20th century Nassau Community College was created as part of the
State University of New York (SUNY) in 1959. When the college opened on February 1, 1960, it had 632 students, and classes were held in an old courthouse. When
Mitchel Air Force Base closed in 1961, the college obtained substantial property, including buildings to develop its new campus; the area is still referred to as Mitchel Field, and the government still retains some housing and other facilities in the vicinity of the school's campus.
21st century On April 16, 2024, the school's food services vendor permanently closed its services, which included the cafeteria, snack bar, and on-campus
Starbucks due to the school not entering a new contractual agreement. In late November 2025, the trustees of Nassau Community College voted unanimously to authorize legal action after the State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustees rejected the college's presidential nominee, Maria Conzatti, who had served as interim or acting president for nearly four years. The SUNY board's disapproval was the first time it had blocked a presidential appointment at one of its campuses, prompting Nassau's governing board to prepare a lawsuit challenging the decision. The faculty, often at odds with Conzatti, applauded SUNY's decision. The college’s student government called for a transparent search for new leadership. == Academics ==