Our History
Celebrating Our 50th Year
During the 2020-2021 academic year, Cosumnes River College celebrates 50 years of providing education and opportunity to students in our community.
Accreditation
Cosumnes River College has received accreditation from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Home of the Miwok and Nisenan People
Our Land Use Acknowledgement recognizes the original Indigenous people of the land where Cosumnes River College has been located for almost 50 years.
A Look at CRC's History
1960s
Planning Begins
Los Rios Junior College District begins planning for the third of five planned community colleges.
People of the Salmon
Named "Cosumnes," which is a Miwok Indian name meaning, "People of the Salmon." The Los Rios Board wanted a name that would be an expression of the people, its local history, and its community folklore. The Miwok Tribe inhabited the area in the 19th Century and lived near what is now called the Cosumnes River.
Oliver J. Durand Becomes CRC's First President
1970s
Cosumnes River College Opens
Cosumnes River College opens September 14, 1970 with 2,150 students. The Library is the first permanent building on campus.
CRC's First Logo
Cosumnes River College Quad
The "centerpiece" of the college quad, the fountain with the empty fields surrounding the campus for many years.
CRC's Second President
Douglas Burris becomes CRC's second president.
College Dedication
College is officially dedicated with Senator Albert Rodda.
First Graduation
CRC's first graduation ceremony is held, honoring 42 graduates.
Baseball Championship
Baseball wins Bay Valley Conference Championship with Coach Jerry Conway.
Rare Snowfall
CRC sees significant snowfall, a rare event.
Track and Field Championship
Track and Field wins Sac Joaquin Championship with two State Champions, Michael Marlow, and Cameron Baxter.
CRC's Third President
Vincent "Pete" Padilla becomes third college president.
1980s
Theatre Debut
First outdoor musical performed at college, The Me Nobody Knows.
CRC Updates Its Logo
CRC changes its logo to include the river.
Volleyball Championship
Volleyball wins Bay Valley Conference Championship with Coach Steve Krisiak.
CRC's Fourth President
Marc Hall becomes CRC's fourth president.
1990s
CRC Televises Its First Course
Soccer Championships
Men's soccer wins Bay Valley Conference Championships, two years in a row.
College Celebrates 25th Anniversary
New Complex Opens
Communication, Visual and Performing Arts complex opens, completing the original College Facilities Master Plan.
CRC's Fifth President
Merrilee Lewis becomes college's fifth president.
2000s
CRC's Sixth President
Francisco C. Rodriguez becomes CRC's sixth president.
Learning Resource Center Opens
The Learning Resource Center was built to house several classrooms and faculty offices as well as some student services including Tutoring and Reading and Writing Center.
CRC's Seventh President
Deborah J. Travis becomes the college's seventh president.
2010s
Baseball Wins Championship
Baseball wins State Championship for first time.
Winn Center Opens
Winn Center opens, CRC's (and the only one in the Los Rios District) first LEED Platinum Certified building. The building houses Architecture, Photography, Pharmacy Technology and Nutrition and others.
The Elk Grove Center Opens
The Cosumnes River College Elk Grove Center is an outreach location designed to offer a broad range of morning, day, and evening general education courses.
CRC's Eighth President
Edward Bush becomes the college's eighth president.
2020s
CRC Celebrates 50th Anniversary
CRC’s 50th Anniversary falls during remote operations, prompting the occasion to be celebrated with a series of videos looking back in time and forward to a future serving students and the community.
