About JWCC

JWCC - A Pioneer in Education

The first meeting of the John Wood Community College Board of Trustees was held in November 1974, and students first began attending classes in August 1975.  Through the years, sharing of resources and cooperation with other agencies in the community have always been important at JWCC.

The College was created to provide quality, affordable programs in higher education for District residents.  Rather than initially hire a faculty and build a campus, the John Wood Board of Trustees chose instead to use existing schools in a "common market" approach to education.  Thus, the initial 668 students enrolling in JWCC in the fall of 1975 were able to attend Culver-Stockton College, Gem City College, Hannibal-LaGrange College, Quincy Beauty Academy, Quincy College (now Quincy University), or Quincy Technical Schools as John Wood students.

Due to enrollment demands and community needs, John Wood has established its own curricular programs and added faculty in order to provide a comprehensive baccalaureate transfer curriculum.  The College also offers a number of occupational programs, several of them through cooperative efforts with other area institutions.

In another innovative effort to serve residents of the District, the College operates three Open Learning Centers offering individualized, self-paced instruction.  In addition, JWCC has developed an extensive outreach program, taking classes into outlying areas of the District; has been a pioneer in efforts to develop cooperative programs with business and industry; and is a founding member of the the Tri-State Community College Training Consortium, established to serve the entire Tri-State Area.