Today’s Midland College (MC) became a reality after its meager beginnings in 1969 as part of the Permian Junior College District. MC gained its independence as a separate community college district in October 1972 after Midland supporters rallied in Austin to garner support for the split. The turning point of a new campus was two-fold: the passing of Senate Bill 19 to allow the citizens of Midland to hold an election to secede from the Permian Junior College system and the passing of the $5.1 million bond issue in December 1972 to support the creation of the Midland College campus. The new campus “opened for classes” in January 1975.