About TCC

SCHOOL

Mountains, deep blue water, and sheer rugged beauty -- Lake Tahoe.

At 6,229 feet above sea level, Lake Tahoe Community College, set in the heart of South Lake Tahoe, is the highest college in California.

Opened in 1975, approximately 4,000 students come through the doors each quarter. Beyond the classrooms and labs, the 164-acre wooded campus features a 192-seat black box theater, extensive art labs and a demonstration garden. A 26,000 square foot gymnasium with a dance studio and fitness education center and a student center, which includes a café, Internet terminals, and teaching kitchens for the culinary arts program were opened in 2002. In 2006 the college opened a new 27,000 square foot library and adjoining art gallery. The library is equipped with wireless Internet access for students to conduct research right from their own laptops.

The University of California, the California State Universities, and other accredited colleges and universities give full credit for equivalent and transferable courses satisfactorily completed at Lake Tahoe Community College.  The college is also approved for veteran’s benefits.

The college calendar is based on the quarter system, each quarter being twelve weeks long.   Following the three quarters there is a six week summer session.  For dates and deadlines go to Calendar.

The college offers certificates and associate degrees from culinary arts to computer studies. With our 49 full-time faculty members students come first

Outdoor recreation can be found all year in South Lake Tahoe, a town of about 24,000 residents. Students are within minutes of three ski resorts. There are 14 resorts in all around the lake. Summer brings water sports, fishing, hiking, camping and an extensive network of mountain biking trails. The sun shines an average 75 percent or 274 days each year giving students plenty of opportunities to get out and explore the Sierra Nevada.

 

College History

Bordered by Lake Tahoe on the north, the state of Nevada on the east, and the Sierra Nevada mountains on the south and west, the small alpine town of South Lake Tahoe expressed an interest in having a community college as early as 1964.

On March 5, 1974 voters approved the formation of a community college district by 66 percent of the vote and the first Board of Trustees was elected. Dr. James Duke was hired by the board in September 1974 as the college's first president.

LTCC opened its doors for the first classes on Sept. 18, 1975, in a "campus" located in a converted motel on U.S. Highway 50.

California residents who were full-time students paid no tuition, and a wide range of classes were offered. Subjects included traditional academics such as English, math, and history, and classes in the arts like photography, art, and drama. Vocational education classes were also offered with subject areas including, business, real estate and secretarial science.

In 1975, a total of 119 classes were offered and enrollment was 1,407 students. The graduating class of 1976 consisted of 11 students.

The Campus Grows
The Child Development Center opened in September 1993 to provide care for 46 children from six weeks to kindergarten and for use as a teaching lab for the Early Childhood Education program.

Also during the 1990s Phase II North was completed in stages. The Technology Wing was dedicated on Jan. 2, 1996, and the College Theatre opened in March 1996. In ?? the Theatre name was changed to the "Duke Theatre" in recognition of the founding president Dr. James Duke.

With everything but physical education located on the main campus, the Board of Trustees decided to lease four moveable classrooms. These "Garden Classrooms" were in place for the fall quarter of 1996, bringing the entire college to one location for the first time.

The 21st century brought a new era of building to LTCC. In 2002, the Physical Education building and Student Center opened. The 26,000 square foot Physical Education building includes a gymnasium, fitness education center, dance studio, and locker rooms. The culinary arts program moved into its own teaching kitchen in the 10,000 square foot Student Center.

In 2006, the campus opened a new 27,000 square foot library and the Haldan Art Gallery.
Athletics
In the fall quarter of 1994, LTCC men's and women's cross-country running teams competed in the Golden Valley Conference.With our mascot being the Kokanee, "go fish" became the college cry as the individual men's champion and runner-up team won their awards. In the fall of 1995, women's volleyball was added to the intercollegiate athletic program, and the men's cross-country team won first place in the Golden Valley Conference. In 1999, the college added an intercollegiate Nordic ski team to its program. The teams were not sustained and the college has no intercollegiate athletics at this time.