Harper College
Encyclopedia
William Rainey Harper College is a comprehensive community college
in Palatine, Illinois
, United States
. The college was established by referendum
in 1965 and opened in September 1967. It is named for Dr. William Rainey Harper, a pioneer in the junior college movement in the United States
and the first president of the University of Chicago
. The current president is Dr. Kenneth Ender.
Harper also offers classes and services at other locations within District 512:
(HOK), Avanté incorporates energy-saving elements using a holistic approach.
of the North Central Association of College and Secondary Schools. Harper is currently seeking permission to offer two bachelor degree programs on a pilot basis: a bachelor degree in Public Safety Administration/Homeland Security and a bachelor degree in Technology Management. These programs are designed for working adult students who already have their associate degree. Offering two vocational bachelor degrees on a pilot basis will not turn Harper College into a four-year university. As in other states, Harper would remain an open-door community college that would offer a few bachelor degree programs in addition to its current offerings.
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
in Palatine, Illinois
Palatine, Illinois
Palatine is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a northwestern residential suburb of Chicago. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 65,479, making it the sixth-largest community in Cook County and the 16th-largest in the state of Illinois at that time...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The college was established by referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
in 1965 and opened in September 1967. It is named for Dr. William Rainey Harper, a pioneer in the junior college movement in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the first president of the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. The current president is Dr. Kenneth Ender.
Location
Harper College has a 200 acres (80.9 ha) campus approximately 25 miles (40.2 km) northwest of downtown Chicago, Illinois in the suburb of Palatine.Harper also offers classes and services at other locations within District 512:
- The Northeast Center (NEC) in Prospect Heights
- The Harper Professional Center (HPC) in Schaumburg
- The Illinois Small Business Development Center (ISBDC) within the Harper Professional Center in Schaumburg
- Harper College works in partnership with the Illinois workNet Center in Arlington Heights.
Architecture
The campus was designed to have an informal layout. The architectural concept uses scale and placement of buildings, multilevel plazas, brick, wood and concrete building materials and glass window walls to give a variety of interior and exterior views. The structures are built into the natural contours of the land, with entrances on several levels. The Avanté Center for Science, Health Careers and Emerging Technologies covers more than 6 acres (2.428 ha) of learning space including 35 laboratories, nine lecture halls, a nursing lab, and a working dental clinic. According to the architects Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum Inc.Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum
HOK is a global architecture, interiors, engineering, planning and consulting firm. HOK is the largest U.S.-based architecture-engineering firm and the "No. 1 role model for sustainable and high-performance design." HOK also is the second-largest interior design firm...
(HOK), Avanté incorporates energy-saving elements using a holistic approach.
Academics
Harper College offers more than 50 transfer options, allowing students to earn their associate degree before transferring to a four-year college or university to complete their bachelor's degree. The college also offers more than 40 career programs which grant an associate degree or certificate and provide the skills necessary to enter the work force. These programs range in length from sixteen weeks to two years.Academic profile
All courses, educational programs, counseling services and distance learning programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning CommissionThe Higher Learning Commission
The Higher Learning Commission is part of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Higher Learning Commission oversees the accreditation of degree-granting colleges and universities in nineteen Midwestern and South-Central states, including Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa,...
of the North Central Association of College and Secondary Schools. Harper is currently seeking permission to offer two bachelor degree programs on a pilot basis: a bachelor degree in Public Safety Administration/Homeland Security and a bachelor degree in Technology Management. These programs are designed for working adult students who already have their associate degree. Offering two vocational bachelor degrees on a pilot basis will not turn Harper College into a four-year university. As in other states, Harper would remain an open-door community college that would offer a few bachelor degree programs in addition to its current offerings.
Communities served
Harper College District 512 comprises these communities: Arlington Heights, Barrington, Barrington Hills, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Inverness, Lake Barrington, Mount Prospect, North Barrington, Palatine, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg, South Barrington, Tower Lakes, Wheeling and portions of Buffalo Grove, Carpentersville, Deer Park, Des Plaines, Fox River Grove, Hanover Park and Roselle.Football
- Harper College's football team competes in the Midwest Football ConferenceMidwest Football Conference (NJCAA)The Midwest Football Conference is a football conference for NJCAA teams located in the midwest United States. It was formed when the North Central Community College Conference merged with the Iowa Conference in 2005.-Current members:East division...
. - Coach John Eliasik, NJCAA Region IV Hall of Fame started the football program in 1971 and was Harper's head coach until retiring in 2005. During his tenure, he coached 249 victories and influenced 400 players who transferred to four-year schools. He retired after 35 seasons as the head coach with the most wins in NJCAA history.
- Quincy BlackQuincy BlackQuincy Booker Black , is a linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He attended the University of New Mexico.-High school career:Black attended Kenwood Academy High School in Chicago, where he played linebacker...
, linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2007–present).http://www.buccaneers.com/team/playerdetail.aspx?player=Black,Quincy,58 In 2003, Black attended Harper College and played for the Hawks making 88 tackles, 28 TFL, and 16.5 sacks.
Wrestling
- Coach Dan Loprieno inducted in 2008 to the NJCAA Region IV Hall of Fame.
- NJCAA 2010 Wrestling Champions
- NJCAA Division III National Champions in 2006 and 2001. The 2006-07 team finished second in the nation, earned fifth consecutive district title and had 10 National qualifiers and seven All-Americans.
Notable alumni
- Mauro FioreMauro FioreMauro Fiore is an Italian-American cinematographer.He was born in Marzi, Calabria and moved to the US with his family in 1971.He attended Palatine High School in Palatine, Illinois, and graduated in 1982. He went on to receive his B.A...
, class of 1984, CinematographerCinematographerA cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
In 2010, Fiore won the Academy-Award for Cinematography for the movie "Avatar." - E. E. KnightE. E. KnightE. E. Knight is the pen name for a science fiction and fantasy writer, born in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He grew up in Stillwater, Minnesota and now resides in Oak Park, Illinois with his wife, newborn daughter and young son....
, class of 1985, science fictionScience fictionScience fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and fantasyFantasyFantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
author - John LoprienoJohn LoprienoJohn A. Loprieno is an American actor and writer.With appearances on the soap operas Search for Tomorrow and As the World Turns, he is best known for his role as Cord Roberts on the ABC soap opera, One Life to Live....
, class of 1980: actor, writer, director - Marlee MatlinMarlee MatlinMarlee Bethany Matlin is an American actress. She is the only deaf actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, which she won for Children of a Lesser God. Her work in film and television has resulted in a Golden Globe award, with two additional nominations, and four Emmy...
, actress. In 1986 she won both the Academy Award for Best Actress and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama, for her role in Children of a Lesser GodChildren of a Lesser GodChildren of a Lesser God is a 1986 American romantic drama film directed by Randa Haines and written by Hesper Anderson and Mark Medoff. An adaptation of Medoff's Tony Award-winning stage play of the same name, the film stars William Hurt and Marlee Matlin as two employees at a school for the deaf:...
. - Quincy BlackQuincy BlackQuincy Booker Black , is a linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He attended the University of New Mexico.-High school career:Black attended Kenwood Academy High School in Chicago, where he played linebacker...
, linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers