First five years: Junior College of Broward County

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THE FIRST 5 YEARS

JUIMIOR COLLEGE OF BRO\A/ARD COUNTY
FORT LAUDERDALE. FLORIDA

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Board of Public Instruction

Virginia Young, Chairman

Jotin Calvin

Cliarles Forman

A. Wesley Parrish

Verlon Burrell

Dr. Myron Ashmore, Superintendent

Advisory Committee

Robert Ferris, Ctiairman
John Payne
Florence Tustison
Judson Samuels
Lloyd Cassels

Published by the President's Office, Junior College of Broward County. March, 1966.

Photography by David R- Porter

FOREWORD 7

INTRODUCTION 9

HISTORY ]i

STUDENTS 15

FACULTY ]6

CURRICULUM 17

FINANCES 1 9

JOE B. RUSHING -

THE MAN BEHIND THE IDEA 21

CONCLUSION 22

To anyone associated with the Junior
College of Broward County from 1960 to
1965, the first five years have been chal-
lenging and rewarding. Almost any new
experiences will stimulate an individual or a
group to new heights. Using this premise,
the junior college development in Broward
County has aroused the community leaders,
the faculty and staff members and the stu-
dents to transcendental accomplishments.

To single out names of individuals or
groups who have made this college reach its
present place in education is precarious, since
one inevitably would neglect many important
leaders. At the risk of offending these dis-
tinguished contributors, I am compelled to
acknowledge a few individuals who have
made noteworthy accomplishments in behalf
of the school.

The State Department of Education, under
the leadership of Dr. James Wattenbarger,
must be credited with the vision of a junior
college system in Florida. The Board of Public
Instruction and the Committee of Fifteen who
recognized the local need for a community
college are responsible for the early incep-
tion of JCBC. In addition to this early contri-
bution, the Board has given sound leader-
ship, unyielding support and unwavering
cooperation to the College.

As the chief executive of the school sys-
tem in Broward County, Dr. Myron Ashmore,
Superintendent of Schools, has been a con-
stant source of leadership, guidance and
support. Before his election. Superintendent
Raymond Maxwell gave considerable impe-
tus to the early development of the College.
The Advisory Committee has been an indis-
pensable force in the College's development
with its wise counsel, continuous encourage-
ment and enthusiastic backing.

The first president. Dr. Joe B. Rushing,
stimulated the entire administration, faculty
and staff to become a college dedicated to
giving Broward County a leader in the field
of community colleges. As evidence of this
reality, the College is recognized as one of
the finest community colleges in the country.

If I were to identify a single individual for
recognition, I would dedicate this Five-Year
Report to Dr. Joe Rushing.

Despite his greatness as a college presi-
dent. Dr. Rushing had to have a Dean of In-
struction to implement his plan. As the man
responsible for the instructional phase of the
college. Dr. E. P. Lauderdale developed an
excellent teaching faculty and a compre-
hensive curriculum.

Although much of the credit can be at-
tributed to the leaders of the college, the
functional aspect of the school is imperative
for progress. The entire faculty and staff
have worked to effect an enlightened, crea-
tive and thinking student body. By their
patience in frustrating situations, their earnest
desire to learn and their pride in the College,
the students have aided the institution im-
measurably. Finally, community support has
been conducive to the growth and develop-
ment of JCBC.

I know of no educational program which
stimulates the imagination, excitement and
fulfillment more than the junior college. With
programs designed to provide opportunities
for students with varying aptitudes and in-
terests, the emphasis is on the individual
pupil and his needs. The administration has
maintained low counseling-pupil and teacher-
pupil ratios to guarantee this personal
interest.

Although the initial years have been suc-
cessful, we are cognizant that we must not
rest on our laurels. The past is history,- we
face the future with humility, hope and cour-
age. The succeeding years will bring new
problems, new challenges and new rewards.
With the sources of strength available, un-
doubtedly the College will continue to pro-
gress beyond our fondest expectations.

As you read this report, you will feel the
fervor and zeal that we experienced during
these five years of development. As a par-
ticipant in these pioneer years, I am honored
to be a member of the faculty of the Junior
College of Broward County.

