History

Founded in 1882 by Joseph H. Clarke, CCMS was known as the Cincinnati School of Embalming. Schooling lasted only a few days and was designed to provide rudimentary instruction in the use of chemicals and methods of preservation.

After purchase of the school in 1909 by Charles O. Dhonau, instruction was expanded to include aspects of public health and more sophisticated knowledge of human anatomy, embalming, disinfection, and restoration. The school was allotted space in General Hospital in 1915, and became the official department for embalming treatment of hospital cases.

As the curriculum and physical facilities grew, the school realized the need for its own physical plant and faculty independent of other agencies. In 1933, CCMS moved into a newly-remodeled building at 3200 Reading Road and remained there for the next 46 years.

In 1966, the name, the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, was adopted to reflect the expanding nature of its curriculum and the higher level of academic instruction available to its students, most of whom where required to have 2 years of general college prior to mortuary College studies. Soon thereafter, in 1970, Charles Dhonau transferred the assets of the College to the Cincinnati Foundation for Mortuary Education. The change completed transfer from private, proprietary ownership to ownership by the non-profit, private, tax-exempt Foundation. From 1966 until 1977, CCMS maintained a cooperative academic program with the University of Cincinnati.

In 1977, in response to increasing interest in higher education and the more complex nature of the profession, CCMS established 2- and 4-year programs with Edgecliff College. In a mutual agreement both colleges accepted transfer of students and academic credits toward associate and bachelor's degrees. CCMS moved onto the Edgecliff campus in 1979.

After Edgecliff was purchased by Xavier University in 1980 and after Xavier consolidated the campus into the main campus in the fall of 1987, CCMS moved into new facilities in Cohen Center.

In 1980, CCMS received authorization from the Ohio Regents to award the Associate of Applied Science degree, and in 1982 it received accreditation of that degree by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. In 1986, CCMS became the first private college of mortuary science in the nation to be authorized to award the Bachelor of Mortuary Science degree. In 1987, CCMS was accredited by the North Central Association and by the American Board of Funeral Service Education at the bachelor's degree level.

In 1994, because of continued growth, CCMS purchased 16 acres of land in suburban Cincinnati and built its own permanent home. CCMS moved into the state-of-the-art facilities in 1995.