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History of the college
Pasco-Hernando Community College (PHCC) was established by the Florida Legislature in 1967 to be the final link in the State’s system of 28 community colleges. The District Board of Trustees, composed of five members from Pasco County and four members from Hernando County, was commissioned in January 1972. In March of that year, Dr. Milton O. Jones was selected as the first president and served until his retirement in 1994. Dr. Robert W. Judson, Jr., became PHCC’s second president in 1994 and served until his retirement in early 2005. 
Katherine Johnson was named PHCC’s third and current president in 2005.
The multi-campus institution serves a two-county district on the central west coast of Florida, just north of the Tampa Bay area. Both counties retain a relatively rural character despite rapid growth in Hernando County and western Pasco County. The two counties encompass nearly 1,300 square miles. The three campuses, located as far as 35 miles apart, are in Brooksville (Hernando County), Dade City (eastern Pasco County), and New Port Richey (western Pasco County). A small center is located in the rapidly growing area of Spring Hill (Hernando County). In 2001, the college’s District Board of Trustees approved the purchase of approximately 50 acres in the Spring Hill area to create a larger center within ten years. Each site was chosen to be within convenient commuting distance of the district’s residents.
The facilities
PHCC’s first classes were held in rented facilities in August 1972. Construction of the East Campus in Dade City began in 1973, and the first phase was dedicated by Governor Reubin Askew in August 1975. A maintenance/receiving building, physical education building, athletic facilities (racquetball and tennis courts, a basketball court, baseball diamonds, and a large variety of exercise equipment and machines), and several demountable (portable) buildings subsequently were added. The Charles E. Conger Library was dedicated in October 1987. The new Public Service Technology Building was opened in April 2002. Twenty acres were purchased in 2002 to permit the addition of a new entrance to the campus. Renovation of the existing East Campus buildings began in 2003, with all major construction completed as of November 2004. In spring 2005, students and faculty will be able to utilize state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratory facilities.
In 1973 a 140-acre site was chosen near New Port Richey for
the West Campus. Initial construction began in July 1975 and
was finished one year later. Subsequent campus additions include
the Alric C. T. Pottberg Library, the Performing Arts Center,
increased classroom space, and the Physical Fitness Center. The
new Milton O. Jones Hall, a new student development Center,
was completed in 1996. A three-story Health Programs Building
was completed in 1997. New computer laboratories opened in
1998 in the Rose and Leonard Case Business Technology
Building. Also, the district administration office relocated
from the East Campus to the West Campus during 1998. A child care
center was completed in 2003.
In the fall of 2006, following a major renovation, G Building was christened in memory of Anne F. Bucy, a benefactor who bequeathed nearly $3 million dollars for student scholarships. In June of 2007, construction began on the conference and instructional center. This center will provide additional classrooms, a computer laboratory, a center for instructional technologies, a dedicated space to house PHCC's university partners, and a large meeting area that will allow the collge to host large gatherings. The West Campus library renovation, completed in 2006, doubled its size and added enhanced learning lab facilities, a new art gallery and support for the University Center.
One hundred acres in Brooksville were selected in 1974 for the site of the North Campus. The first phase of construction was completed in 1977. In 1980, physical education facilities and an occupational building were added. In 1987, the Alfred A. McKethan Library was opened and later that year a physical fitness center was added. Renovation of the main classroom and administration building was completed in summer 2001. Planning is underway to remodel the physical education and occupational building into a classroom facility.
The Spring Hill Center was opened in 1979 to provide residents of Hernando County with non-laboratory credit courses, computer courses and continuing education courses. In 1988, another site for the Spring Hill Center was chosen and the cosmetology program moved to the center. Land for a future, permanent campus along U.S. 19 near Hunter’s Lake was purchased in 2001. Master planning of the new permanent campus is underway. Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2008 with completion planned for fall of 2010.
The Gower’s Corner Center, north of Land O’Lakes, was opened in February 1985. This center was the primary location of the college’s public service academies until the new facilities were completed on the East Campus in 2002. In August 1991, the Land O’Lakes office began offering classes in rented space. In July 1994, the Land O’Lakes office was moved to a smaller storefront office on Highway 54. This office was closed in 2001. The college is currently looking for land in southern Pasco County, in the rapidly expanding Wesley Chapel area.
PHCC has grown considerably since its inception. In 1972, the opening enrollment was 603 students. In 2006-2007, PHCC enrolled over 13,935 students in the college’s credit and noncredit offerings.
As the enrollment has grown over the past 35 years, so has the number of full-time employees. When classes began, the college employed only 12 full-time employees. Today, PHCC employs over 338 full-time faculty and staff and is one of the larger employers in Pasco and Hernando counties.
The budget has also grown substantially over the past years. The legislature allocated $36,492 for PHCC’s initial operating budget. In comparison, the 2007-2008 operating budget was $30.1 million.
PHCC history is excerpted from the 2007-2008 Catalog/Handbook and the 2007 PHCC Fact Book compiled by the office of institutional research and assessment.