The Rise of Higher Education in The Saginaw Valley

1920 - Junior College program launched in Bay City with the establishment of
Bay City Junior College.

1955 - Civic leaders of the Tri-County area meet to discuss problems of higher education in the area. Dr. Leland I. Doan, of Midland, was named chairman of the Tri-County Founding Organization.

1956 - Committee of 300 appointed to study the educational needs of the community and recommended the founding of a two-year Community College that would expand to a
four-year, degree-granting college.

1957 - State Legislature approves a Community College for the Area.

1958 - Citizens of the three counties approve the founding of a Community College at a special election. Dr. Samuel D. Marble former President of Wilmington College, Wilmington, Ohio, named President of the new Community College.

1959 - Ground broken for construction of the new Community College on 640 acres
equi-distant from the three cities of the Saginaw Valley area - Bay City, Midland, and Saginaw.

1961 - First class enters Delta College.

1962 - First graduation class from Delta College.

1963 - Charter application for a four-year, degree-granting college completely separate from Delta College approved by the Michigan State Board of Education.

1964 - First 140 students accepted for Saginaw Valley College - classes opened in September.

Note: In the years from 1959 through 1963, repeated efforts by the founders of Delta College to have it expanded to a four- Year, degree-granting institution met with opposition. It was suggested that a separate college be established for the purpose of granting degrees and postgraduate work. This led to the founding of Saginaw Valley College. In June, 1964,
Dr. S. D. Marble resigned as President of Delta College and accepted a similar post with the Saginaw Valley College.

Source: Saginaw Valley College Development Fund

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Last modified April 24, 2001