JACK D. TAYLOR
Acting President

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

standing, I to r: Mr. Edward Kotchi, Mr. Lester Trussler, Dr. Walter Jarecke, Dr.
Harvey Gates, Mr. William Odom, Dr. Rex Kidd.

seated, I to r: Mrs. Janet Taylor, secretary to the President; Dr. E. P. Lauderdale,
Dr. Jack Taylor.

INTRODUCTION

During its first five years, the Junior
College of Broward County has adhered to
its philosophy by providing intellectual, so-
cial and cultural opportunities for the people
of Broward County.

As is often the case, it is difficult to sum-
marize a complex entity in a relatively lim-
ited space. Of necessity, those parts must be
selected which best represent the whole.

This report was written to provide an
insight into the development of the Junior
College of Broward County from 1960 to
1965. Being a public supported institution of

higher education, the College is vital to the
community for a number of reasons.

Perhaps the primary one is the import-
ance of education. As modern society in-
creases in complexity new fields of learning
unfold. Education is necessary, not only for
the common welfare, but for individual ful-
fillment. Many centuries ago, Epictetus said,
"Education is a possession which cannot be
taken away from men." His words are even
more meaningful in light of recent develop-
ments. It is in this spirit that this report is
presented.

HISTORY

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The first five years of the Junior College
of Broward County were years of unusual
growth and achievement. The history of the
College actually dates from 1957 when the
Board of Public Instruction presented a re-
quest to the Florida State Legislature for the
establishment of a public junior college.

An original Committee of Fifteen worked
with the administrative staff of the county
school system to prepare documentary evi-
dence to justify the need for a two-year
college in this locality. The authorization was
not forthcoming from the 1957 Legislature.
In 1959 the report was updated and sub-
mitted again for approval.

The Legislature designated Broward
County as a Priority I area for the establish-
ment of a junior college. In October of 1959,
the Broward County Board of Public Instruc-
tion nominated a five-member Advisory
Committee. They were Robert E. Ferris, Mrs.
Florence Tustison, Lloyd C. Cassels, Judson
Samuels and W. W. Caldwell. Their appoint-
ment was made by the State Board of Edu-
cation in November. Five months later, Mr.

Caldwell resigned and John H. Payne was
appointed to fill the vacancy.

First Step

The first task of the Advisory Committee
was to select a president. In March, 1960,
after screening more than seventy applicants,
the committee recommended to the Board
that Joe B. Rushing be named president. The
Committee further recommended that the
official name be "Junior College of Broward
County."

Dr. Rushing assumed the presidency on
April 8, 1960, and began selecting his staff.
On July 1 they moved into the buildings of
the old Fort Lauderdale Naval Air Station.
The first students were admitted in August,
with 687 enrolling.

By September, 1961, the faculty had
grown to 70, and 1400 students were en-
rolled. During the second year, sophomore
courses were added and specialized studies
in business administration were begun. When
the College opened for its third year, 1991
students enrolled; and the full-time faculty
numbered 92.

Dr. Rushing presents the Ad-
visory Committee with service
plaques. I to r: Lloyd Cassels,
Florence Tustison, Dr. Rush-
ing, Judson Samuels, Robert
Ferris, John Payne.

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Construction Begins

In November, 1962, bids were awarded
for construction of the first permanent build-
ings at the new 1 52-acre campus on Davie
Road. The Forman Field site was barren, but
great expanses of unused airport runways
promised "ready-made parking" for a cam-
pus that would soon be teeming with 2000
cars a day.

By early August, 1963, six buildings
interrupted the skyline along Davie Road.
Later in the month, the College was moved
from the old site, and in September more
than 2500 students enrolled. A few months
later a technical education building was con-
structed. This completed the first building
phase. Planning was stepped-up immediately
on the second, for the College was already
crowded to capacity.

The academic year 1963-64 was a year
of expansion and adaptation to new sur-
roundings. Grass was laid around the build-
ings and the first tree, a black olive, was
planted. The College's landscaping slowly
began to materialize.

