GC3 History

"Whenever institutions of higher education agree to commit themselves formally to a cooperative enterprise such as a Consortium, they take a step that is largely contrary to the traditional modus operandi of American colleges and universities." First GCCCU Annual Report, June 1975

Against this backdrop, the presidents of ten Greater Cincinnati colleges and universities met in the fall of 1973 to consider formalizing inter-institutional cooperation.

Discussions throughout the 1973-74 academic year led to the official formation of the Greater Cincinnati Consortium of Colleges and Universities in 1974.

Aided by a $54,000 grant from the Board of Regents in July, 1974, to promote cross-registration, the Consortium hired a part time academic coordinator, and thus began what has resulted in more than 20 years of institutional collaboration and cooperation in Greater Cincinnati.

Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, the GCCCU office was located at Xavier University or Edgecliff College, and enjoyed a secure financial position, aided in part by a variety of grants. Programs and staff expanded, and those involved envisioned unlimited possibilities for cooperation.

As the financial picture in higher education got bleaker in the early 1980s, the Consortium, too, struggled to keep important programs going with reduced dollars and staff. In 1982, when financial support for GCCCU was waning, President Fred Schlimm of then Cincinnati Technical College offered to move it to CTC, and provide a part time director and some financial support.

Two executive directors served the Consortium in the four years at CTC. When Mr. Schlimm's tenure as Chair of the Board of Trustees ended, President Leon Boothe took over, and continued institutional support of GCCCU at Northern Kentucky University.

In the fall of 1991, the GCCCU office moved to the College of Mount St. Joseph, and in 1993, to Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. In 1998, it moved to the Union Institute and University which supported the GCCCU office operation for 10 years.  In March, 2007, the GCCCU relocated to offices at Northern Kentucky University. 

After a comprehensive strategic planning process and review of the possibilities of what GCCCU can accomplish, in April, 2016 the Board of Trustees approved a new vision and mission along with a renewed dedication to resources.  GCCCU staffing increased from less than one full-time staff member to a full time Executive Director and a part time Executive Assistant.  Throughout 2016, GCCCU staff engaged its members and constituents in a rebranding process leading to the oganization's renaming as the Greater Cincinnati Collegiate Connection or GC3.

Whenever institutions of higher education agree to commit themselves formally to a cooperative enterprise such as a Consortium, they take a step that is largely contrary to the traditional modus operandi of American colleges and universities.

First GCCCU Annual Report,
June 1975