Supported by community leaders, and under the direction of Craven County Board of education Director of Vocational Education, Thurman E. Brock, Craven Community College was created as an extension of Lenoir Community College by the 1965 North Carolina General Assembly and began operation July 1, 1965.
The College was granted independent status as Craven Technical Institute after approval by the State Board of Education in 1966 and the N.C. General Assembly in 1967. Craven County residents provided the wherewithal for development, passing a $500,000 bond referendum on December 5, 1967. On April 23, 1968, Craven County Technical Institute became an official independent institution of the North Carolina Community College System with the first meeting of the newly constituted Board of Trustees. The College continued to operate under the direction of Dr. Brock in the historic Harvey House in downtown New Bern while land was procured and facilities started.
In spring 1971, College employees and students moved the campus to its new location-100 wooded acres on the outskirts of New Bern on Racetrack Road (now South Glenburnie Road and part of the New Bern City Limits). With two buildings and a little more than 350 curriculum students, the institute was granted community college status in 1973. The College opened an office in the Joint Education Center, Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station.
In January 2004, the Havelock campus located on Cunningham Boulevard opened for classes. The Institute of Aeronautical Technology received its certification from the Federal Aviation Administration on April 12, 2004. The initial aviation systems technology program also started on that day. Operations at the 24-acre Havelock campus include several programs and approximately 700 college transfer students.
The College has grown to seven buildings on its New Bern campus and three on the Havelock campus, with enrollment of approximately 3,000 curriculum students each term. Continuing Education figures place Craven's total number served annually well over 12,000.
