Illinois' Community College System Celebrates 40th Anniversary

The legislation that created the Illinois' Community College System was signed into law 40 years ago, on July 15, 1965, to be exact. In celebration of this historic occasion, Governor Rod Blagojevich issued a proclamation honoring the system, to be presented to all of the community colleges in Illinois. Elliot Regenstein, Governor's Office Director of Education Reform, presented the proclamation to the President of Shawnee Community College, along with the presidents from John A. Logan College, Southeastern Illinois College, and Rend Lake College. Geoffrey Obrzut, President and CEO of the Illinois Community College Board, and Guy Alongi, Chairman of the Illinois Community College Board were also in attendance and made comments.

"We now have an extraordinary statewide system of community colleges," said Regenstein. "Governor Blagojevich is proud of the success of the community college system, and appreciates the critical role community colleges play in the life of their communities."

Governor Otto Kerner signed into law the Illinois Junior College Act in 1965. The Act brought the existing junior colleges under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Junior College Board rather than the common school system. The Act also made local and state financial support for junior college attendance applicable to all Illinois residents.

Obrzut, a product of an Illinois community college, said "The Illinois Community College System is widely regarded as the finest system in the nation. Community colleges are truly a revolution in Higher Education, and that revolution continues to flourish at all our 48 Illinois colleges today."