July 1, 1964: University of Alaska Board of Regents approves request by the Kenai City School District to form Kenai Peninsula College.
1966: Kenai Peninsula College offers classes through Homer Branch.
1970: Gail Sibson, later known as Gail Ammerman, becomes part-time coordinator at a salary of $300.
1976: Gail Ammerman is the first Homer Branch graduate, receiving an associate of arts degree.
1982: Jim Riggs becomes full-time coordinator of the Homer Branch. The Homer Branch is in the basement of what’s now Bay Realty.
1983: The branch moves into a building on the Best Western Bidarka Inn lot.
That building is later moved on top of what’s now Captain’s Coffee.
1986: The Homer Branch changes its name to the Kachemak Bay Campus,
Kenai Peninsula College.
Carol Swartz becomes the
first director of Kachemak
Bay Campus.
1987: Most Alaska community colleges merge with the University of Alaska, including Kenai Peninsula College and the Kachemak Bay Campus, expanding degree programs to include bachelor and master’s degrees.
November 1988: The Kachemak Bay Campus acquires and renovates the most recent, former post office on Pioneer Avenue.
1991: The college buys 4.6 acres of land behind Alice’s Champagne Palace with plans to build a new campus. When funding doesn’t come through, it sells the land to the city of Homer. The college uses some of the money to buy the Barefoot Trailer Park for an expansion.
2004: A new wing is added and remodeling done to the Pioneer Avenue building. During construction, classes also are held in the old Homer Intermediate School.
2011: After plans to acquire City Hall fall through when voters don’t approve a new City Hall in the Town Center, the college builds a second wing, Bayview Hall, finally consolidating its campus on East Pioneer Avenue.