Taft College is a public community college in Taft, California. It is a part of the California Community Colleges system and is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. The college is one of only a few community colleges in California to have on-campus housing. The college was founded in 1922 as Taft Junior College. Initially, it was part of the Taft Union High School District with classes held on the campus of Taft Union High School. The college switched to its current name in 1954 and opened its own separate campus adjacent to the high school in 1956. Taft College offers Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees as well as a variety of certificates. Graduates who complete specified programs are prepared for transfer to the California State University or University of California systems. History In 1910 Taft had a population of 1,650, but within eight years that number swelled to 4,000. New schools were built at all levels to keep up with population growth. Taft Union High School (TUHS) District was formed in July 1920, with the expectation that a junior college would shortly follow. On August 30, 1922, the TUHS Board voted to create Taft Junior College, with the first classes being held on the grounds of the high school. During the Second World War Taft hosted a training school for the United States Army Air Corps at Gardner Field. In October 1947 TUHS purchased leftover buildings from the defunct Gardner and Minter Fields. The junior college moved into these remodeled structures on August 27, 1948. By 1954 the population of Taft had reached 16,100 and Taft Junior College clearly required its own campus. On July 1 preliminary plans for the new campus were approved and the institution officially changed its name to Taft College. Construction began in May 1955 and the new campus opened its doors on September 11, 1956. In 1962 voters created a new College District and the college separated completely from TUHS. In October 1964 construction began on the first dormitories and students took up residence the following year. The Science Building opened in 1966, the Technical Arts Building in 1967, the Vocational Ed Building in 1969 and the library annex in 1970. A new gymnasium was added in 1981. Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s Taft College featured highly in sports, particularly in football. In 1994 the