Did You Know?
Nursing was ECC's first vocational technical program
College History
1950 - 1959
- January 10, 1949: College established as part of Public School District U-46. Charles M. Evans was the first dean.
- May 1950: Membership in American Association of Junior Colleges.
- July 1950: Appointment of Gilbert I. Renner as dean of the college.
- December 1959: Dedication of Renner Hall, ECC's first home, 373 E. Chicago St. in Elgin.
1960 - 1969
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- June 1962: Candidacy for accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
- June 1965: State approved two-year nursing program, first vocational/technical program of the college.
- July 15, 1965: Junior College Act passed by the Illinois General Assembly.
- Fall 1965: Formation of separate District 509 as a Class II Junior College.
- April 5, 1966: Class I Junior College status approved by the State Board of Higher Education.
- April 12, 1966: U-46 Board of Education voted to divest itself of Elgin Community College control.
- June 4, 1966: First Junior College District 509 Board of Trustees election. Seven trustees elected from a field of 17 candidates. The first board and officers were: Robert Hoffer, chairman; Frieda Simon, trustee; John Eshelman, secretary; Harry Blizzard, trustee; Paul Bolger, trustee; Richard Gromer, trustee; Joseph McCarthy, trustee.
- April 15, 1967: School District 300 (Dundee, Carpentersville, Algonquin, Hampshire) voted to annex to Elgin Junior College District 509 effective July 1, 1967, thus, more than doubling the original district boundaries.
- April 1967: Junior College District 509 purchased 100-acre Spartan Drive site for new college campus from the City of Elgin for $51,050.10.
- March 1968: College accredited by the North Central Association.
- May 1968: Illinois Board of Higher Education approved building project for new campus.
- November 26, 1968: Bids opened for Spartan Drive campus construction, Phase 1. Low bid: Miller-Davis, $4,925,000.
- December 24, 1968: Groundbreaking for Phase I.
- November 1969: Elgin Community College became a charter member of the new athletic Skyway Conference.
1970 - 1979
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- September 1970: College moved into new campus building at 1700 Spartan Drive.
- September 1970: College received announcement that Renner Hall, ECC's first home, was officially closed and the sign from the building was presented to President Renner.
- December 1970: Elgin Community College occupied new gym with a basketball game versus Waubonsee Community College.
- 1970: The resources center and library at the Spartan Drive campus is named the Renner Learning Resources Center in honor of President Renner.
- March 1971: Accreditation renewed for three years by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
- May 2, 1971: Dedication and open house of new campus.
- September 1, 1971: Retirement of President Gilbert Renner.
- September 13, 1971: Introduction of Dr. Robert L. Appel, Jr., as second president of Elgin Community College, effective September 27, 1971.
- September 1972: First joint educational agreement established, exchanging ECC’s dental assisting program with the automotive program of Waubonsee Community College.
- April 24, 1973: Orrin G. Thompson Excellence in Teaching awards established by the college board.
- July 10, 1973: Central Community Unit District No. 301 annexed into Junior College District 509.
- December 11, 1973: Brian Dardis certified as the first non-voting student member of the college board.
- January 1974: The 25th anniversary of the founding of the college.
- April 26 through May 5, 1974: Twenty-fifth anniversary week.
- July 30, 1974: Dr. Appel reported that the North Central Association continued Elgin Community College accreditation for another five years.
- August 1, 1974: Annexation of School District 303 into Junior College District 509.
- Fall 1974: Elgin Symphony Orchestra, sponsored by the college since 1950, opened its 25th season.
- 1974: The board voted to waive tuition for retired citizens who take credit courses.
- January 11, 1975: College name changed from Junior College District 509 to Community College District 509.
- April 22, 1975: Dr. Robert L. Appel, Jr., resigned as president of Elgin Community College effective June 30, 1975.
- October 14, 1975: Dr. Mark Hopkins introduced to the board as the third president of Elgin Community College.
- April 13, 1976: The nation observed Thomas Jefferson’s birthday, a project sponsored in the United States Congress and initiated by the ECC Bicentennial Commission.
- March 1977: Bids accepted for $2.8 million industrial-technology building. General contractor, Thorleif Larson and Sons, Itasca.
