Community

Police officer handing a child something

We are proud to serve our students and our community members!

At Elgin Community College, our commitment extends beyond academic excellence. We actively engage with our communities to foster relationships and partnerships that benefit everyone involved.

Our Board of Trustees, students, faculty, and staff collaborate with local non-profit and service organizations, school districts, and businesses through deliberate efforts.
We participate in events that support and enhance the work of these organizations.
Continuous efforts are made to identify and address community needs through meaningful collaborations and partnerships.
We coordinate our resources to make a positive impact in our community.
Discover the programs and benefits ECC offers our community members, which contribute to their growth and success.

Community Engagement Annual Report - PDF

Photos of our Board of Trustees, students, faculty, and staff community engagement.

Green mobile library van with students and kids outdoors. — The Gail Borden Library's mobile unit visited the Squonk event, offering locals the opportunity to check out books.

ECC Board of Trustees Engagement — Trustees actively engaged in our community on 98 occasions, marking a significant 66.1 percent increase compared to FY2021.

ECC police chief Kintz participates at the First Responders Round Table in Burlington, Illinois — ECC employees actively participated in community events 837 times, a 38.6 percent increase compared to FY2021.

Helping residents in need — As a part of our commitment to giving back, we assisted residents in need by facilitating food assistance for 8,065 families through the Northern Illinois Food Bank at the ECC campus parking lot. This represents a decrease of 75.26 percent compared to FY2021.

Female receiving job search assistance at the ECC job fair. — ECC's employment assistance program for community members placed 217 individuals into new positions, projecting an estimated $3.63 million in 2022 Federal taxes or $16.5 million in annualized salaries.

Elgin Community College police officer at table offering a stuffed animal to a kid. — This past year, ECC took its mission to enhance lives through learning on the road, participating in several National Night Out events in communities within District 509.

A bank teller behind a computer screen is interacting with someone dressed in a warrior costume. — Spartacus visits the KCT branch at ECC to find out about upcoming free shredding events.

ECC employees participate at National Night Out in Batavia, Illinois. — We are proud to have given back through in-kind donations, contributing $727,547 to community organizations. This support included fee waivers, sponsorships, and covering other costs associated with hosting events.

A woman and two teens choose school backpacks at an event in the ECC gym. — On August 3, Elgin Community College and its partners provided support to over 1,000 students through Project Backpack, a community initiative designed to benefit local students.

The entrance to the Small Business Development Center at ECC — The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at ECC assisted 237 clients within the district, offering 507 hours of personalized advising. This support led to the creation of 28 jobs and the successful establishment of 11 new businesses. Plus, the SBDC extended its services to benefit 106 businesses through training initiatives.

Kids in an outdoor setting help make the concert with an interactive musical group — Attendees immersed themselves in the extraordinary outdoor experience of Squonk, a multimedia troupe renowned for their boundless creativity and imagination!

ECC students volunteering in the local community — Participating in a service opportunity offers a fulfilling experience where students can develop leadership skills, boost confidence, tackle new challenges, and positively impact their community. In 2022, students dedicated 525 hours to serving 15 community organizations.

These numbers represent involvement and may reflect a duplicated headcount for the Board of Trustees, employees, and students in FY2022.

Community Partners, Resources, and Services

Report to the Community

The annual Community Report provides an in-depth look at news, financial analysis, and academic programs that have resulted in student success initiatives and community impact over the past year. This publication is a comprehensive, data-driven report that illustrates ECC’s commitment to its vision, mission, and purpose through an engaging, storytelling approach.

Open current issue

2023 Report to the Community - PDF

Download past issues of the Report to the Community

Community Suggestion Box

Please share your ideas to improve ECC! Suggestions from students, employees, and the community are welcome and are sent to the Planning and Institutional Effectiveness Department and the Process Improvement Team (PIT). You may remain anonymous or let us know your name and email address to receive a response.

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Contact

Community Engagement Department

Building D, Room D110
847-214-7769
community@elgin.edu