Delaware County Community College


Delaware County Community College is a public community college in the Delaware Valley of Pennsylvania that serves Delaware and Chester Counties with locations in the Pennsylvania suburbs of Marple Township, Sharon Hill, Upper Darby, Downingtown, Exton, Phoenixville and West Grove.

History

Delaware County established the Council for Higher Education in 1964. Surveys of county residents and businesses conducted by the Council confirmed the need and the support for a community college. A citizens' group, Action for the Community College, was formed in 1966 and worked diligently to obtain approval for such a college. The group had achieved its goal in 1967. Twenty-one school districts in Delaware County, which were later consolidated into eleven larger districts, agreed to become local sponsors of the college.
Delaware County Community College was officially established on March 1, 1967. The directors of Delaware County school districts elected the Board of Trustees, which then elected Mr. Donald P. Jones as their chairman. On May 23, 1967, the Board of Trustees selected Dr. Douglas F. Libby to be the first President of the college then Richard DeCosmo and Jerry Parker. The current president is Dr. L. Joy Gates Black.

Sponsoring school districts

Partial funding of Delaware County Community College is provided by the school districts of Delaware County, through tax programs maintained by each respective district.
School district sponsorship allows students and residents of each sponsoring school district to access DCCC's courses and degree programs for a reduced tuition rate. Students from non-sponsoring districts pay additional tuition, while out-of-state students pay a third, even higher rate per credit.

Partnerships with colleges and universities

Delaware County Community College has dual admissions agreements with several four-year schools in the Philadelphia area, allowing students to automatically transfer after completing an associate degree. Villanova University offers a Guaranteed Admissions program and West Chester University and Temple University offer a Letter of Intent Program.

Athletics

SportMen'sWomen's
Baseball
Basketball
Golf
Soccer
Track
Cross Country

Delaware County Community College is home to the Phantoms of the National Junior College Athletic Association's Division 20. The Phantoms belong to the Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association and compete in the Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference.

Athletic facilities

All students and student-athletes are granted access to the on-campus fitness center and gymnasium at the school's Marple campus. Men's and women's basketball home games are played at the Schwartz Athletic Center, located on the campus of nearby Widener University.

Championships

Delaware County Community College's men's basketball team captured the Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference championship in 2012.

Notable alumni