Cisco College

Cisco College
Cisco College in Cisco, Texas
Established	1940
Type	Community college
President	Bobby Smith
Undergraduates	4,800
Location	Cisco, Texas and Abilene, Texas
Campus	Rural, 92 acres (370,000 m2)
Colors	Blue and White
Nickname	Wranglers
Website	www.cisco.edu

Cisco College is a community college in Cisco, Texas, located in Eastland County between Fort Worth and Abilene, where Highways 183, 206, and 6 intersect Interstate 20. The 92-acre (370,000 m²) campus in Cisco rests atop a hill one mile (1.6 km) north of the town and presents a beautiful view of the surrounding country. Cisco College serves the West Central Texas area in two locations—the main campus at Cisco and an educational center at Abilene. Cisco College is a vibrant two-year institution that offers a variety of academic transfer and career and technical education programs. It is an affordable, accessible college that provides practical educational options for its students.

History

In 1909, O.C. Britton, a prominent early-day educator, gained the support of far-sighted Cisco residents in opening a private school known as Britton Training Institute. This school operated successfully until military involvement in World War I, which depleted the number of students that it was forced to close.

In 1923 the Christian Church of Texas reopened the institution as Randolph College and operated it until 1932 as a four-year church-related school. Financial shortages plagued the college, and from 1932 until 1936 officials tried to keep the school open as a two-year junior college. When this effort failed, the college was again closed.

On May 8, 1939, after months of planning and consultation with state officials, Cisco citizens succeeded in getting enacted into legislation a bill which created Cisco Junior College as a part of the Cisco Independent School District. R.N. Cluck, superintendent of Cisco schools, who had devoted years to the project, became its first president. Randolph College properties were purchased, and the college was formally opened in September 1939. The first students were received in 1940. Such was the success of this venture that in 1956 the college was separated from the public schools, and a Board of Regents was elected.

Texas author Lou Halsell Rodenberger (1926–2009) once taught English at Cisco College.

Cisco College today

Forty miles west of Cisco is home to Cisco College’s second location. The Abilene Educational Center, opened in 2004 and offers a full schedule of classes. The 38-acre (150,000 m²) site at 717 East Industrial Boulevard in Abilene has served to enhance the outreach and impact of Cisco College in West Central Texas. The state-of-the-art 72,000 sq ft (6,700 m²) facility offers wireless capabilities and can accommodate up to 3,000 students.

As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of Cisco College is the following:^[1]

• all of Callahan, Coleman, and Taylor Counties, and
• the Cisco Independent School District.

Images of Campus

Cisco College campus and clock  Maner Memorial Library  President's Hall  Student Union Building  Harrell Fine Arts Building  Memorial Hall  Cisco College gymnasium

References

1. ^ Texas Education Code, Section 130.172, "Cisco Junior College District Service Area".

External links

• Cisco College