College of DuPage
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| College of DuPage | |
|---|---|
| Name | College of DuPage |
| Type | Public community college |
| Established | 1967 |
| Location | Glen Ellyn, Illinois, United States |
| Campus | Suburban |
| President | Brian Caputo |
| Students | ~24,000 |
College of DuPage is a public community college located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, serving the suburban counties west of Chicago. Founded in 1967, the institution provides two-year degrees, certificate programs, workforce training, and transfer pathways to four-year institutions including University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, DePaul University, and Illinois State University. The college operates a main campus and satellite facilities while participating in regional partnerships with entities such as DuPage County, City of Wheaton, City of Naperville, National Academy of Sciences, and local school districts.
History
The college was established in 1967 during a period of rapid expansion of community colleges in the United States following influences from reports like the Truman Commission and initiatives associated with the Higher Education Act of 1965. Early governance involved trustees from multiple townships across DuPage County and coordination with organizations such as the Illinois Community College Board and the American Association of Community Colleges. Construction of the main campus began amid growth in suburban development linked to commuter rail lines like the Metra and infrastructure projects including the Interstate 88 (Illinois). The campus expanded through the 1970s and 1980s with facilities developed for arts and sciences and partnerships with cultural institutions such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Field Museum of Natural History for curricular enrichment. In the 21st century, the college navigated accreditation reviews with the Higher Learning Commission and underwent administrative changes involving boards and public scrutiny comparable to controversies at institutions like University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and City Colleges of Chicago over governance and transparency.
Campus
The main suburban campus in Glen Ellyn, Illinois features academic buildings, performance venues, and recreational facilities sited near transportation corridors linking to Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport. Notable structures include a multipurpose center, arts complex, and a performing arts center used by community ensembles similar to the Lyric Opera of Chicago and touring productions associated with Goodman Theatre. The campus landscape incorporates native plantings and stormwater management strategies paralleling regional efforts by Forest Preserve District of DuPage County and environmental programs connected to The Nature Conservancy and Audubon Society of Greater Chicago. Offsite locations include extension centers in communities such as Naperville, Wheaton, and Westmont, and specialized partnerships with regional employers like Northrop Grumman, Edward Hospital, and Fermilab for workforce training and internships.
Academics
The college offers associate degrees and certificates across divisions that mirror curricula at institutions such as Loyola University Chicago, Lake Forest College, and Roosevelt University to facilitate transfer agreements with state and private universities including Southern Illinois University, Bradley University, and Loyola University Chicago. Disciplines include programs in nursing linked to clinical affiliates such as Elmhurst Hospital, automotive technology partnering with manufacturers like Ford Motor Company, and culinary arts comparable to programs at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts for hospitality pipelines feeding hotels and restaurants near Chicago Loop. Workforce development and continuing education coordinate with agencies such as the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and professional organizations like the American Nurses Association and Society for Human Resource Management. Faculty include instructors with experience at institutions such as Northwestern University, University of Illinois Chicago, and Chicago State University who teach courses aligned with accreditation standards from bodies like the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Student life
Student life includes clubs, honor societies, and student government modeled on structures found at DePaul University and University of Notre Dame with activities ranging from cultural organizations to debates and service projects coordinated with nonprofits like Feed My Starving Children and Habitat for Humanity. Campus media outlets provide practical experience similar to internships at Chicago Tribune and WBEZ, while performing arts ensembles collaborate with community theaters and touring companies such as Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Student support services include counseling, career placement, and transfer advising with articulation agreements connecting to institutions like Ball State University, Seton Hall University, and Iowa State University for seamless continuation of undergraduate studies.
Athletics
Athletic programs compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association with teams in sports such as baseball, basketball, soccer, and volleyball. Facilities host regional tournaments and draw spectators from communities including Bloomingdale, Illinois, Glen Ellyn, and Wheaton, and the program has produced athletes who transferred to NCAA programs at schools like Indiana University Bloomington, University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Purdue University. The athletic department collaborates with local fitness organizations and health systems such as Kaiser Permanente affiliates and university athletic training programs comparable to those at University of Illinois for sports medicine and rehabilitation services.
Administration and governance
The college is overseen by a locally elected board of trustees with policy and budgetary responsibilities comparable to governance structures at community colleges statewide under the oversight of the Illinois Community College Board and subject to state statutes such as provisions within the Illinois School Code. Executive leadership includes the college president and cabinet interacting with municipal and county officials from entities like DuPage County Board and labor partners including unions similar to the American Federation of Teachers and Service Employees International Union. Financial operations involve tax levies and state funding mechanisms coordinated with the Illinois General Assembly and auditing processes aligning with standards used by public institutions across Illinois.