COM History

Go to the 1970s Album to see images of College of the Mainland in the past.

1970

• College moves onto its 120-acre campus on then Palmer Highway (Spring'70 was the first semester).

• Voters approve second bond issue of $4.75 million for next phase of construction.

• Great Issues Lecture Series begins with such speakers as Senator Ralph Yarborough, David Brinkley, Roger Mudd, Dan Rather, Senator Barry Goldwater, Senator Robert Packwood, Ralph Nader, and James Farmer.

1971

• Dr. Fred Taylor becomes COM's second president.

 

• Division of Nursing admits first class.

1972

• COM Community Theatre raises curtain on first production: "After the Fall."

• Second phase of construction completed (Fine Arts, Gym, Student Center). The firing range was part of this construction as well.

• Texas City businessman Bernard Levin "donates" 11 ducks to the COM's Lake Eckert in memory of the 11 Israeli athletes killed during the Summer Olympics.

1973

• Division of Business begins a real estate program.
• Seniors program begins funded by a federal grant. 

1974

• COM is first in Texas to offer new six-week pre-summer session.
• First annual Cinco de Mayo festival is established at COM. It is the first such festival established by a college or university in the United States.

1975

• COM establishes apprenticeship program for area industries.

• COM has first ESL class for Vietnamese refugees days after the fall of Saigon in the fall of 1975.

1976

• Continuing Education courses and activities draw over 40,000 people to the campus.

1977

• COM enrollments hits 2,239 on its 10th anniversary. 

1978

• Initiated a Labor Studies program.

1979

• Women's Center opens to offer female students counseling and informational services.