William Rainey Harper College Educational Foundation history

In September 1975, a successful funding referendum was held that allowed the College to proceed with the completion of the Palatine campus.

In 1982, the College established a CAD/CAM training center in cooperation with high technology firms in the area.

In 1988, the College hired its third President, Doctor Paul Thompson, after the retirement of Doctor McGrath.

In 1992, a new Information Systems Division was formed.

In spring 1994, the Liberal Arts building was opened.

On November 7, 2000, the Harper College district residents passed an $88.8 million referendum to build a new facility to house Harper’s growing science, technology, and health care programs.

Construction of Avanté began in fall 2001.

In 2002, the conference center opened and was named the Wojcik Conference Center in recognition of a $1.1 million member initiative grant given to Harper by Illinois State Representative Kay Wojcik.

In 2004, Harper College served a total of 37,338 credit and noncredit students during the summer, fall, and spring terms, making Harper one of the largest community colleges in the country.

In 2009, DoctorKenneth Ender became Harper College’s fifth president.

In 2011, the College approved a new Campus Master Plan.

In 2013, the College broke ground on $38 million in renovations of the Engineering and Technology Center.

In 2015, the College launched the Harper College Promise Scholarship Program.

Major accomplishments in 2017 included the implementation of the assigned advisor case management model to assist students in navigating toward completion and the launch of the University Center, where students can complete a bachelor’s degree without leaving Harper’s campus.

In the fall of 2018, the members of District 512 endorsed the important role Harper plays in the community by voting overwhelmingly in favor of a referendum question to support the College’s campus master plan.

In fall 2019, Harper College welcomed its inaugural cohort of 421 Promise Scholars to campus.