JCBC is one of the fe\v junior col-
leges to use its own plane in aviation.

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Advance
Recognit;ion

That year the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools in an unprecedented
move granted advance recognition to the
College. It also became one of the first two-
year institutions in the nation to offer a
course in aviation using its own airplane. In
local, state and national publications, the
College's architectural trademark — the flying
cement canopy — was seen by millions of
people. The cultural role played by the Col-
lege was emphasized through the visits of
such artists as Carlos Montoya, .Basil Rath-
bone and Pearl Buck.

In August, 1964, more than 3200 stu-
dents enrolled in the College under a new
calendar of year-round operation. As the Col-
lege began its fifth year, it entered an era of
great expansion in two-year technical educa-
tion. The already successful Data Processing
Technology program was joined by pro-
grams in Ornamental Horticulture, Hotel-
Motel Administration, Electronics Technology,
Building and Construction Technology, Draft-
ing and Design Technology and Law En-
forcement.

Earl Wrightson and Lois Hunt are two
of the many artists who have per-
formed at the college.

End of the Beginning

As the 1964-65 academic year drew to a
close, the Junior College of Broward County
could look back on five years of accomplish-
ments amidst five years of growing pains.
During that time it provided a college ex-
perience for ten thousand people, many of
whom might have been denied a chance for
higher education. In five years it has senf
hundreds of its graduates to four-year col-
leges and universities.

Since its beginning the College has
brought more than ten million dollars into
the Broward County economy. In five years,
wherever there is an interest in higher edu-
cation in Broward County, the College has
become a household term.

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Just as the curriculum has evolved from
one v\/ith limited course offerings to a diversi-
fied program, so the student body has
emerged from a small enrollment to a larger
one. In 1960 the College opened its doors to
687 students at the old Naval Air Base; in
1965 the enrollment totaled 4583 on its new
campus off Davie Road.

Combined with this quantitative growth
is a qualitative development. Since the Col-
lege was the first accredited institution of
higher learning in Broward County, the pio-
neer students lacked much of the sophistica-
tion which develops with a maturing college.

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Using placement test scores, grades, par-
ticipation in activities and the awarding of
scholarships as criteria for advancement, the
students have progressed rapidly. In 1960
the mean Florida Tv\/elfth Grade Placement
Score of entering junior college students was
274; in 1964 the mean score was 281. In
1960 to 1961 twenty-one per cent of the
student marks were failing, while in 1964 to
1965 only twelve per cent of these grades
were failures. In 1960 the College had
twelve clubs as compared to thirty-three
in 1965.

Still further evidence of progress was
realized in 1965 with the first winning sea-
sons in basketball and baseball. Finally, at
the first Recognition Night in 1961 the total
of scholarships was $8,000; in 1965 the^
grants reached $80,350.

Varied Incidents

In its short history, the student body has
had its rewarding, unusual and humorous
incidents. Among the most rewarding was
the case of a young man who returned from
a disciplinary suspension to graduate and
later achieve a 3.9 average for the second
trimester at a state university. Another ex-
ample was the student who scored 121 on
the Florida Twelfth Grade Placement Test,

achieved honors at the College, won a schol-
arship to a four-year college and continued
to make high marks there.

One of the most unusual situations was
the case of the graduate who received her
baccalaureate degree in the same year that
her three sons graduated from high school,
junior high and elementary school. This
woman in 1965 became the first alumnus to
be employed as a teacher at her junior col-
lege alma mater.

Although the College is basically a com-
munity college, it is quite cosmopolitan. It
has enrolled students from almost every
state and from many foreign countries. Stu-
dents from JCBC have served in all branches
of the armed forces, the Peace Corps and
VISTA.

The College has had students whose
Placement Test scores ranged from the first
percentile to the ninety-ninth. Some students
have entered with fewer than twelve years
of public school education, receiving their
high school diplomas through their General
Education Development scores. Still others
with their M.D. and Ph.D. degrees have en-
rolled for courses. With all these differences
the student body is a difficult one to de-
scribe; perhaps it can best be called hetero-
geneous.

