midwestern State University is a public liberal arts college in Wichita Falls, Texas, and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges...
. The Gainesville college was established May 20, 1924, and held its first classes in the fall of that year.
For the first 22 years of the school's existence, it shared the same building with Gainesville High School, also sharing teachers and administrators (not until 1957 were separate teachers hired for the college). In 1946 a building located next to the high school was purchased and the college had its own building.
However, by the mid-1950s the college grew to the point that sharing space with the high school was no longer practical. Local citizens passed a bond issue to build separate facilities for the college. However, discussions took place as to whether a separate entity, apart from the Gainesville ISD, should be created (including assessment of a property tax
Property tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
to support it). With the support of citizens such as W.T. Bonner (who donated the first 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) of the current campus and later sold 45 acres (182,108.7 m²) more to the college), Cooke County voters approved the creation of the new district, and Gainesville Junior College became Cooke County Junior College (the Junior was later dropped in the 1970s). In 1994, the institution's name was changed to North Central Texas College to reflect its increasing instructional offerings in two Denton County cities--Lewisville and Denton.
During this time, NCTC operated under a "gentlemen's agreement" with the other junior colleges, and thus no separate schools were formed in neighboring Denton
Denton County, Texas
Denton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 432,976; in 2009 the estimated population had reached 628,300. Part of the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex, it is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. The county seat is Denton. The county...
and Montague
Montague County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,117 people, 7,770 households, and 5,485 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile . There were 9,862 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...
Counties.
In 1992, president Ronnie Glasscock led the school to two major accomplishments. First, the "gentlemen's agreement" was codified into state law (however, neither Denton nor Montague are included in NCTC's tax base). Second, Glasscock lobbied for a name change, realizing that Cooke County College would handicap the college's effort to be a true regionally focused college. He was successful, and on June 1, 1994, the Regents voted to change the college's name to its current designation.
In January 2000, NCTC opened a branch campus in Bowie (to serve Montague County). The citizens of Bowie voted a 1/2 cent sales tax increase to build the 16000 square feet (1,486.4 m²), $2.196 million facility. NCTC also opened the Corinth campus (to serve Denton County) at the same time.
The current president of NCTC is Dr. Eddie Hadlock, a 33-year veteran of the college. Dr. Hadlock previously served as the Director of Counseling, Registrar, Director of Continuing Education, Dean of Student Services, and Vice-President of Instruction.
Oldest Continuously Operating Community College in Texas claim
NCTC claims to be the oldest continuously operating public community college in Texas, having been approved for operations in May 1924. (A historical marker outside the Administration Building supports its claim.) It stakes its claim based on the following:- Four junior colleges opened prior to NCTC, but over time evolved into four-year institutions:
- Stephenville College started in 1893, and became a public college in 1898, but financial troubles led to its buyout by Texas A&MTexas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
in 1917, and later it grew into today's Tarleton State UniversityTarleton State UniversityTarleton State University is a public, coeducational, state university located in Stephenville, Texas. It is the largest non-land-grant university primarily devoted to agriculture in the United States....
. - El Paso Junior College (no relation to the current El Paso Community CollegeEl Paso Community CollegeEl Paso Community College is a community college district headquartered in El Paso, Texas. EPCC operates five campuses in the Greater El Paso area, as well as courses offered at nearby Fort Bliss....
) opened in 1920, but eventually became the University of Texas at El PasoUniversity of Texas at El PasoThe University of Texas at El Paso is a four-year state university, and is a component institution of the University of Texas System. Its campus is located on the bank of the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas. The school was founded in 1914 as The Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy,...
. - South Park Junior College opened in 1923, but grew into today's Lamar UniversityLamar UniversityLamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
. - Wichita Falls Junior College, also opened by Randolph Clark, later became Midwestern State UniversityMidwestern State UniversityMidwestern State University is a public liberal arts college in Wichita Falls, Texas, and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges...
.
- Stephenville College started in 1893, and became a public college in 1898, but financial troubles led to its buyout by Texas A&M
- An additional four junior colleges (Carr-Burdette CollegeCarr-Burdette CollegeCarr-Burdette College was a private women's college located in Sherman, Texas that operated from 1894 to 1929.Affiliated with the Disciples of Christ, the school was founded in 1894 by Mattie F. Carr, wife of preacher Oliver Anderson Carr, after they had both returned from a mission trip to...
in ShermanSherman, TexasSherman is a city in and the county seat of Grayson County, Texas, United States. The city's estimated population as of 2009 was 38,407. It is also one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, Clifton College in CliftonClifton, TexasClifton is the largest city in Bosque County in Central Texas. The city's population was 3,542 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Clifton is located at ....
, Gunter College in GunterGunter, TexasGunter is a city in the southwestern corner of Grayson County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,230 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Sherman–Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Gunter is located at ....
and Wesley College in GreenvilleGreenville, TexasGreenville is the county seat, and the largest city, of Hunt County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,557....
) ceased operations. - Weatherford CollegeWeatherford CollegeWeatherford College is a community college located in Weatherford, Parker County, Texas, with branch campuses in nearby Decatur and Mineral Wells...
in WeatherfordWeatherford, TexasWeatherford is a city in Parker County, Texas, United States, and a western suburb of Fort Worth. The population was 19,000 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Parker County and is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.-Geography:...
dates its history back to 1869, and can claim the title of oldest junior college in Texas. However, it began as a Masonic institution and later became a Methodist school, operating as a four-year institution until 1921 when it reorganized as a two-year school. Even so, it was operated as a private instutution until 1949 when Parker County took over operations. - Hill CollegeHill CollegeHill College is a comprehensive community college located in Hillsboro, Texas.Hill College opened its doors in 1923, one year before North Central Texas College...
opened in 1923, one year prior to NCTC, and still operates today. However, it did not operate during the 1950s.