Parkland College

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Parkland College


Established	1966
Type	Public
President	Robert Exley, Ph.D.
Vice President	Thomas R. Ramage. Ed. D.
Faculty	188
Undergraduates	10,500+
Location	Champaign, Illinois
Campus	233 acres
Colors	Green and Gold
Mascot	Cobras
Website	www.parkland.edu

Parkland College is a community college located in Champaign, Illinois. It was established in 1966. William M. Staerkel was the first president in October, 1966.

1 History
2 Buildings
3 Misc
4 College Presidents
5 Theater, Planetarium, and Art Gallery
6 Student Organizations
7 External links

[edit] History

Parkland College is a public community college established to serve the needs of District 505 in vocational-technical and academic education. The establishment of the college was authorized by the 74th General Assembly in June of 1965 with the passage of House Bill No. 1710, better known as the Public Community College Act. This bill created the guidelines for the formation of such institutions throughout the state of Illinois.

A steering committee composed of 54 citizens and area school officials worked diligently to promote the passage of the approving referendum. The final result of this effort was a college district covering one of the largest geographic areas in the state. It now includes more than 2,908 square miles, contains 55 communities with approximately 244,000 inhabitants, and serves 25 high school districts in 12 counties. The committee envisioned a college that would offer a comprehensive program based on the needs of the communities it would serve. The program would include courses in liberal arts and sciences, general education, continuing education, and courses in occupational, technical, and semi-professional fields.

Parkland College was founded on March 12, 1966, when voters overwhelmingly approved the referendum to establish Junior College District 505. A seven-member board of trustees was elected in April, one month after the college district proposal was approved. The board held its first meeting in May 1966 to organize and establish regular meeting times. Its seven members then set down the principles around which the college would be built. The board is responsible for the adoption and enforcement of all policies needed to manage and govern the college.

Dr. William M. Staerkel assumed his duties as Parkland’s first president in January 1967. That spring, the name Parkland College was adopted by the board. In September 1967, 1,338 students registered for Parkland’s first classes, which were taught in temporary, rented facilities in downtown Champaign.

Construction of the permanent campus began after voters approved a $7.5 million bond referendum in 1968. The permanent campus opened in fall 1973.

[edit] Buildings

The Physical Education Building was completed in January 1976. Parkland’s playing fields, including a 400-meter running track, baseball and softball diamonds, and tennis courts, were completed in 1980. The South Building was completed in January 1983. The A Wing, which contains administrative offices and classrooms, was completed in 1984. Parkland’s Theatre and the William M. Staerkel Planetarium were completed in 1987. The Child Development Center was completed in 1995. The D Wing was completed in January 2002.

The planetarium was named in honor of Parkland’s founding president, William M. Staerkel, who retired in 1987 with the distinguished title of president emeritus (Staerkel Planetarium).

[edit] Misc

Dr. Harris was successful in leading passage of a tax transfer referendum; introducing a team leadership/collaborative style of management; establishing new initiatives such as a retention program; expanding international education; implementing operational planning; and leading support for the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. In addition to her work at Parkland, Dr. Harris has served on the board of the American Association of Community Colleges and on the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Dr. Harris retired on June 30, 2006.

[edit] College Presidents

Dr. William M. Staerkel: College founding to June 30, 1987
Dr. Paul J. Magelli: July 1, 1987 - September 14, 1989
Dr. Robert Poorman: September 15, 1989 - June 30, 1990 (interim president)
Dr. Zelema Harris: July 1, 1990 - June 30, 2006
Dr. Robert Exley: July 1, 2006 - Present

[edit] Theater, Planetarium, and Art Gallery

The Parkland Theatre and Planetarium are two spetacular points of interest in Parkland, and houses many shows each year. Additionally, the college houses the Parkland Art Gallery, founded in 1981. The Gallery's exhibitions and educational programs are offered free of charge to the public. Each year through its programs of exhibitions, the Gallery seeks to promote the development of artists talent and aesthetic awareness while at the same time expanding the audience's appreciation of various art forms. Exhibits are selected to illustrate a wide range of traditional and innovative work, recognized and new talent, proven forms and fresh ones. The Gallery displays work by contemporary artists of regional and national status.

[edit] Student Organizations

Parkland College has many student organizations to meet the extracurricular needs of the college, including several national organizations and fraternities.

Alpha Phi Omega - National Service Fraternity (Prospect Group)
Black Student Association
College Democrats
College Republicans
Phi Alpha Chi - Agricultural club
Phi Beta Lambda - Business club
Phi Theta Kappa - National Honor Society for Two-Year Colleges (Alpha Psi Eta chapter)
Rotaract
Student American Dental Hygenists' Association
Women in Computer Science and Information Technology