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60th Anniversary
QCC was established in 1963 to provide access to quality, higher education to residents of Central Massachusetts, providing thousands of men and women opportunities for:
- A first-rate education
- Personal growth
- Immediate entry into the workforce
- Transfer to bachelor level programs in four-year colleges and universities
- Personal and cultural enrichment
A Glimpse of the Past
QCC: A Brief History
December 15, 1961 | Massachusetts Board of Regional Community College approved application by Worcester Area Chamber of Commerce for a college in Worcester. |
December 19, 1962 | Site selected at 251 Belmont Street and approved by the Regional Board. |
February 2, 1963 | President Paul G. Preus appointed. |
May 10, 1963 | First student admitted. |
September 1963 | First classes began with 278 students at Holy Cross while renovations were made on the Belmont Street Buildings. |
September 28, 1964 | Classes began at the new facilities on Belmont Street with 558 day division students and 150 evening division students. |
June 10, 1965 | First Commencement Exercises held for a class of 44 candidates, that included students in Liberal Arts, Business Administration and Secretarial, and Engineering. |
December 8, 1967 | Accreditation by and membership in the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools was awarded. |
July 29, 1969 | Worcester Consortium of Higher Education was incorporated, consisting of six senior and four junior colleges in and near Worcester and including Quinsigamond Community College. |
November 30, 1970 | QCC purchased the Assumption Preparatory School campus on West Boylston Street, Worcester. |
January 27, 1971 | Classes held for the first time on the West Boylston Street Campus for approximately 900 students. The 500 day division students continued at the Belmont Street Campus. |
1977 | Dr. Donald J. Donato named the second president of QCC. |
1980 | Dr. Clifford S. Peterson named the third president of QCC. |
1995 | Dr. Sandra L. Kurtinitis named the fourth president of QCC. |
May, 2004 | QCC opened The Harrington Learning Center, a 56,000-square foot, three-story, state-of-the-art facility housing the Alden Library and a comprehensive academic and media center. |
2006 | Dr. Gail E. Carberry named the fifth president of QCC. |
July, 2009 | President Barack Obama issued a challenge to the community college system nationwide to double its numbers. QCC rose to the challenge, graduating 80 percent more students since June 2007. |
September, 2009 | First satellite location opened in Southbridge. |
September, 2011 | Marlborough satellite location opened at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School. |
April, 2015 | The QCC Healthcare and Workforce Development Center opened as part of a partnership between Quinsigamond Community College and the Worcester Business Development Corporation. |
January, 2016 | Grand Opening of the QuEST (Quinsigamond Engineering, Science and Technology) Center. |
July, 2017 | Dr. Luis G. Pedraja named the sixth president of QCC. |
March, 2020 | For the first time in the College's history all classes transitioned to remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Evolution of the Quinsigamond Logo
- 1995 black and white rectangular logo.
- Red ellipse logo with full college name.
- Red ellipse with new tagline.
- Introduction of the school color, Pantone 2945 to the ellipse logo.
- Current logo representing an open door.
- Special edition 50th Anniversary logo.
Behind the Scenes: A Look at the Wyvern
The Wyvern mascot has developed extensively over the years, changing from a ferocious creature of myth into the friendly, guardian figure adopted by QCC. Each iteration highlights a different dragon-like trait of this creature from English folklore, where the creature is said to have possessed a venomous bite, a lack of hind legs, and the ability to breath fire. In heraldry, the wyvern is commonly a supporting figure on crests and seals.
For a more detailed history, please visit our Wyvern page.