- June 1977: Elgin Community College received $1 million Advanced Institutional Development Program Grant from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
- January 1979: Industrial Technology Building (Bldg G) completed and occupied.
- January 10, 1979: 30th anniversary of the founding of the college.
- April 1979: Accreditation renewed for seven years by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
- October 1979: Elgin Symphony Orchestra celebrated its 30th Season with the college.
1980 - 1989
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- 1980: The Writers Center began regular programming to benefit published and would-be writers.
- August 1981: President Hopkins resigned, effective August 1, 1982.
- March 1982: The college and City of Elgin reached tentative agreement on the restoration of a building located in downtown Elgin for a second campus named Fountain Square Campus.
- July 6, 1982: Dr. Searle F. Charles appointed fourth president of the college with duties beginning Dec. 14, 1982.
- January 1983: Fountain Square Campus opened for classes.
- August 1983: Construction completed on Fountain Square Campus.
- December 6, 1983: Renner Hall, ECC’s first official home at 373 East Chicago Street, was torn down.
- December 13, 1983: The board of trustees voted for the first time to voluntarily recognize a union representing college faculty.
- February 10, 1984: ECC faculty voted overwhelmingly to join the Illinois Federation of Teachers for purposes of collective bargaining.
- June 1984: The ECC Foundation was established as a not-for-profit organization to provide various means of private, financial support for the advancement of ECC academic programs and support services.
- November 14, 1984: ECC support staff voted overwhelmingly to affiliate with the Illinois Education Association for collective bargaining purposes.
- 1985: The board voted to establish trustee scholarships to provide financial incentives for in-district students who demonstrate academic or leadership potential.
- March 18, 1986: Area residents voted by a 3-2 margin to reject the college’s request for an 8 cent increase in the education tax rate.
- August 1986: Accreditation renewed for 10 years, the longest period of time possible, by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
- November 4, 1986: Local voters approved a 6 cent increase in the tax rate for the college’s education fund.
- December 3, 1986: President Charles announced his retirement, effective no later than September 2, 1987.
- January 27, 1987: The Industrial Technology Building (Bldg. G) on the Spartan Drive campus is officially renamed the Advanced Technology Center.
- June 23, 1987: Dr. Paul R. Heath named the fifth president of the college, with duties beginning September 1.
- August 25, 1987: The college entered into a 20-year lease/purchase agreement with the Kane County Public Building Commission to buy ECC’s Fountain Square Campus from the City of Elgin.
- May 17, 1988: The North Annex on the Spartan Drive campus officially renamed the Health Careers Center.
- 1988: Students registered for classes using touch-tone phone registration for the first time.
- October 1989: Successful completion of the $200,000 "Building a Vision" 40th anniversary enhancement campaign by the ECC Foundation.
1990 - 1999
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- September 1990: Founders Court and Alumni Court were dedicated.
- October 1990: Kane County Public Building Commission approved $30 million in bonds for the construction of a portion of the new master plan. First phase included $15 million Visual & Performing Arts Center and gym addition.
- January 1991: Applied Business Technology Building (Bldg M) opened for classes.
- May 1991: Second $15 million in bonds issued for the completion of the Visual & Performing Arts Center (Bldg H) and the construction of the Business Conference Center (Bldg E).
- August 23, 1993: First classes meet in the Visual & Performing Arts Center (Bldg H).
- January 1994: President Heath announced his retirement effective August 31.
- July 1994: Dr. Roy Flores named the sixth president of Elgin Community College with duties beginning August 18.
- January 1995: First classes meet in the Business Conference Center (Bldg E). The grand opening of the facility was held Jan. 29.
- December 1995: Intragovernmental agreement with the City of Elgin is approved allowing the exchange of 25 acres optioned on Randall Road by the college for 45 acres of the front nine of the Spartan Meadows Golf Course. The agreement allowed the city to develop Randall Road and the college to expand its main campus. Costs of a road connecting Spartan Drive to Randall Road will be shared with the city.
- December 1995: The ECC Foundation successfully completed its $1.5 million capital campaign, "Partners in Excellence and Opportunity" which began in March, 1994.
- August 1996: ECC becomes the first college in Illinois to begin offering credit classes via the internet.