Basketball has grown in popularity with students.

Student musical productions such as "Fin-
ian's Rainbow" are sponsored by the Fine
Arts Department.

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A great deal of the responsibility at any
college falls on the members of the faculty,
since the primary purpose of an institution
of higher learning is to educate.

Each faculty member at the Junior Col-
lege of Broward County is chosen with care.
Many things are taken into consideration
when evaluating potential staff members.
These include: their understanding and ap-
preciation of junior colleges, preparation in
their respective fields and ability to teach
creatively. Other factors are personality, gen-
eral education, interest in research and cul-
tural background.

The master's degree is the minimum
preparation required for faculty. The gradu-
ate major must be in the field of assignment.
In a few specialized areas, such as technical
education, bachelor's degrees are acceptable
if the staff member has at least three years
of industrial or professional experience.

As the College expanded, more people
were required for maximum efficiency. From
1960 to the present the faculty has increased
from twenty-eight to 133. There are instruc-
tors from over 100 colleges and universities
throughout the country. Faculty members
represent numerous professional and social
organizations. Generally speaking, the faculty
embraces a wide variety of personalities,
backgrounds and experiences — all contrib-
uting to the overall educational environment.

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Data Processing is one of eighteen two-
year programs leading to an A.S. Degree.

The Medical Assistants and Nurses partici-
pate in the county-wide Health Fair.

THE CURRICULUM

What factors are taken into consideration
in determining a college curriculum? At the
Junior College of Broward County, the cur-
riculum is designed to achieve maximum
utilization of facilities and personnel. How-
ever, this is just one of the factors.

The curriculum meets the educational
needs of the majority of people it serves,
while making it possible for any qualified
person to find a program of study in which
he can participate. It has been planned to
coordinate with programs of other colleges
and universities while maintaining its own
unique qualities.

The Arts and Sciences have always con-
stituted a large part of the curriculum of the
College. This is because a great many of the
students are seeking a liberal education, at
least for part of their training. However,
technical programs are not overlooked. The
College incorporates new developments in
education which are influential in curriculum
development.

University Parallel

During its first year of operation, the
College offered sixty-nine courses in sixteen
areas of learning. All of them were university
parallel. There were no two-year terminal
programs and a minimum number of sopho-
more level courses. By 1965, the curriculum
had more than doubled.

Since 1960, curriculum construction and
revision has been the responsibility of both
the administration and faculty. After the first
three years, plans were made to develop
more two-year semi-professional and spe-
cialized programs.

The Junior College of Broward County
has attempted to relate the curriculum to the
purposes of the institution, the characteristics
of the students whom it serves and the
nature of the social-cultural-economic en-
vironment within which the College func-
tions. Increased enrollment gives some in-
sight into community acceptance of the
College's curriculum.

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Hotel-Motel Administration students gain
experience working in local hotels during
the Season.

Electronics is included in the Technical curriculum.

Technical Program

The changing manpower needs of Brow-
ard County have demanded a tremendous
expansion of college-level occupational edu-
cation. In light of this, the Junior College of
Broward County has worked to create a
climate favorable to location of prospective
industries. In addition to its transfer program,
the College has developed a comprehensive
technical program.

These occupational courses are designed
to develop technicians who will work at the
semi-professional level in local business, in-
dustrial and scientific firms. By the end of its
fifth year, the College had developed sixteen
of these courses. Ten are two-year associate
degree programs.

Courses have been developed in areas
where the need was greatest. With the selec-
tion of each program, an advisory committee
of prominent men in the field is invited to
assist the College in developing courses,
specifications for equipment and laboratory
lay-outs.

Programs meet the occupational needs of
the community as well as the needs of indi-
vidual students. Some courses require a high
aptitude in mathematics, while others such
as Hotel-Motel Administration require that
the individual have an average aptitude in
mathematics, a pleasant personality and a
desire to work with people.

Technical education is an important part
of the total College program because it offers
an opportunity to many students who do not
wish to transfer to a senior institution.

