News

Much is said about the affordability and accessibility of community colleges, and sometimes that conversation overlooks the world class research and work of community college faculty.  Committed to student success and excellence in teaching, the dedication, talent and passion of community college faculty are amazing and inspirational. 

We know that students who fully engage in their education both inside and outside of the classroom experience greater success in persevering to graduation and in their careers. Research has consistently shown that college students who get involved build their networks and community, gain valuable skills and accolades for their resumes, discover other passions and skills and stay focused on their goals. We are able to see that demonstrated daily by our own students at Waubonsee Community College. It is particularly evident at the end of the academic year.

The annual commencement ceremony at Waubonsee Community College is always a highlight, as the goals and dreams that students have worked so hard toward – with the support of dedicated faculty and staff – are achieved and celebrated. This year is especially memorable as we celebrate our 50^th anniversary.

At the core of the mission of a community college is the goal to be a resource for lifelong learning and personal growth. A key part of that strategy is to provide career development that empowers people by giving them the education, skills and network to achieve and surpass their personal and professional dreams.

Civic engagement is the cornerstone of a healthy democracy.

The mission of a community college is to provide students with access to the knowledge and skills needed for making positive contributions in an interconnected world.

Albert Einstein said that intellectual growth should start at birth and cease only at death. Community colleges share this vision and lifelong learning is part of our core mission. Community colleges offer a broad range of topics through Community Education Departments to meet any professional or personal interest, at every stage of life.

Have you ever been in a new place for the first time, yet somehow still felt a sense of belonging or familiarity? If you have, that feeling or recognition is known as a “sense of place.” Achieving a sense of place, or creating community, is tied to having a strong identity and character that are recognized and felt by visitors and residents. These are powerful feelings conveyed by a combination of small details and many larger efforts, and providing that feeling is important for community colleges.

First responders such as police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians play critical roles in all of our communities.  As a result, it is increasingly important that this vital workforce reflects the diversity of the communities they serve. Community college faculty and staff have stepped up to this challenge through their efforts to recruit a diverse student body for programs that provide the technical and academic preparation for these fields.

The people who help our counties, cities, towns and villages to run smoothly have seen rapid change in the ways government units operate over the last decades.  But, it might surprise you to know that some employees have had to update their skills without professional development or training.  That’s why when Waubonsee Community College’s Workforce Development Division began an inquiry of local civic leader’s greatest needs a few years ago, we discovered the pain points that government organizations faced in the development of their workers.  The college was seeking to partner and provide ongoing professional development for municipal workers, we were happy to rise to the challenge.