The Battle Creek Public Schools (BCPS) Board of Education established Battle Creek Community College on Sept. 1, 1956. Battle Creek Community College was located in the G.A.R. Hall (Grand Army of the Republic), at 3 College Street in Battle Creek, Michigan. The College used the science laboratories in the high school, the second floor of the W.K. Kellogg Junior High School for a library, the Willard Library as a bookstore, and the YWCA as a student center.
94 day students and 82 evening students enrolled that fall for the first semester; classes began on Sept. 17, 1956.
Guiding the fledgling College was Superintendent Harry R. Davidson and Dr. Robert O. Hatton, who served as the first Director. The College hired four full-time instructors (Sidney DeBoer, Eva L. Hampton, Wayne VanDerWeele, and Virginia Taylor) and four part-time instructors (Loyal Phares, Bob Vollmer, Madge Burnham, and A.W. Anderson). Feme Griffith was the Registrar and Donald Best, Librarian. December: The College published the first edition of the student newspaper The Triad.
May 4 – “Spring Swing” dance for students is held at Post Clubhouse and includes a sit-down meal and music by Forrest Mark.
A successful millage vote led to the purchase of 33 acres of the North Avenue site from the city and construction of what is now the Richard C. Whitmore Administration Building and its accompanying classroom structure.
June 12 – Battle Creek Community College’s first annual commencement was held at Southeastern Junior High Auditorium. Music was provided by the high school orchestra and the community college choir. The commencement address was given by Dr. Thomas Hamilton, Vice-President for Academic Affairs at Michigan State University.
July – The W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s capital gift of $1,750,000 made building a new comprehensive campus possible. As a gesture of appreciation, “Battle Creek Community College” was rechristened “Kellogg Community College” as a memorial to Mr. W.K. Kellogg.
Sept. 18 – Groundbreaking ceremony on the new North Avenue campus.