Allegany College of Maryland (or ACM) is a

public In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the ''Öffentlichk ...

community college A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an "open enrollment" for students who have graduated from high school (also known as senior se ...

Cumberland, Maryland Cumberland is a U.S. city in and the county seat of Allegany County, Maryland. It is the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 19,076. Located on the Potomac River, ...

. It was previously known as Allegany Community College. The college was founded in 1961 and is accredited by the Middle State Commission on Higher Education. The college offers 31 two-year degree programs, 30 certificate programs, and 10 letters of recognitions. The college also campuses and extension sites in

;

Everett, Pennsylvania Everett is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,775 at the 2020 census. Everett's original name was Bloody Run, after a creek that was the site of a battle between settlers and Native Americans. The to ...

;

Oakland, Maryland Oakland is a town in the west-central part of Garrett County, Maryland, United States. The town has a population of 1,925 according to the 2010 United States Census. The town is also the county seat of Garrett County and is located within the Pitt ...

;

Somerset, Pennsylvania Somerset is a borough in and the county seat of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,046 at the 2020 census. The borough is surrounded by Somerset Township. Somerset is just off Exit 110 of the Pennsylvania Turnpi ...

; and

LaVale, Maryland LaVale is a census-designated place (CDP) in Allegany County, Maryland, United States. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,551 at the 2010 census. Geography LaVale is located at , in the shad ...

History

Allegany College of Maryland began operations in 1961 as "Allegany Community College" in a segregationist era all-black Carver Community School that had been closed in 1959 by the Allegany County Board of Education following the integration of public schools in 1955. The college opened with an enrollment of 102 students from Allegany County under the direction of ACM's first president, Robert S. Zimmer. Main-campus

In 1969, the college moved to a new campus consisting of six buildings on a 316-acre (1.3 km²) tract in suburban Cumberland that was partially funded by the

Appalachian Regional Commission The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a United States federal–state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life. Congress established A ...

. Enrollment reached the 800 mark in credit programs during the first year on the new campus and community service and continuing education courses and programs began. Since that time, the campus has expanded to include 15 buildings, which provide modern facilities for both credit and non-credit students. On-site campus housing is available. The college opened its Bedford County Campus in

in 1990, and offers college credit through the adjacent Bedford County Technical Center. It expanded its Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts programs into the Gateway Center located in downtown Cumberland in 2002 and added a chef-supervised, student-ru
Culinaire Cafe
The college constructed a Western Regional Correctional Training Center, a multi-use building that opened in 2021, and underwent a $13.6 million renovation of its Technology Building. The college serves over 2,800 credit students and over 6,900 continuing education registrations. Over 300 of these credit students are served at the ACM Bedford County Campus. Grad crowd shot

Academics

The college offers 31 associate degree programs, 30 certificate programs, and 10 letter of recognition programs. ACM is one of two Maryland community colleges to be classified as a "community engaged" institution. The college offers three clinics that are open to the community: a Dental Hygiene Clinic (fall and spring semesters), Nurse Managed Wellness Clinic (fall and spring semester, summer session), and Massage Therapy Clinic (offered in spring semester).

Athletics

The college's men's baseball and basketball teams have been consistently ranked in the top 20 of their respective

National Junior College Athletic Association The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), founded in 1938, is the governing association of community college, state college and junior college athletics throughout the United States. Currently the NJCAA holds 24 separate regions ...

(NJCAA) Divisions. The baseball team participated in the NJCAA World Series nine times, including a four-year run from 1994 to 1997. Steve Bazarnic coached and mentored several

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

players and coaches, including

John Kruk John Martin Kruk (born February 9, 1961) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and outfielder. Kruk played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago White Sox from through . Du ...

Scott Seabol Scott Anthony Seabol (born May 17, 1975 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, United States) is a former Major League Baseball player. He made his major league debut on April 8, , with the New York Yankees, but only for a single game. After a short time ...

Joe Beimel Joseph Ronald Beimel (pronounced "BUY mul") (born April 19, 1977) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, ...

, and Bill Brown (baseball coach) The men's basketball team participated thirteen times in the NJCAA national tournament, including a four-year run from 1985 to 1988, 1991, 1993, 1996 (finished 2nd), 1998, 2001 (finished 2nd), 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2019. Bob Kirk coached the men's basketball team from 1971 until 2004. Kirk mentored numerous All-Americans and a handful of future NBA picks including Steve Francis, Eric Mobley, and John Turner (basketball) and standouts Terrance Jacobs and

Davonn Harp Davonn Harp is a Filipino-American former basketball player who played in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Batang Red Bull Energizers. He was one of the six players elevated by Red Bull from its PBL franchise. He played as a center. ...

. Women's basketball participated in the NJCAA National Tournament four times - 1986, 1993 (2nd), 2009 and 2011. Men's tennis participated in the NJCAA National Championships three times - 1971, 1976 and 1977.

Governance and accreditation

The

Maryland Higher Education Commission The Maryland Higher Education Commission is the State of Maryland's governing board for higher education. It is responsible for establishing state policies for public and private colleges and universities and for-profit career schools. It is an ...

(MHEC) oversees and coordinates higher education in the State of Maryland including academic and financial policies at the college. An eight-member board of trustees, appointed by the Governor of the State of Maryland, governs the college. The college also has an advisory board, the Bedford County Campus Advisory Committee, for its Bedford County Campus in Everett ( Bedford County, Pennsylvania). The college is a member of the

Maryland Association of Community Colleges Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to it ...

(MACC) and is

accredited Accreditation is the independent, third-party evaluation of a conformity assessment body (such as certification body, inspection body or laboratory) against recognised standards, conveying formal demonstration of its impartiality and competence to ...

by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The college is also approved for operation by MHEC. The Pennsylvania Department of Education has granted certification to the ACM Bedford County Campus and to the academic programs its offers.

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Allegany College Of Maryland Community and junior colleges in Maryland Universities and colleges in Allegany County, Maryland Universities and colleges of Cumberland, MD-WV-PA Educational institutions established in 1961 Nursing education 1961 establishments in Maryland Buildings and structures in Cumberland, Maryland NJCAA athletics