Timeline

The Greater Paradise Valley Community Council forms a Community College Task Force chaired by Beth Koehnemann. The task force determined a community college facility was needed in the Northeast Phoenix area and presented their findings to the MCCCD Governing Board in November.

The $75 million Maricopa County Community College Bond issue is passed with $19 million designated for the proposed Northeast college.

In March 1985, the temporary business office of NVEC opened to students in the area. The center offered testing, advisement and referrals to campuses in the valley. In Fall of 1985, Paradise Valley held their first classes at Paradise Valley High School and Temple Chai under the NVEC name with 356 students.

The ground breaking ceremony was actually a 'ground-lifting', dedicating the Northeast Valley Education Center (NVEC), which would later become the Paradise Valley Community College Center campus.

March 3, 1986 Construction began on the new campus at 32nd Street and Union Hills to construct 10 buildings totaling 175,340 square feet.

Paradise Valley Community College Center (PVCCC) Dedication, May 2, 1987. Operated as an extension of Scottsdale CC. Dr. John Cordova, Provost

Classes open at the 90 acre permanent campus site with 3,781 students enrolled in 365 classes.

Commemorative Plaque Dedication and Time Capsule Sealing, November 19, 1987.

The Puma becomes the official PVCCC mascot based on over 300 votes from students, faculty and staff. Last year they voted the official school colors to be sand and turquoise.

First chemistry course is offered. $80,000 is needed to start the program and $200,000 is needed to equip the laboratory.

Dr. Warren Buxton, a faculty member at PVCC, donates his art collection to the school, including over 600 pieces of Western art from 1880 to present, including such artists as: de Grazia, August Lennox, Swazo, Bruce Winn and Harrison Begay. 

North Central Association recommends independent accreditation. PVCCC becomes Paradise Valley Community College, February 13, 1990, as a result of the hard work of our dedicated faculty and staff.

PVCC's first official graduation May 10, 1991 with 115 students receiving their associates' degrees.

Dr. Raul Cardenas becomes PVCC's second president October 5, 1992.

May 4, 1993 the first issue of Puma Press, PVCC student newspaper, is printed.

August 1993, Northern Arizona University opens a Phoenix office on the PVCC Campus. The office serves as an admissions office for the Flagstaff campus and administers the operations of upper-division NAU classes at PVCC and other sites in the Phoenix area.

PVCC reaches out to the educational community with the creation of the Learning Connections Consortium September 21, 1993

U.S. Dept. of Education awards PVCC $150,000 grant to develop a regional international studies center for business and international education

Voters approve $386 million bond issue to upgrade the community colleges. PVCC's share of this is $28.1 million. The funds will be used to expand the Learning Resource Complex, student services and faculty offices and classrooms.

North Central Association awards a 10-year accreditation, February 1995.