In the Centennial year of California and Shasta County (1950), Shasta College opened its first campus. As part of the state's Centennial celebration, President Harry S. Truman spoke at the college's Thompson Field. There were 26 original faculty members. Shasta College extends its educational, cultural, and recreational facilities and services to all people in Shasta, Tehama, and Trinity Counties, including parts of Lassen, Modoc, and Humboldt Counties, an area that is more than 10,000 square miles, which is larger than the State of Massachusetts. An eight-member Board of Trustees, which includes a non-voting Student Trustee, represents the Shasta-Tehama-Trinity Joint Community College District.

Mission Statement
The mission of the Shasta-Tehama-Trinity Joint Community College District is to provide open access and opportunity for success to students who have diverse backgrounds, interests, and abilities. The District is committed to providing the knowledge and skills necessary for a student to succeed. The District recognizes that success requires specific life skills and professional skills and also effective communication, critical thinking, global consciousness and global responsibility. By offering programs leading to successful completion of a quality university transfer program, or career technical education, the District is responsive to the needs of our communities within a changing global society. By offering comprehensive campus and community service programs, the District enables students to achieve personal as well as academic potential and contributes to the social, cultural and economic development of our region.