About Us
From YCTC to YCCC
Historical Background and Evolution of YCCC
1991
In 1991, the 115th Maine Legislature established a commission to study the need for a technical college in York County. In subsequent studies, including the one conducted in 1994 by the Department of Labor of 4,300 employers, the need was confirmed for a better-trained workforce. Studies also revealed that Wells was the most central location for the main campus.
1994
Established in 1994 by the 116th Maine Legislature, York County Community College (originally known as York County Technical College) was a grassroots initiative by Dr. John Fitzsimmons, the President of the Maine Technical College System) and a group of business leaders who identified a need for a technical college in York County, one of Maine’s fastest-growing counties.
1995
In August 1995, College administrative offices were set up at the old train station in Kennebunk, and then, on September 5, 1995, YCTC opened its doors in a leased facility in Wells, at Village by the Sea, with 156 students and a very small staff. The College offered three associate degrees and two certificates.
In December 1995, YCTC received candidacy accreditation status from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and in 1999 the College was awarded full accreditation status.
1996
In February 1996, the U.S. Department of Education granted approval for YCTC to offer Federal Financial Aid which was essential in making affordable education an option for those serviced by YCTC.
In May 1996, YCTC graduated its first class with seven students receiving certificates.
1997
In February 1997, ground was broken on a permanent 51,000 sq. ft. building, and on November 3, 1997, classes begin in this new building with over 500 students enrolled in 15 programs. It should be noted that as part of the cost for this building, the fledgling college assumed a 20-year mortgage (a mortgage that was retired in 2017).
1999-2000
In November 1999, the College received 4.3 million dollars from a bond to expand college facilities. In October 2000, ground is broken on a 26,000 sq. ft. addition to its original building (C-wing), and this additional space allowed for a redesign of the College’s first-floor layout.
2001
In October 2001, the College officially opens its new addition to the building and the expanded facility was now 77,000 sq. ft. and meant to accommodate 1100 students. The College student body was 1006 by 2007 and had grown to 1398 by fall 2009.
2003
In July 2003, YCTC becomes York County Community College, as the state’s technical colleges expand into the seven-college Maine Community College system.
2013-2015
In Fall 2013, the Precision Machining Technology program is set up in a leased facility in Sanford and the first certificate students are graduated in May 2014 and the associate degree students are graduated in May 2015.
2016
On May 25, 2016, YCCC held a Ground Breaking Ceremony for its new building in Wells, Maine. The 18,000 square-foot academic building will allow the college to grow to meet the needs of our students, regional employers, and our community.
2017
On September 27, 2017, YCCC officially opened the Pratt & Whitney Building on the college’s Wells, campus. the academic building has eight state-of-the-art classrooms, independent and group study areas, and a Developmental Mathematics Lab as well as a lecture/performance hall and attached flexible classroom/backstage area to hold larger classes as well as host community events.
On November 2, 2017, YCCC purchased 60 Community Drive in Sanford Maine from the Industrial Development Corporation of Sanford (IDC) which was established as a local non-profit corporation in 1959 by a group of area business, banking, and professional people. Although YCCC had a presence in rental space in Sanford since 2012, the College now has a permanent location to grow its manufacturing-related programs and training.
Today
YCCC today has about 1700 credit students enrolled in Wells, Sanford, at area high schools, and online plus hundreds of non-credit/workforce students and its large South Coast Senior College. It has many other forms of outreach to the greater York County community through its Eggs & Issues, York County Business Awards, Visiting Artists Series, and its YCCC Foundation events.