Campus Milestones

1970

  • The DMACC Urban Center for Higher Education was established at 8th and Washington.
  • Approximately 50 students were enroll in the few offered classes.

1972

  • The DMACC Urban Center moved to 920 Washington, the former Dowling H.S. building. The center enrolled 500 students, offered 14 college transfer classes, had 20 part-time instructors and had a $100,000 budget.
  • Zack E. Hamlett Jr. was appointed Director of the DMACC Urban Center.

1974

  • The DMACC Urban Center moved to the former Sabin Elementary building.

1978

  • The DMACC Board of Directors approved an agreement with the City of Des Moines to acquire approximately six acres of land on 7th Street just north of I-235 as the proposed site for the Urban Campus. (1100 Seventh Street, Des Moines, IA 50314).
  • Non-credit ESL classes were added to the center's inventory.

1979

  • Construction began on the new 31,590 square foot Building /Urban Campus.
  • Zack E. Hamlett, Jr., the Campus founder, was named the Urban Center's first Dean.

1980

  • The new Urban Campus facility was completed. All programs and staff moved to the new campus location.
  • Classes began at the new campus in September.

1982

  • Credit ESL classes were added to the campus' inventory.

1987

  • Construction began on a 30,126 square foot addition to the Urban Campus.
  • Dr. Fred Gilbert was appointed Dean of the DMACC Urban Campus.
  • Legal Assistant program accredited by the ABA (American Bar Association) was added to the campus' inventory.

1988

  • Fred Gilbert was appointed Executive Dean of the DMACC Urban Campus.
  • Expansion of Urban Campus building #1 to 66,736 square feet.

1989

  • Cyndie McCall was appointed Associate Dean of the DMACC Urban Campus.

1990

  • Dr. Mary Chapman was appointed Executive Dean of DMACC Urban Campus.
  • TRiO / Student Support Services program was added to the campus' inventory.

1991

  • Upward Bound Program was added to the campus' inventory.

1994

  • Construction of Zack E. Hamlett Center completed.

1997

  • Zack Hamlett Children's Center opened.
  • Siew-San Wong was appointed Associate Dean of the DMACC Urban campus.

1999

  • Academic/career programs;
    • Arts and Sciences
    • Accounting
    • Business Administration
    • Management Support Systems
    • Human Services
    • Legal Assistant
  • The campus enrolled 1500 students, offered 60 college transfer classes, had 26 full-time instructors, 95 part-time instructors, 30 full-time staff, and had a $2,000,000 budget.

2001

  • Dr. Fred Gilbert was appointed Executive Dean of the DMACC Urban campus.
  • $3,190,844 million budget.

2003

  • The former Blood Center of Central Iowa was purchased and turned into building #2 on the DMACC Urban Campus. The 20,000 square foot building offered new classroom space, labs for Chemistry and Biology, conference rooms and faculty offices.
  • $3,650,456 million budget.

2004

  • Former Mail Services Inc. building became the DMACC Urban Campus Charles H. Betts, Jr., Building. (22,400 square foot building).
  • Automotive Technology program was added to the DMACC Urban campus' inventory.
  • San Wong was appointed Acting Provost of the DMACC Urban campus.
  • $3,802,078 million budget.

2005

  • Dr. Laura L. Douglas was appointed Provost of the DMACC Urban Campus.
  • The campus enrolled 5406 students, offered 905 college transfer classes, and had a $4,205,277 budget.

2006

  • Surgical Technology program was added to the DMACC Urban campus' inventory.
  • Interpretation & Translation program was added to the DMACC Urban campus' inventory.
  • The campus enrolled 5468 students, 666 ESL students, 362 GED students, offered 965 college transfer classes, and had a $5,315,165 budget.

2007

  • DMACC purchased the Roberts Dairy property at University and 7th Street, paving the way for a future expansion and an Urban presence on one of the busiest streets in Des Moines.
  • Network Security Management Certificate was added to the DMACC Urban campus' inventory.
  • Human Service program now offered full-time on Urban campus.
  • The campus enrolled 5786 students, 993 ESL students, 465 GED students, offered 999 college transfer classes, and had a $5,657,368 budget.

2008

  • Anne Howsare was appointed Acting Associate Provost of the DMACC Urban campus.
  • The campus enrolled 6085 students, 970 ESL students, 485 GED students, offered 1025 college transfer classes, and had a $6,111,408 budget.

2009

  • An Open House was held for the opening of the Central Iowa Reengagement Center, designed to give central Iowans another chance at education.
  • Heritage Spanish studies was added to the DMACC Urban campus' inventory.
  • Environmental Science program was added to the DMACC Urban campus's inventory.
  • The campus enrolled 6706 students, 1057 ESL students, 554 GED students, offered 1084 college transfer classes, and had a $6,762,223 budget.

2010

  • Anne Howsare was appointed Associate Provost of the DMACC Urban campus.
  • Urban campus Health Science students moved to the newly remodeled Iowa Health—Des Moines/DMACC Health Sciences—Capitol Complex, located in the "Iowa Building," at 603 East 12th Street, Des Moines, IA.
  • Major renovations to Urban Campus Building #1 were done to improve the look and functionality of the DMACC Urban campus.
  • A 220 space parking lot was added.
  • The Zack E. Hamlett Childcare Center became the Zack Hamlett Center for Urban's growing GED program.
  • DMACC Urban campus college classes expand to Building #3, Zack Hamlett Center.
  • DMACC Urban campus has more than 7,000 full and part-time students with representatives enrolled from 65 countries around the world.
  • Urban Campus 30th Anniversary. (30th years at 1100 Seventh Street location).
  • The campus enrolled 8545 students, 1253 ESL students, 585 GED students, offered 1328 college transfer classes, and had a $7,173,495 budget.

2011

  • Greg Thomas was appointed Associate Provost of the DMACC Urban campus. (In addition to Associate Provost Anne Howsare-Boyens).
  • Two new full-time instructor positions were added (English and Math).
  • Informatics program was added to the DMACC Urban campus's inventory.
  • The campus enrolled 9214 students, offered 1450 college transfer classes, and has a $8,696,704 budget.

2012

  • Dennis Shaw was appointed Associate Provost of the DMACC Urban campus. (Replacing Associate Provost Gregory Thomas).
  • Path of Peace sculpture was dedicated on September 24, 2012.
  • DMACC entered into a partnership with Grinnell College. It offers the Grinnell transfer option to DMACC students who meet certain admission requirements.
  • The campus enrolled 9185 students, 1308 credit and non-credit ESL students, 369 GED students, offered1477 college transfer classes, and had a $9,083,974 budget.