- September 1996: Reaccreditation through 2006 approved by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
- January 13, 1997: Instruction Center (Bldg F) opened.
- August 1997: The college enters into the first of several partnerships with four-year colleges and universities to provide greater and more immediate access to upper level undergraduate offerings and baccalaureate degree completion, allow for dual admission and/or seamless transfer to four-year schools.
- April 23, 1998: Dr. Roy Flores resigns as the sixth president of ECC effective August 1.
- November 10, 1998: Dr. Michael S. Shirley is named the college’s seventh president with duties beginning immediately.
- January 10, 1999: Founders Week commences as the college begins a year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary and names the Fabulous 50, former students exemplifying the kind of success envisioned for all ECC students.
- May 5, 1999: Heritage Day activities include opening of the 1974 time capsule and interment of the 2024 time capsule as the 50th anniversary celebration continues.
- September 1999: ECC’s first official mascot, Spartacat, is introduced.
- November 14, 1999: The college purchased the former Elgin Business Forms building on Fleetwood Drive at the northeast corner of campus for use as the Industry Training Center (Bldg O).
2000-2010
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- February 6 – 12, 2001: The Elgin Community College Faculty Association representing 212 full-time and part-time unionized faculty stage the first strike in the college’s history over a labor contract dispute.
- April 3, 2001: By a 2-1 margin, voters overwhelmingly approve the college’s $41 million referendum for new buildings and campus renovations to meet the needs of students and the community through 2020.
- June 2002: ECC wins the Skyway Conference All-Sports Trophy awarded annually to one community college for the most points accumulated for men’s and women’s team play. It marked the first time in school history that ECC won the award.
- August 13, 2002: The college celebrates the grand opening of the Industry Training Center (Bldg O) at the corner of Second Street and Fleetwood Drive. Six career/technical programs move into the new facility - criminal justice, heating, air conditioning and refrigeration (environmental controls), industrial manufacturing, integrated systems technology, truck driving, and welding.
- August 23, 2003: The college celebrates the grand opening of the new Health and Business Technology Center (Bldg M) and the re-opening of the Advanced Technology Center (Bldg G) following a year of remodeling and new construction. The remodeled buildings and new construction were part of the first $10 million in referendum bonds issued by the college as a result of its successful referendum in April, 2001.
- August 23, 2004: The $4.1 million Culinary Arts Center (Bldg I) opens, home to the culinary arts and hospitality program.
- April 15, 2005: The college officially opens a baseball field, named Spartan Field, at the intersection of Spartan Drive and Renner Drive on the Spartan Drive campus.
- October 1, 2005: The college celebrates the grand opening of the new Spartan Events Center (Bldg J).
- October 11, 2005: The board of trustees renames the Business Conference Center to the Fox Valley University & Business Center (Bldg E).
- March 21, 2006: District 509 voters reject the college’s request to increase its education fund tax rate by 5 cents on a vote of 34,081 against, 24,336 for the referendum.
- April 11, 2006: Dr. Michael Shirley, seventh president of ECC, announces his retirement effective Dec. 31.
- November, 2006: The college purchases 466 Renner Drive at the northwest corner of campus for general use purposes.
- January 2, 2007: Dr. David Sam announced as eighth president of ECC, effective February 12.
- August 15, 2008: The opening of the extension of Spartan Drive to Randall Road is celebrated along with the official naming of Duffy Drive, a portion of Spartan Drive. Duffy Drive was named in honor of the college’s longest serving trustee John Duffy and his family.
- January 2009: ECC begins a year-long celebration of the 60th anniversary of its founding.
- April, 2009: The college is successfully re-accredited by the North Central Association/Higher Learning Commission with no additional follow-ups until academic year 2015-16.
- April 7, 2009: Voters approve a $178 million bond referendum for the college to build a new academic library and learning center, health careers center and regional public safety training facilities.
- August 11, 2009: The college purchases 410 Renner Drive at the northwest corner of campus for general classroom and office space.
- January 29, 2010: The college breaks ground to remodel and renovate former industrial facilities at 410/466 Renner Drive for use as general classroom space (Bldg K).
- March 11, 2010: Groundbreaking ceremonies are held for the health careers center and new academic library and learning center.