Lenoir Community College history

Kinston, North CarolinaDistance Learning Serviceshttp://sun2.lenoir.cc.nc.us/~disted/index.html Lenoir Community College was founded in 1960.

The following year in 1961, the vocational and technical curricula were initiated with classes held at Stallings Field, a former air base.

In 1963, the center moved to its 18-acre permanent campus and a new facility, later named the Bullock Building, and held its first graduation in June.

The first year of the transfer program was offered in 1966 at Stallings Field.

Upon Doctor McDaniel’s retirement, Doctor Lonnie H. Blizzard took the reigns as president in 1988.

Lee E. Wetherington, Distance Education Coordinator, Lenoir Community College, Kinston, NC 28502-0188. It first offered distance learning courses in 1997.

After ten years as president, Doctor Blizzard retired; and in July 1998, Doctor Karin Pettit was named president.

Two more acres were purchased in 1999 on the corner of highways 58 and 70.

In 2000, a state community college construction bond referendum was passed with LCC receiving more than $12 million for renovations and new construction.

On April 22, 2002, Doctor Stephen Scott, former vice president of the North Carolina Community College System, took over as president.

On May 10, 2004, Doctor Brantley Briley returned to his hometown and home college to become its sixth president.

In 2005, nine acres of land were purchased in Jones County, and plans were initiated to construct a new Jones County Center.

At the Greene County Center, a $2.1 million addition was completed in 2008.

The $1.1 million Jones County Center opened in its new location in April 2009.

In 2010, a facility was secured in downtown La Grange to become the new home of the LCC La Grange Center.

The Center opened its doors in May 2011.

To assist in traffic flow, a new driveway from N.C. 58 South was completed in 2012 as well as the completion of a campus-wide exterior signage project featuring a three panel digital sign with high-resolution color digital displays.

The On-Site Reaffirmation Committee of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) completed a visit to LCC on October 3, 2013.

The College received its official letter of reaffirmation June 2014.

1, 2016, Doctor Rusty Hunt became the seventh president after Doctor Briley retired with 12 years as president and more than 40 years of state service.

Approved by Board of Trustees March 25, 2019

The landscape of the College is changing as it has acquired the North Carolina Global TransPark Spirit Composite Center of Excellence and will begin operations as the Aerospace & Advanced Manufacturing Center in January 2020.