Waubonsee Community College serves a remarkably diverse community and that diversity is reflected in our student body, faculty, and staff. I know that many Waubonsee students and employees are concerned about how the recent announcement regarding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program might affect them, their families, their friends or their communities.
Waubonsee’s mission is to provide education and training services for the residents of our district. More than 300,000 students have attended Waubonsee throughout our 51-year history.
Our vision forms the foundation of who we are as an institution. This vision statement, as stated below, was recently reaffirmed by our broader community and is reviewed and confirmed annually by our board of trustees.
“Waubonsee Community College opens the door of knowledge, sparks imagination and enlightens lives through learning. We welcome the diverse abilities, goals and experiences of individuals standing on the threshold of discovery. Our success is defined by the dreams we help shape, the opportunities we help design, and the futures we help create.”
Waubonsee is a place where futures take shape. Our primary mission and our primary focus is student success.
With the current uncertainty, it is important to know and understand some key information and terms. Waubonsee does not collect or maintain information on student immigration status, except for international students who attend the college on a student visa. Waubonsee does collect information about student citizenship for communicating to the Illinois Community College Board.
The Waubonsee Campus Police Department maintains jurisdictional authority on all four of our campuses. Any immigration enforcement activity by off-campus agencies requires specific legal notice to Campus Police. The Campus Police Department does not have any additional duty, authority or reporting requirements.
At the recent New Student Convocation ceremony I shared that we are committed to welcoming the diverse abilities, goals and experiences of all individuals and that we are equally committed to maintaining access to education in a welcoming, healthy and safe environment. Waubonsee is, and will remain, a place for everyone to experience a full range of quality educational opportunities.
I understand that uncertainty and change can be difficult. We have compiled a list of resources that you may find useful at www.waubonsee.edu/resources. As always, the college offers counseling services at all four campus locations through the Counseling, Advising and Transfer Center. To schedule an appointment, call (630) 466-2361 or email at advising@waubonsee.edu.
Dr. Christine J. Sobek, President
