Parkland College
Encyclopedia
Parkland College is a is a two-year community college in Champaign, Illinois, a member of the Illinois Community College System
serving Community College District 505. District 505 includes all of Ford County, and parts of Coles
, Champaign
, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar
, Iroquois
, Livingston
, Moultrie, McLean
and Vermilion
Counties.
Located at 2400 W. Bradley Avenue in the city's northwest corner, Parkland's 255-acre main campus is centrally accessible to the 54 communities it serves. It lies in close proximity to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Its off-campus locations for instruction include Parkland College on Mattis at 1307-1319 N. Mattis Avenue, and the Collision Repair Training Center at 31 E. Kenyon Road, both in Champaign.
Parkland College has been accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
, Higher Learning Commission, since 1972. Its seven-member Board of Trustees is elected by the residents of the district, with each trustee serving a six-year term. The board provides local control and direction for the college, operating in accordance with Parkland's established Policies and Procedures.
The college lists as its mission "to engage the community in learning."
Today, approximately 20,000 students enroll in Parkland College credit and noncredit courses annually. More than 100 degree and certificate programs of study are available, leading students to career and job placement or to educational transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Students also take advantage of Parkland's distance education in the form of online courses and interactive telecourses.
To assist students with success in college, Parkland provides numerous academic support services and resources. Its Center for Academic Success (CAS), a one-stop learning center, offers peer tutoring, a writing lab, math faculty tutoring, an academic development lab for students requiring pre-college-level coursework, developmental learning modules, and study skills tutorials. The Parkland College library holds a collection of over 120,000 volumes; its materials respond to college curricular/academic program needs as well as to the personal enrichment and lifelong learning needs of the college communities.
Parkland students also take part in extramural team sports under the mascot Cobras, including baseball, softball, volleyball, men's and women’s basketball, golf, men's and women's soccer, cheerleading, and dance. A Division II (Division I Soccer) member of the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association, the Parkland Cobras mark the following accomplishments:
Illinois Community College System
The Illinois Community College System consists of 39 public community college districts, composed of 48 community colleges and one multi-college center where 3 of the community colleges offer additional classes...
serving Community College District 505. District 505 includes all of Ford County, and parts of Coles
Coles County, Illinois
Coles County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 53,873, which is an increase of 1.3% from 53,196 in 2000. Its county seat is Charleston, which is also the home of Eastern Illinois University....
, Champaign
Champaign County, Illinois
Champaign County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 201,081, which is an increase of 11.9% from 179,669 in 2000.. It is the 10th most populous county in Illinois...
, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar
Edgar County, Illinois
Edgar County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 18,576, which is a decrease of 5.7% from 19,704 in 2000...
, Iroquois
Iroquois County, Illinois
Iroquois County is a county located in the northeast part of the U.S. state of Illinois along the border with Indiana. It is the third largest county in the state in terms of area, covering over . According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 29,718, which is a decrease of 5.2% from 31,334...
, Livingston
Livingston County, Illinois
Livingston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 38,950, which is a decrease of 1.8% from 39,678 in 2000. Its county seat is Pontiac....
, Moultrie, McLean
McLean County, Illinois
McLean County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. McLean County is included in the Bloomington–Normal, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 169,572, which is an increase of 12.7% from 150,433 in 2000. Its county seat is...
and Vermilion
Vermilion County, Illinois
Vermilion County is a county located in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Illinois, between the Indiana border and Champaign County. It was established in 1826 and was the 45th of Illinois' 102 counties...
Counties.
Campus
Located at 2400 W. Bradley Avenue in the city's northwest corner, Parkland's 255-acre main campus is centrally accessible to the 54 communities it serves. It lies in close proximity to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Its off-campus locations for instruction include Parkland College on Mattis at 1307-1319 N. Mattis Avenue, and the Collision Repair Training Center at 31 E. Kenyon Road, both in Champaign.
