Mission, History & Governance
History | Mission and Institutional Goals | Governance Charter
Principles of a Just and Humane Community | Strategic Plan 2010-2013
History
In 1967, rural
Garrett Countians voted by a two-to-one majority to found a
community college. The Garrett County Board of Education served
as the Board of Trustees of Garrett Community College until
1976, when the Governor appointed a separate College Board.
McHenry was selected to be the site of the College because
it was the geographical center of the County and could serve
all Garrett Countians equally.
Garrett College opened its doors in September 1971 with a
class of 144 freshmen – 57 full-time and 87 part-time
students. The original campus facility consisted of an Administration
Building, a Learning Center, and a Gymnasium. The Student Center
was completed in January 1983. This facility houses the Student
Assistance Center, Registration Office, Bookstore, Career Information
Center, Laker Cafe, Student Government Office,
student lounge, and game room. The Information Technology Center
was added in 1996, and the Continuing Education and Training
Center in 1979. The center for Adventure and Outdoor Studies
and the Garrett Information Enterprise Center are recent additions.
In 1993, Garrett Hall, Garrett’s first residence hall,
opened to house sixty on-campus students and is located adjacent
to the main campus. Our newest housing complex, Laker Hall,
opened
Fall 2007 and houses 124 students in apartment style living.
The new Learning Resource Center opened in Spring
2008.
In more recent years, Garrett established a trio of signature
programs. It has acquired a national reputation for its Adventure
Sports program, the first of its kind in the United States,
and a regional reputation for its Natural Resources and Wildlife
Technology program. It also offers Maryland’s only degree
program in Juvenile Justice.
Mission Statement:
Garrett College provides accessible, quality education in a supportive environment to a diverse student population. We offer associate degrees and certificate programs as well as continuing education to meet the transfer, career, workforce development, and lifelong learning needs of our students and the community. We are committed to the ongoing development of engaging, innovative, and sustainable curricula, programs, and initiatives that are responsive to a changing world.
Institutional Goals:
Accessibility: Make higher education accessible to a diverse student population through appropriate admissions practices, active recruitment of a diverse student body, affordable tuition and fees, financial aid and scholarship assistance, developmental studies for students who are under-prepared for college-level work, student support services, and delivery of courses at times and via media that are responsive to student needs.
Student Satisfaction and Success: Create and sustain a supportive learning environment that encourages student growth and achievement through appropriate advising and career counseling, transfer and career preparation programs, experiential learning opportunities, and curricular as well as extra-curricular activities that encourage student engagement and responsibility.
Educational Effectiveness: Ensure, through an emphasis on teaching excellence, that graduating students are able to demonstrate mastery with respect to oral and written communications skills, information literacy, critical reasoning and analysis, quantitative reasoning, scientific literacy, and information management; that they have achieved the requisite levels of academic and technical proficiency in their major; and that, through activities focusing on diversity and cultural awareness, they are adequately prepared to live and work in a global society comprised of diverse cultures and beliefs.
Workforce Development: Support the economic development of Garrett County and the surrounding region by creating a skilled workforce through credit programs, as well as non-credit job readiness and workforce preparation courses; Garrett College will also be the provider of choice for affordable contract and customized training in response to the emerging needs of new and growing businesses.
Community Service: Serve, within the scope of available resources, the specific needs of the community through partnerships with local government, businesses, community and arts organizations, schools, and non-profit agencies; and by providing continuing education courses for personal enrichment, lifelong learning, and community need.
Effective Use of Financial, Human, and Physical Resources: Ensure, through the application of “best practices”, that financial, human, and physical resources are managed effectively and efficiently for optimal results.
Governance Documents
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