Summer & Fall Schedules Now Available

The University Center is comprised of 8 public and 10 private institutions providing bachelor completion, graduate, and advanced professional development programs at multiple sites to those who work or reside in or near Lake County.

More than 80 degrees and program options in business, computer science/information systems, education, engineering, health care and human services, liberal arts and sciences, library and information science, psychology, technology, and training & development are offered.

Students apply to and graduate from an individual college or university offering fully-accredited degrees; academic standards and quality are rigorously maintained by the faculty of each college or university.

Classes are scheduled in a variety of delivery formats that appeal to working non-traditional students: evenings and weekends, face-to-face, online, correspondence, and interactive video.

2006-07 enrollments totaled 5,316 registrations in 766 courses.

1996
The University Center of Lake County was established as the Multi-University in 1996 with 12 member institutions and the University of Illinois serving as managing agent.

1998
The Illinois Board of Higher Education folded the Multi-University operation into the University Center of Lake County.

1999
$25.7 million in county, state and federal funds were identified to build a permanent facility. A site on the Grayslake campus of the College of Lake County was selected and donated by the College of Lake County.

2000
The Illinois Board of Higher Education appointed an independent Governing Board consisting of 5 public community members, 4 representatives of member institutions, a representative of the College of Lake County Board of Trustees, and a student member. Also, planning began for a permanent University Center facility on the College of Lake County Grayslake campus and $1,000,000 was appropriated in 2000.

2001
Founding Executive Director and Dean G. Gary Grace was appointed in August 2001 and initial staff hired in Spring 2002.

2003
Educators’ Center launched in Fall 2003 providing professional development for Lake County’s K-12 teachers.

2004
In cooperation with the College of Lake County, the University Center acquired the building at 1N. Genesee St. in downtown Waukegan and opened a permanent site in the Spring of 2004.

2005
Construction of a 91,146 square foot Grayslake building completed in October 2005, with a formal building dedication ceremony held on October 28, 2005.

2006
Benedictine University was admitted as the University Center’s 18th member institution. The University Center’s second strategic plan was adopted in March of 2006. A Director of Distance Learning Library Services was hired and began providing library services to students and faculty. A Manager of Conference Services & Facilities Marketing was hired and a conference center operation begun.

2007
A Joint Task Force on Collaborative Partnership was established with membership drawn from senior administrative staff at the College of Lake County and from the University Center’s member institutions. A Recruitment Specialist/Advisor was added to the staff. The University Center marked the 10th anniversary of service to the region.