History and Mission
Bolstered with state support from the Illinois Public Junior College Act of 1965, "Illinois Junior College District 505" was established in March 1966 by a referendum of residents from incorporated and unincorporated areas surrounding Champaign-Urbana. The college was renamed Parkland Community College in 1967 before its first fall semester classes began. William M. Staerkel was Parkland's first president, serving the college from 1967 to 1987. While the first classes were held at temporary sites in downtown Champaign, the school's permanent campus opened in fall 1973.Parkland College has been accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools , also known as the North Central Association, is a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states, that is engaged in educational accreditation...
, Higher Learning Commission, since 1972. Its seven-member Board of Trustees is elected by the residents of the district, with each trustee serving a six-year term. The board provides local control and direction for the college, operating in accordance with Parkland's established Policies and Procedures.
The college lists as its mission "to engage the community in learning."
Academics
Parkland College confers the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Fine Arts, Associate in Engineering Science, Associate in Applied Science, and Associate in General Studies degrees.Today, approximately 20,000 students enroll in Parkland College credit and noncredit courses annually. More than 100 degree and certificate programs of study are available, leading students to career and job placement or to educational transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Students also take advantage of Parkland's distance education in the form of online courses and interactive telecourses.
To assist students with success in college, Parkland provides numerous academic support services and resources. Its Center for Academic Success (CAS), a one-stop learning center, offers peer tutoring, a writing lab, math faculty tutoring, an academic development lab for students requiring pre-college-level coursework, developmental learning modules, and study skills tutorials. The Parkland College library holds a collection of over 120,000 volumes; its materials respond to college curricular/academic program needs as well as to the personal enrichment and lifelong learning needs of the college communities.
Culture and Community
Parkland's cultural center contains a 320-seat performing arts theater and a 50-foot dome planetarium. The Parkland Art Gallery, Parkland Theatre, and the William M. Staerkel Planetarium offer free or affordable performances, programs, and exhibits year-round to campus and community members. Parkland's radio station is WPCD, 88.7 FM. It also has a cable channel, PCTV, that airs cultural/educational and classic shows, as well as a student-run newspaper, the Prospectus. The college's state-licensed Child Development Center works with preschoolers and serves community residents and Parkland students, faculty, and staff.Student Clubs and Athletics
More than 40 campus clubs and organizations at Parkland provide students with opportunities for volunteerism, leadership development, and camaraderie. While many of these are organized based on academic fields, such as the French Club, Parkland Motorsports, and the Pre-Law Club, diversity is rich among the established clubs, with groups among them such as the International Students Association, the Japanese Culture Club, Black Student Association, Brother to Brother, Club Latino, Muslim Student Association, Parkland Christian Fellowship, and Queer & Ally.Parkland students also take part in extramural team sports under the mascot Cobras, including baseball, softball, volleyball, men's and women’s basketball, golf, men's and women's soccer, cheerleading, and dance. A Division II (Division I Soccer) member of the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association, the Parkland Cobras mark the following accomplishments:
- NJCAA Baseball Champions, 2009 and 2002
- NJCAA Women's Volleyball Champions, 1999
- NJCAA Men's Basketball Champions, 1986
- NJCAA National Tournament Qualifiers since 2006: Baseball, Golf, Softball, Volleyball, Women's Basketball)
Notable Alumni
- Bonnie BlairBonnie BlairBonnie Kathleen Blair is a retired American speedskater. She is one of the top skaters of her time, and one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history. Blair competed for the United States in four Olympics, and in her Olympic career won five gold medals and one bronze medal.-Career:Blair...
– Five-time U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist, Speedskating - Shane Hearns – U.S. Olympian, Baseball (2000)
- David PatrickDavid Patrick (athlete)David Patrick is a retired American hurdler. He ran the 400 metres hurdles in the 1992 Summer Olympics and was the second American in the final, which was won by Kevin Young while setting the still standing current world record in the event.Patrick is the husband of Sandra Farmer-Patrick, who was...
– Gold Medalist, 400-meter hurdle, IAAF World Cup; U.S. Olympian (1992)