DMACC History - 1960s

Paul Lowery 1966

  • The College's first instructional site at 2501 Vine St. in West Des Moines, was leased and remodeling began (1966)
  • Paul Lowery assumed duties as the College's first superintendent. (Aug. 1966)
  • Members of the first Board of Directors were elected in May and assumed their duties in a first meeting held on May 23rd. (May 1966)
  • In March, the State Board of Public Instruction approved establishment of the College and designated its district as Merged Area XI. (Mar. 1966)

1967

  • The Des Moines Comprehensive Vocational Facility (MDTA Skill Center), located on Bell Avenue in Des Moines, became a part of Area XI Community College. (Dec. 1967)
  • Classes were begun in Center II, a former roller rink at 2020 Grand in West Des Moines. A total of 295 students were enrolled in 15 programs at Centers I and II (Sept. 1967)
  • The Ankeny Campus site (240 acres) was purchased. (Aug. 1967)
  • The first 28 students of Area XI Community College began classes in Center I, located at 2501 Vine St. in West Des Moines. The programs offered were Industrial Electronics, Electrical Drafting, Medical Assistant and Secretarial/Clerical. (Feb. 1967)

1968 1968

  • For the fall quarter, in addition to Centers I and II, selected programs, primarily in marketing, were located in leased space in the Ankeny Methodist Church. (1968)
  • Construction of the first five phasing-campus buildings was begun on the Ankeny Campus. (1968)

1969

  • A total of 1,798 students were enrolled in credit courses for the fall quarter. (Sept. 1969)
  • The Bayard Community School District was added to the DMACC district (1969)
  • Boone Junior College officially became the Boone Campus of DMACC. (1969)
  • Students and administrative personnel were moved from temporary facilities in Ankeny to the new phasing campus buildings on the Ankeny Campus (Feb. 1969)
  • The Board of Directors officially changed the name of the College to Des Moines Area Community College (1969)

Ankeny Campus 

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