Waubonsee Community College - Sugar Grove Campus history

Just a few months later, in December 1967, a successful bond referendum allowed the college to begin planning its first permanent campus.

However, the Waubonsee Acting Company (WAACO) was formed later, in October 1968.

1970 — With the resignation of Doctor James H. Nelson, Waubonsee’s founding president, to take effect Sept.

1974 — Peter Landesman of Aurora is named the first Student Trustee on the Board.

1978 — The Waubonsee Community College Foundation is formed.

In 1981 it was named after Dale Von Ohlen who was chairman of the college’s first board of trustees and continued to serve on it for the next 16 years.

In 1982, the Interpreter Training Program performed a show that incorporated song, dance, comedy skits, and sign language called “Running, Jumping, Standing Still.”

1983 — Workforce Development programs are launched to benefit local business and industry.

In 1985, the Virgil Gilman Nature Trail joined onto Waubonsee's nature trail.

In 1986, Waubonsee opened a second campus in downtown Aurora.

In the fall of 1988 Waubonsee launched the Telecommunications Instructional Consortium (TIC) which allowed instructors to teach to one or more remote sites while simultaneously lecturing face-to-face to a group of students.

1989 — The Foundation holds its first annual golf outing to benefit student scholarships.

1991 — Waubonsee celebrates 25 years of service to more than 100,000 students.

Waubonsee established another major extension center in January 1997 on the Rush-Copley Medical Center campus, adjacent to Route 34 in far east Aurora.

1998 — Students attend classes via the internet for the first time.

1999 — Waubonsee is recognized as a founding partner of the Illinois Virtual Campus.

2001 — The "Fast Track" accelerated degree program is introduced allowing students to graduate in less than two years.

Waubonsee registered its 200,000th student in 2002, the year of its 35th anniversary.

2006 — Property acquistion completed for new downtown Aurora Campus.

The Waubonsee Community College Archives Center was established in 2009 to chronicle and care for our institutional memories.

The campus opened in 2011, has improved parking, more classroom space, and a riverfront view of the island and the other shore.

2014 — Waubonsee received its first Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for our FY2014 budget from the Government Finance Officers Association.

Renovated and renamed the Aurora Fox Valley Campus in summer 2016, it houses the college's health care programs, in addition to offering general education courses and comprehensive student services.