Skip Navigation
HomeAbout CLCWho We AreCLC Timeline

College of Lake County Timeline

1967 to 1979  |   1980 to 1989  |   1990 to 1999  |   2000 to 2009  |   2010 to 2020  |   2021 to Present

1967 to 1979

Photos from 1969-79

1967

  • Referendum passes in October establishing the CLC community college district.
  • First board of trustees elected in December. Forty-one candidates vie for positions on the seven-member board.

1968

  • A. Harold Anderson and Paul W. Brandel donate 181-acre parcel of land for Grayslake Campus.
  • Dr. Richard G. Erzen is named first president; serves until 1978.

1969

  • First classes held on Grayslake Campus on September 25, drawing an enrollment 2,360 students, taking 224 courses. Tuition is $7 per semester hour. Classes are offered in a six-building pre-fabricated complex, constructed at a cost of approximately $1 million.
  • In Fall Semester, CLC has 115 employees, including 80 full-time instructors.
  • Referendum passes in December authorizing construction of a permanent campus.

1970

  • Fall Semester enrollment reaches 4,268 students.

1971

  • CLC is granted "recognized candidate-for-accreditation" status by the North Central Association.
  • Fall Semester enrollment reaches 4,554 students.

1972

  • The college sets a budget of $3.99 million for the 1972-73 year. Seventy percent of the budget goes to cover salaries and benefits.
  • Fall Semester enrollment reaches over 5,013 students.
  • Actress and anti-war activist Jane Fonda speaks at CLC, advocating an end to the Vietnam War.

1973

  • Tuition is raised to $10 per semester hour.
  • Fall Semester enrollment reaches 5,564 students.

1974

  • CLC receives its first five-year accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
  • In February, student Alan Basford is seated as the first student trustee, a nonvoting member.
  • A and B wings are completed on the Grayslake Campus.
  • The board approves a budget of $5.74 million for the 1974-75 fiscal year.
  • Fall semester enrollment is 6,438 students.

1977

  • Fall semester enrollment reaches 11,060 students.

1978

  • Dr. John O. Hunter is appointed president; serves until 1986. Fall semester enrollment is 11,077.
  • CLC opens an outreach center in Waukegan.

Back to top

1980 to 1989

Photos from 1980-89

1980

  • Learning Resource Center is opened on the Grayslake Campus.
  • Fall semester enrollment is 12,441 students.

1981

  • Lakeshore Campus is opened in Waukegan.
  • An educational service center, the forerunner of the Southlake Campus, is opened in Highland Park.
  • Fall semester enrollment is 12,772.

1982

  • Fall semester enrollment reaches 13,089 students.

1986

  • C Wing is opened on the Grayslake Campus.
  • Fall semester enrollment is 11,977.

1987

  • Dr. Daniel J. LaVista is appointed president; serves until 1995.
  • Fall semester enrollment is 12,712.

Back to top

1990 to 1999

Photos from 1990-99

1991

  • Fall semester enrollment reaches 14,131 students; tuition is $36.25 per credit hour.

1995

  • Dr. Gretchen J. Naff named interim president; appointed president in 1996; serves until 2005.
  • Lakeshore Campus expansion is dedicated.
  • Fall semester enrollment is 13,625 students; tuition and fees are $51 per credit hour.

1996

  • D Wing is opened on Grayslake Campus.
  • Fall semester enrollment is 13,573 students; tuition and fees are $51 per credit hour.

1997

  • Performing Arts Building is opened on Grayslake Campus.
  • Fall semester enrollment is 13,671 students; tuition and fees are $52 per credit hour.

1998

  • Property is purchased for Southlake Educational Center in Vernon Hills
  • Fall semester enrollment is 13,783 students; tuition and fees are $53 per credit hour.

1999

  • First building is dedicated at the Southlake Educational Center in Vernon Hills.
  • Fall semester enrollment is 14,036 students; tuition and fees are $54 per credit hour.

Back to top

2000 to 2009

Photos from 2000-2009

2002

  • CLC board approves participating in the Academic Quality Improvement Program, a new accreditation option offered by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
  • Fall semester enrollment is 15,457 students; tuition and fees are $58 per credit hour.

2005

  • Technology Building is dedicated on the Grayslake Campus.
  • Dr. Russell O. Peterson is named interim president; serves until January 2006.
  • Fall semester enrollment is 15,745 students; tuition and fees are $70 per credit hour.

2006

  • Dr. Richard W. Fonte is named president; serves until 2007.
  • Fall semester enrollment is 15,558 students; tuition and fees are $80 per credit hour.

2007

  • New classroom building opens at Southlake Educational Center.
  • Southlake Educational Center is designated as Southlake Campus.
  • James D. Rock is named interim president in September; serves until April 2009.
  • Fall semester enrollment reaches 16,010 students; tuition and fees are $90 per credit hour.

2008

  • Fall semester enrollment reaches 16,359 students; tuition and fees are $95 per credit hour.

2009

  • Dr. Jerry W. Weber becomes president in April; serves until June 2017.
  • Spring semester enrollment reaches 16,987 students; tuition is $95 per credit hour.

Back to top

2010 to 2020

2011

  • Enrollment reaches an all-time high of 18,602 students.

2012

  • Sustainable Campus Master Plan for all three CLC campuses approved by board of trustees.

2013

  • New CLC brand and logo is launched.

2014

  • New CLC website featuring new brand and responsive design is launched.
  • Construction of Sustainable Master Plan components begins with a new roadway on the west side of campus and installation of classroom prototypes.

2015

  • Construction begins on new Science and Engineering Building at Grayslake Campus.

2016

  • Southlake Chemistry Lab Addition is completed. New Café Willow, Student Street and Welcome and One Stop Center open in Grayslake.

2017

  • Dr. Rich Haney named interim president in May; serves until May 2018. Dr. Lori M. Suddick named president in December, with a start date in May 2018.

2018

  • CLC named Bee Campus USA for conservation, educational efforts.
  • CLC named Tree Campus USA for stewardship and educational efforts.
  • Baxter Innovation Lab hosts grand opening.
  • CLC chosen to receive $100K in scholarships funded by Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation.
  • Science and Technology Building dedication.

2019

  • College named Military Friendly ® Silver school.
  • Science & Engineering Building awarded LEED Platinum certification.
  • Police Department becomes first community college department to achieve state accreditation.
  • College celebrates 50th anniversary with 50 free events for the community.
  • College awarded nearly $1M federal grant for STEM education.
  • CLC awarded $1.5M state grant for Transform Lake County.
  • College hosts first Lake County Maker Week with $117K grant from Baxter.

2020

  • College named Military Friendly ® Silver school for the second consecutive year.
  • College launches new apprenticeship program.
  • Prairie restaurant joins Lake County Restaurant Week.
  • CLC receives $100K in scholarships funded by Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation for the second consecutive year.

Back to top

2021 to Present

2021

Back to top