the howard county junior college district was created by a county-wide vote on november 17, 1945. seven citizens of howard county were elected on that same ballot to serve as a board of trustees. howard college was first housed two miles west of downtown big spring in the hospital area of the former air force bombardier school. the first session began on september 30, 1946. on september 12, 1951, the college was moved to a one hundred acre campus located in southeast big spring. on november 6, 1979, the board of trustees unanimously voted to establish the southwest collegiate institute for the deaf as a part of the howard county junior college district. the first classes offered through this program began on august 25, 1980.