Prairie State College
Prairie State College serves a large group of people because it is the only college operated by the Illinois Community College District 515. The school is well-known for being the first community college in Illinois that guaranteed that all credits would transfer to other Illinois schools. With an emphasis on adult, corporate, and continuing education, Prairie State College is a great resource for many life-long learners.
History
When the school was first established in 1957, it was known as Bloom Township Junior College. Classes began in 1958 and were held in the basement of a local church. In 1967, the school reorganized in order to meet the requirements for being a Class I junior college. Construction on the current site was initiated in 1972 as the beginning of a long line of renovations and additions. For instance, a vocational-technical facility was added in 1979 to expand the offerings of the school. Prairie State College then introduced several new structures in 1996, including the Christopher Art Gallery, a new library, and the Community Instructional Center. In 1998, the school debuted a satellite site known as the Matteson Area Center. The year 2000 saw the construction of a new Health-Tech Center....
Grove City College Department of Education Factsheet
Prairie State College Chicago School Review
1. Prairie State College – Chicago School Review
http://chicagoschoolreviews.com/prairie-state-college-chicago-school-review/
Prairie State College serves a large group of people because it is the only college operated by the
Illinois Community College District 515. The school is well-known for being the first community
college in Illinois that guaranteed that all credits would transfer to other Illinois schools. With an
emphasis on adult, corporate, and continuing education, Prairie State College is a great resource for
many life-long learners.
History
When the school was first established in 1957, it was known as Bloom Township Junior College.
Classes began in 1958 and were held in the basement of a local church. In 1967, the school
reorganized in order to meet the requirements for being a Class I junior college. Construction on
the current site was initiated in 1972 as the beginning of a long line of renovations and additions. For
instance, a vocational-technical facility was added in 1979 to expand the offerings of the school.
Prairie State College then introduced several new structures in 1996, including the Christopher Art
Gallery, a new library, and the Community Instructional Center. In 1998, the school debuted a
satellite site known as the Matteson Area Center. The year 2000 saw the construction of a new
Health-Tech Center.
Facts
Prairie State College’s primary campus is based on either side of Vollmer Road. North of Vollmer
Road, students can access the Child Care Center, the Tech/Health Center, the quarters of adult
education classes, basic education classes, GED classes, and the Physical Plant. South of Vollmer
Road, students find the main building, which houses office, student services, classrooms, and
laboratories. These impressive facilities welcome around 12,000 students annually, many of whom
are pursuing Associate’s degrees that will transfer to 4-year colleges. In order to accommodate the
vast number of students, Prairie State College offers day, night, weekend, and online classes to fit
any schedule. With over a hundred fields of study, most people can find plenty of exciting courses.
There is also a thriving student life that includes many clubs, such as the Black Student Union, a
chess club, an art club, and a nursing club. Students can even participate in sports, including
basketball, cheerleading, soccer, cross country, and volleyball.
Location
Located in Chicago Heights, Illinois, Prairie State College is about 30 miles south of downtown
Chicago. The main campus is situated at the intersection of South Halsted Street and Vollmer Road.
Reviews
Most students agree that Prairie State College is a reputable place to get general education
requirements out of the way before attending a 4-year college. Clearly, the community college is not
going to be as challenging or intellectually stimulating as a university, but the classes offer solid
instruction. One of the primary complaints, however, is that it can be challenging to enroll in the
classes that you need to graduate because they may not be offered every semester.
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