History

Matanuska-Susitna College (MSC)

MSC is an extended college of the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). The University of Alaska Anchorage has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) since 1974. MSC was changed from its previous designation as a community college by University System restructuring in 1987. Now serving over 1,000 students per semester, MSC was known originally as Palmer Community College, and provided its first course offerings to residents of the Matanuska and Susitna Valleys in 1958. In 1963, when the Borough government was formed, the name of the College was changed to correspond to the boundaries of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The main campus is located on a 950 acre site on Trunk Road, about halfway between Palmer and Wasilla. A modern 102,676 square foot facility houses the majority of the educational activities.

MSC Buildings

Jalmar Kerttula building

Fred and Sara Machetanz building

Snodgrass building

Okeson building

Glenn Massay Theater 

Ortner Warehouse

The University of Alaska

The University of Alaska dates from July 4, 1915, when the Honorable James Wickersham, delegate to Congress from Alaska, laid the cornerstone on land near Fairbanks that was set aside by Congress for the support of a land-grant college. The Territorial Legislature accepted the land-grant on May 3, 1916, and created "The Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines," defined its duties, and provided for a Board of Trustees consisting of eight members.

The College opened for instruction on September 18, 1922, with the Honorable Charles E. Bunnell as President. The College became the University of Alaska by act of the Territorial Legislature on July 1, 1935; the Board of Trustees became the Board of Regents.

Today, the University's statewide system includes university centers at Fairbanks, Anchorage and Juneau. The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) has three extended colleges: Kenai Peninsula College in Kenai-Soldotna, Kodiak College in Kodiak, and Matanuska-Susitna College in Palmer, and an affiliate college, Prince William Sound Community College in Valdez. UAA also offers military education services at Eielson Air Force Base, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Fort Richardson Army Base, and Fort Wainwright Army Base.

More on the people behind the campus names.