FINANCES

During its first five years the College has
experienced tremendous growth in financial
support and appropriations, in building fa-
cilities and in development of grounds. These
changes were anticipated since they were
provided in the master campus development
plan.

Financial support for operational pur-
poses increased over 400 per cent during
the first five years — from $371,545 in
1960-61 to $1,557,374 in 1964-65. During
the College's first year the Board of Public
Instruction provided the major financial sup-
port, forty-seven and seven-tenths per cent.
The Board's support decreased each year so
that by 1964-65 only eighteen per cent came
from this source.

During the same period the opposite
occurred for state financial support, from
thirty-two per cent in 1960-61 to fifty-four
per cent in 1964-65. Student fees provided
twenty-four per cent in 1964-65 as com-
pared to nineteen per cent in 1960-61. Other
sources of revenue were the federal govern-
ment, miscellaneous local sources and previ-
ous years' cash balances.

First and Fifth Years

A comparative analysis of the appropria-
tions of the first and fifth years of operation
reveals several differences. The fifth year of
operation required six per cent more for in-
structional purposes than in 1960-61. Slightly
more than two per cent of this increase was
for instructional salaries. The areas of admin-
istration and plant operation cost more in
1964-65 than in 1960-61. The area of capital
outlay was the only one to show a decrease.
This was due to the use of construction funds
for capital outlay expenditures in 1964-65.

Perhaps the most significant finding con-
cerns the per cent of the appropriations for
all salaries. In 1960-61 almost eighty-one per
cent had been expended for salary purposes.
By 1964-65 this had increased to eighty-six
per cent. After the allocation for salaries had
been established, only nineteen per cent in
1960-61 and fourteen per cent in 1964-65 of
the appropriation remained for operational
expenses. This is much lower than the
amount normally budgeted by institutions of
higher education.

COMPARISON OF REVENUE FOR THE YEARS 1960-61 AND 1964-65

1960-61

1964-65

Source

Amount

Per Cent

Amount

Per Cent

Federal

$ 138

.02

State

$118,138

31.8

841,886

54.05

County (School Board)

177,143

47.7

281,198

18.06

Local — Student Fees

70,562

19.0

370,426

23.78

— Other

27,387

1.76

Previous Year's Balance

5,702

1.5

36,339

2.33

Totals

$371,545

100.0

$1,557,374

100.0

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f

JOE B. RUSHING

the man behind the idea

There is no power like the power of an idea whose time has come.

The idea for a junior college in Broward
County became a reality in 1960. To insure
success, the Advisory Committee chose a
man who was perfectly suited to be
president.

Joe Rushing was one of the few men in
the country to earn his doctorate in college
administration. By 1960 he had established a
reputation as an idea man. Over five years
have passed since he began planning the
Junior College of Broward County.

Ninety days after he became president
the first students enrolled for classes. This
was only the beginning. Joe Rushing faced
many problems as president of a new college
and was able to overcome most of them.

The reasons for his success are many. His
exceptional administrative ability and fore-
sight are two. The carefully-fashioned master
plan and wise selection of top professionals
are also important factors.

By the time he resigned in 1965 to be-
come president of a new junior college
district in Fort Worth, Texas, Joe Rushing had
established a pattern of excellence for the
College.

An idea is important, but it takes a man
to breathe life into it. With Joe Rushing be-
hind the idea of the Junior College of Brow-
ard County, the five-year story had to be
successful.

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CONCLUSION

On December 1, 1965, the Junior College
of Broward County was fully accredited by
the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools. This marked a milestone in its de-
velopment—one that took over five years
to realize.

The story does not end here. The College
is a dynamic institution which cannot pause
too long for retrospection. It must move
ahead. By 1970, ten thousand students are

expected to attend the fourteen-million dol-
lar institution. Naturally, improvements in
quality must accompany the quantitative
growth. There are still many exciting plans to
be made and problems to overcome in the
history of the College.

However, this backward glance was
necessary in order to understand future de-
velopments, for there is "no way of judging
the future but by the past."

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JUNIOR COLLEGE

nf if mm COUNTY

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