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St. Charles Community College (SCC commonly pronounced "scuh") is a St. Louis-area two-year college in suburban St. Charles County, Missouri. Established in 1986 SCC's first fall semester in 1987 had an enrollment of 1,547 students. SCC is now the fourth largest of Missouri's 12 community college districts.

Two-year associate degrees and certificate programs in the arts, business, sciences and career-technical fields are offered at SCC as well as workforce training and community-based personal and professional development in addition to cultural, recreational and entertainment opportunities. St. Charles Community College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

History
On April 1, 1986 the voters of St. Charles County created the St. Charles Community College district. Dr. Donald D. Shook, a former president of two Missouri colleges was selected as the first president of SCC. St. Charles Community College began classes with 400 students in the summer of 1987, and that fall 1,547 students were enrolled in credit classes, and other non-credit, continuing education programs. During its first five years the college operated out of several temporary locations.

In February 1989 the college's Board of Trustees purchased a 135-acre area in the center of St. Charles County with easy access to major Interstate highways. On June 6th, 1990 ground was broken for the first four buildings of the new campus which was dedicated in a public ceremony on Jan. 26, 1992. Campus growth has matched increasing enrollment with over 4,500 students in credit classes by fall of 1992. Non-credit continuing education programs, including business and industry partnerships, personal and career enrichment, also grew with thousands of people enrolled each year.

Voters in the local college district approved two additional buildings for the campus in an April 1993 election. In March, 1994 construction began for the $10 million, two Donald D. Shook Fine Arts Building and a Continuing Education and Academic Center; matching funds from a 1994 statewide bond issue provided a Child Development Center in spring of 1996.

Dr. John McGuire began serving as president in 1996 and in 1998 parking lots, athletic fields, a College Center and a Technology Building were constructed at a voter-approved project cost of $13.75 million. The college also purchased several adjacent parcels of property in 1998 and 1999, adding 87 acres to bring the campus size up to 222 acres. In 2002 SCC received a 10-year accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2003, trustees took the opportunity to purchase another contiguous parcel of land, increasing the total campus to 235 acres. In August 2006, the college opened its the Café-Bookstore, the Visual Arts Building, and the Daniel J. Conoyer Social Sciences Building.

Mission Statement
The college mission statement reads: "SCC enriches our community by providing life-changing educational and cultural opportunities focused on personal growth and student success in a global society."

- SCC Mission

This is accompanied by a statement of vision: "We will be a community college recognized for leadership in academic excellence, student success, instructional and technological innovation, and community responsiveness."

- SCC Vision

Academics
SCC offers the following associate degree and transfer programs: Associate of Applies Science, Associate of Arts, Associate of Arts in Teaching, and Associate of Science. Additionally SCC offers a wide variety of certificates of achievement and specialization. SCC also offers non-credit continuing education, developmental and business and industry training programs. The graduation rate at SCC is 17% with a retention rate of 61%. 85% of career program graduates are employed in their fields within six months of graduation.

Athletics
The school fields four intercollegiate sports teams. Soccer and baseball for men along with soccer and softball for women. St. Charles Community College is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and competes at the division I level in all four sports. All four Cougar teams are members of the Midwest Community College Athletic Conference (MCCAC) which includes: East Central College, Jefferson College, Lewis and Clark College, Mineral Area College, St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley, St. Louis Community College-Forest Park, St. Louis Community College-Meramec, Shawnee Community College and Three Rivers Community College.

In November of 2010 the Lady Cougars won the Region XVI Women’s DI Soccer Championship in a 2-1 win versus Maple Woods Community College.

In April of 2011 the SCC roller hockey team defeated St. Louis Community College - Meramec to win the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association tournament in Madison, Wisconsin.

Campus
The Campus has 12 buildings:


 * Administration,
 * Student Center,
 * Learning Resource Center,
 * Donald D. Shook Fine Arts Building,
 * Humanities Building,
 * Technology,
 * Daniel J. Conoyer Social Sciences Building,
 * Café-Bookstore,
 * Visual Arts Building,
 * Campus Services,
 * Child Development Center,
 * College Center.

The 12 campus buildings are connected by a central pedestrian plaza and internal courtyards. As of the Fall 2007 semester the campus now offers a wireless internet connection to enrolled students. The 235 acre campus serves nearly 10,000 students in credit classes each year. Another 35,000 participants of all ages come for noncredit classes and community events—everything from seeing a play, to learning to dance, to mastering the computer or any of the dozens of special programs for children and senior adults.The school does not provide certification to lenders providing secondary/alternative education loans.

St. Charles Community College earned Tree Campus USA recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation for its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship in 2010. This is the first year SCC has been named a Tree Campus USA, and it is one of the first three colleges to be Tree Campus USA certified in the state of Missouri. SCC is now home to more than 2,000 trees, 30 of which were planted last fall in a tree planting ceremony hosted by the SCC Tree Advisory Committee.

Student Senate
The Student Senate is the official student governing body of SCC and serves as an advocate for the interests of SCC students presenting concerns and issues to the College Board of Trustees. Senators are chosen by both general election and appointment procedures. Senate meetings are held twice monthly: first and third Tuesdays of every month. The Student Senate encourages all students to attend Senate meetings to voice their ideas, concerns and suggestions.

Activities
There are more than 30 student organized clubs offered through the Student Activities Office at SCC. The student activities office itself also provides a place for students to gather with air hockey, foosball and pool tables, recreational computers, a TV lounge and conference room available to students.

The St. Charles Community College Quiz Bowl team was the Top Community College at the Division II Intercollegiate Championship Tournament hosted by National Academic Quiz Tournaments on April 10th, 2010. The team also won the Community College Championship Tournament also hosted by NAQT on February 27th, 2010.

Student Media
The student newspaper, the "SCCougar", is an award-winning publication with both print and online editions. In 2009 and 2010 the SCCougar earned second place for best Web page at the Missouri College Media Association’s annual contest and in 2010 Carlos Restrepo won Journalist of the Year.

Mascot
The Mascot for SCC is an anthropomorphic cougar named Scooter McCougar. Scooter makes regular appearances at campus celebrations and sporting events. Scooter even participates in social networking for the college.

Notable Alumni

 * Dianna Graveman - Author
 * Mike Mitchell - Oakland A's