| |
During
the 1960's, the populations of the suburbs surrounding the city of Chicago
expanded. Along with this exponential growth in size, residents of the newly
developing northwest suburbs decided that they needed an institution to provide
them and their children with post-secondary education. Consequently, area
residents began to organize for the purpose of developing a community college.
Around the same time, the Illinois State Legislature passed the Illinois
Community College Act in 1965, which allowed residents to form their own college
districts. With the necessary legislation in place, residents of the northwest
suburbs initiated a major campaign drive to attract support for the
establishment of a community college. Their efforts culminated in the passage of
a referendum that established Illinois Community College District 512, which
covered a 200 square mile area. Shortly after passage of the referendum, these
same voters returned to the polls to elect the first board of trustees to
oversee the establishment of a college in the newly formed district.
In a short two years, the board successfully hired a president to administer
the college, architects to design and build a campus, and hired teachers and
faculty to conduct classes, which were held Elk Grove High School. The campus
was completed in 1969, and was named William Rainey Harper College in honor of
William Rainey Harper - first president of the University of Chicago, and
founder of the two-year college movement. Harper College received full
accreditation in 1971.
Harper College has grown tremendously since its inception. The student
population doubled between 1967 and 1968, growing from 1,700 students to 3,700,
and then increased to 5,400 by 1969. In addition, areas residents passed several
referendum measures in 1975, 1985, and 2001 have provided the college with funds
to construct several new buildings on campus, including an Engineering and
Applied Technology Center, a physical education and recreational facility, a
Business and Social Science Center, a Liberal Arts building, and a Learning
Resource Center. The most recent referendum has provided the college with funds
to construct a new facility to house its science, emerging technologies, and
health care centers.
Harper College Historical Timeline |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
