McHenry County College history

In September 1968 classes were held for the first time for 312 full-time and 1045 part-time students at a rented oil company in Crystal Lake.

In 1974 construction began on new facilities at its present 68-acre site, known at the time as Weber Farm.

In September 1975, MCC occupied the Applied Science building.

By May 1976, MCC vacated its original campus and made its move to the Main Hall Building on MCC's new campus.

An addition was built in 1980 for the multi-purpose room.

A referendum passed on November 8, 1988, allowed McHenry County College to continue to grow.

With the 1990 acquisition of 44 additional acres for the College campus, preliminary discussions with the Illinois Community College Board officials regarding a state-funded building began.

Construction completed in 1991, which now serves approximately 16,500 students annually, resulted in an addition of 96,000 square feet Conference Center, offices, dining facilities, Children's Learning Center, and bookstore.

In 2003, Building A was expanded and now houses the majority of student services offices as well as the testing center, Sage Learning Center, human resources and the College's Sustainability Center.

In March 2008, trustees voted unanimously to purchase 57 adjacent acres known as the Gilger property.

In June 2014, the Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN) awarded MCC a $250,000 grant to go towards a 91 kW solar photovoltaic installation at MCC's Shah Center in McHenry.