Highland Community College (Illinois)
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| Type | Community college |
|---|---|
| Established | 1962 |
| Endowment | $600,000 |
| President | Christina Kuberski[1] |
Academic staff | 190 |
| Students | 1,861[2] |
| Location | , , United States 42°16′58″N 89°40′24″W / 42.2828°N 89.6733°WCoordinates: 42°16′58″N 89°40′24″W / 42.2828°N 89.6733°W |
| Campus | Rural, 140 acres/56.6 ha |
| Colors | Orange |
| Affiliations | Higher Learning Commission |
| Mascot | Cougar |
| Website | www |
Highland Community College is a public community college in Freeport, Illinois. The college is recognized by the Illinois Community College Board and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
History[]
Highland was first established in 1962 on the land purchased from the Taft family. The Highland Community college foundation was the first community college foundation established in the State of Illinois and only the second in the nation. The foundation was established by Dr. Howard D. Sims, president of Highland Community College from 1975 to 1980.
Timeline[]
- 1955 State survey completed by the University of Illinois showed Freeport, Illinois was a logical location for a junior college. A legal requirement in preparation for a referendum was satisfied.
- 1957-1959 State legislation passed allowing public junior colleges to charge tuition.
- 1959 Public defeated a referendum that would have included space for the college in the remodeled high school.
- 1961 Referendum passed by a 3-1 margin calling for the establishment of a comprehensive community college.
- 1962 229 students began evening classes held at the Freeport Senior High School.
- 1964 $150,000 was raised for the Acres of Education campaign to purchase the Taft farm land.
- 1966 Referendum held in 15 districts established an area college district. Facilities were rented and classes were held on Stephenson, Main, Locust, and West Ave. The first board was elected.
- 1967 District 519 was officially established. Ken Borland was hired as the first president. A contest was held to name the college with "Highland" being chosen from among the submissions.
- 1968 Voters approved a plan for the current campus.
- 1970 Five temporary buildings were occupied on the permanent campus.
- 1971 The first permanent facilities were occupied on the current campus.
- 1973 Foundation approves $45,000 grant to the college for the Festival of Arts.
- 1976 Phase III of the building program approved. Work began on the physical fitness education facility to be used jointly by Highland and the YMCA.
Campus[]
Main campus[]
Highland is located in Freeport, Illinois on 140 acres (or 56.6 ha). There are seven buildings on the campus, which are mainly used for classes. The college's sports complex is also the local YMCA, to which Highland's students who are carrying 12 or more credit hours a semester can receive a free membership at the YWCA.
Highland West[]
Highland Community College had a campus in Elizabeth, Illinois. On Route 20, Highland West offered residents of Jo Daviess county an easy commute to classes. Several classes could also be taken in Savanna, Illinois. The off-site campuses mainly offered general education courses. In 2007, the Elizabeth campus started offering a Certified Nurse Assistant course. In a cost-cutting measure, the Elizabeth facility was closed in 2014.
Academics[]
Highland offers associates degrees to its students. After about 60 college-level credit hours have been completed, students can pursue either an Associate of Science or Associate of Arts degree. An Associate of Engineering Science degree can be obtained with appropriate course choice and a minimum of 67 credit hours. Other non-degree seeking students may complete a certification in one of the many vocational skills. A wide variety of majors and vocational programs are offered. Highland's Nursing Program is especially worth mentioning for its excellence and night program, which is popular among students who have jobs during the daytime. Nursing students may choose to graduate with their Registered Nurse (a two-year program) or Licensed Practical Nurse degree (one-year program). In recent years, nursing students have completed the NCLEX-RN board exam with a 99% or above pass rate.
Athletics[]
Highland Community College is most famous for its basketball program, which has been in the top 10 among the nation's junior colleges in many years. The Highland Cougars Basketball team is a member of the NJCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. The following sports are played on campus:
- Baseball
- Men's Basketball
- Women's Basketball
- Golf
- Softball
- Volleyball
Altogether five Highland student-athletes have been named Academic All-Americans, and 11 have been named All-Americans by the NJCAA.
Students and faculty[]
The college is home to about 6,000 students and 190 faculty members, of which only 49 are full-time. Highland is technologically advanced, and it is one of the pioneers in Distance Learning Programming, in which a partnership between the college and Sauk Valley Community College exists.
Clubs and organizations[]
Highland has a big variety of interesting clubs and organizations. Some of the most active ones include:
- Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Nu Mu Chapter
- Student Senate
- History Club
- Current Events Club
- Cheer Team
- Dairy & Livestock Judging Teams
- Physical Science Club
- The Chronicle Student Newspaper
- Forensics
- Royal Scots
- Adult Student Network
- Art Club: SOVA (Student Organization Visual Arts)
- Black Student Alliance
- Dance Team
- Diversity Club
- E.A.R.T.H. (Environmental Awareness Represented Through Highland)
- Women in Science
- Equine Club
- Intramurals
- Pride Club
- Psychology Club
- Performing Arts Club
H.C. Mitchell Library[]
The H.C. Mitchell library is located on campus in Building M. In 2007 the library became a member of the PrairieCat program, which is a cooperative of 130 libraries in Northern Illinois and Eastern Iowa. This allows the student body and local residents to search over millions of books, videos, and other archives.
See also[]
- Illinois Community College System
- List of community colleges in Illinois
- Don Opel Arboretum
References[]
- ^ "Trustees Name Kuberski Next Highland Community College President". Highland Community College (Press release). May 21, 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ^ As of spring 2019. "Spring Enrollment Report" (PDF). Illinois Community College Board. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
External links[]
Authority control  |
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- Community colleges in Illinois
- Education in Stephenson County, Illinois
- Education in Jo Daviess County, Illinois
- Educational institutions established in 1962
- Vocational education in the United States
- Buildings and structures in Stephenson County, Illinois
- NJCAA athletics
- 1962 establishments in Illinois