Community College of Philadelphia

The Third Philadelphia Mint is now part of Community College of Philadelphia's main campus.

The Community College of Philadelphia was founded in 1965 as a means for the African American and low-income residents of Philadelphia to have access to higher education.[9][10]

In 1962, the Philadelphia Commission on Higher Education presented their recommendations for the establishment of a community college in Philadelphia,[11] and in 1964, the college was founded in accordance with Pennsylvania legislation.[10] With Dr. Allen T. Bonnell presiding as CCP's first and founding president,[12] classes commenced in September 1965 at the site of the former N. Snellenburg & Company department store on South 11th Street.[10] Under Dr. Bonnell's leadership, enrollment at the college grew from an initial 1,200 to 4,365 students by 1967.[10][12]

By 1969, it had reached 6,200. The majority of students entered the workforce upon completion of their programs, while others continued on to four-year institutions. The college initially offered courses in human services, business administration, health occupations and paraprofessional engineering.[10]

By 1971, CCP had acquired the third Philadelphia Mint building (the Mint), located at 1700 Spring Garden Street.[13] CCP began holding classes there in 1973 while continuing to hold classes at the 11th Street location.[4][9] The construction of Main Campus (the Bonnell and West Buildings) began at 17th and Spring Garden Streets in 1979.[13]

In 1983, CCP's $70 million Main Campus was fully constructed around the Mint, which had undergone renovations for new administrative and student facilities.[14] In the spring of that year, CCP's 11th Street location was consolidated into the permanent Main Campus.[13]

Main Campus is located at 1700 Spring Garden Street in the Spring Garden neighborhood of central Philadelphia. The campus covers 14 acres (0.057 km²) and houses seven buildings: the Athletics Center, the Bonnell Building, the Center for Business and Industry, the Mint Building, the Pavilion Building, the West Building and the Winnet Student Life Building.[14][16]

The Athletics Center is open to all CCP students, faculty and staff. Opened in 1991, it contains an aerobics/dance room, basketball court, racquetball courts, a table tennis room cardio room and a weight room.[14][17]

The Bonnell Building, the first president's namesake, is the largest building on Main Campus. It houses student services and two auditoriums and connects to the Mint Building.[16]

The 97,000 square foot (9,000 m²) Center for Business and Industry opened in 2003 and offers high-tech classrooms, conference rooms and office spaces for technology and workforce development programs.[14]

The Mint Building is centrally located on Main Campus. It was the third Philadelphia Mint building, but CCP acquired it and began holding classes there in 1973. It currently houses student services, security and a library.[4][16]

The Pavilion Building is the newest facility on Main Campus and has ecofriendly features. The building opened in 2011 and is home to the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management programs.[14][16]

The West Building houses the allied health science and Gateway to College (alternative education)[18] programs, among others. The facility is located at the southwest corner of 17th and Spring Garden streets and connects to the Pavilion Building.[16]

The Winnet Student Life Building includes spaces for student support services, programs and activities.[16]

The Northeast Regional Center is CCP's first and largest regional center.[19] It was initially opened in 1985 at Academy and Red Lion Roads in the Morrell Park neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia.[4][13] In 1994, the campus's new location became 12901 Townsend Road in the Parkwood neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia. The campus underwent renovations and an expansion project that were completed in 2010 and earned a Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification in 2013.[14][20]

The Northwest Regional Center is located at 1300 West Godfrey Avenue in the Fern Rock neighborhood of North Philadelphia.[14] The campus acquired the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at 1300 West Godfrey Avenue in 1998 and opened in 1999.[4] The campus contains more than 30 classrooms and is the only location that offers the Ophthalmic Technician Proficiency Certificate program.[21]

The West Regional Center is located at 4725 Chestnut Street in the Walnut Hill neighborhood of West Philadelphia.[14] It opened in 1992 and is three miles from Main Campus.[4][14] It offers programs in two buildings that contain a combined 25 classrooms. As of 2021, the campus's Automotive Technology Center is undergoing construction and is scheduled to open as the Career and Advanced Technology Center in 2022. The expanded two-story facility will include an additional 15,000 square feet (1,400 m²) of auto space, incorporate sustainable features and technologies and meet the criteria for LEED certification.[22]

As of fall 2020, CCP's student body consists of 13,672 students. There are 31 percent full time and 69 percent part time students.[2]

More than 30 student clubs and organizations operate at CCP, including student government, special interest and service organizations. Student clubs are required to register and reactivate each year.[34]

Cultural groups on campus include: African Culture and Traditions Club, Asian American Association, Christian Women Alliance, Gay Straight Alliance, Gospel Choir, Haitian Student Organization (Club Creole), International Student Organization, LASO (Latin American Student Organization), Muslim Student Association, Muslim Women League and Ritmo Latino Club.[34]

The Vanguard, CCP's independent, award-winning, student-run newspaper, circulates print and digital editions, which are available via its website and social media platforms.[35][36]

The CCP athletic teams, formerly known as the Colonials, are collectively known as the Lions. The transition was caused by a Main Campus student petition in 2016, which led to a collegewide vote to choose a new mascot. According to an article by The Philadelphia Inquirer, CCP's mascot needed to reflect “inclusion, diversity, and strength,” and in 2019, Roary the lion officially became CCP's new mascot.[37]

The CCP athletic association chairs seven varsity athletic programs, which are open to full time students. The Lions belong to the Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (EPAC) and Region 19 of the NJCAA. Men's sports include: basketball, cross country and track & field. Women's sports include: basketball, cross country, track & field and volleyball.[38]

The Lions became nationally affiliated with the NJCAA in summer 2013.[8][39] Previously, they were members of the former Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (EPCC) and Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association (PCAA).[8]

CCP's teams have won four EPAC championships in men’s basketball (2015, 2016, 2018 and 2020) and two in women's basketball (2019 and 2020).[6][39]