Illinois Valley Community College history

The college continues to honor his memory by nominating top students as “McCormack Scholars.” Francis Dolan and R. Earl Trobaugh joined the LPO teaching staff in 1932 and later served as Presidents.

In 1950, the community raised enough money to send LPO’s football team to the Gold Dust Bowl in Vallejo, Cal.

On July 1, 1966, LaSalle-Peru-Oglesby College was given a new name.

21, 1967, District 513 voted 10-1 (20,527 “yes” to 2,189 “no”) in favor of an $8.25 million referendum to finance the beginning of IVCC.

The relocation was possible due to an $8.25 million referendum voted on by members of District 513 to finance the beginning of IVCC. The first courses took place in the new location in September, 1968.

In May 1974, Doctor Alfred E. Wisgoski, an LPO alumnus, was named IVCC’s seventh President, a position he held for 22 years.

The college is supported by a foundation created in 1976 to manage bequests and other financial gifts to the college.

Doctor Jean Goodnow was named IVCC’s eighth President in 1996 and within a year a master plan for facility renovations, new construction and infrastructure upgrades was developed.

In 1998, $4.2 million in Technology Funding Bonds were sold for computer network and telecommunications infrastructure improvements.

In 2000 the college opened a branch campus at Ottawa Center.

In November 2002, IVCC was accepted into the HLC's Academic Quality Improvement Program.

In 2003, IVCC won its third consecutive Arrowhead Conference All-Sports Award.

Doctor Goodnow departed IVCC in June of 2005 for Michigan and Doctor Charles R. Novak was appointed Interim President.

After a nationwide search, Doctor Larry Huffman, former longtime President at Kankakee Community College, was chosen as IVCC’s ninth President beginning in July 2006.

Following Doctor Huffman’s resignation in June 2007, Doctor Dave Louis was appointed Interim President.

Doctor Louis, retired President of Kishwaukee Community College, served IVCC until the board announced the appointment of Doctor Jerome Corcoran as President on March 18, 2008.