The college’s philosophy is that education is the cornerstone of a literate, democratic society; learning is a lifelong process; and the pursuit of knowledge must be supported by institutional policies demonstrating accessibility, service, quality, innovation and value.

On Feb. 1, 1967, the college’s first president assumed his duties and began the rigorous task of assembling a staff, developing a multilevel curriculum and locating temporary facilities for the approaching academic year.

But before finding a home, the college needed to find a name, and it got one in March of 1967 as a result of a district-wide contest. Susan Miller, of Aurora, and Patricia Ann Dillon, of Batavia, both submitted winning entries from more than 600 suggestions. Waubonsee, meaning “early dawn” or “early day,” was a Pottawatomie Native American chief who lived in the Fox River Valley during the 1800s.

Waubonsee Community College soon found its own home in the Fox Valley and, using these temporary facilities, opened its doors for classes on Sept. 11, 1967. The school’s initial enrollment of 1,603 students-- 403 full time and 1,200 part time--has grown steadily since that time, with the college currently serving more than 10,000 students each semester.

A successful bond referendum in December 1967 enabled the college to plan a permanent campus on a 243-acre tract of land north of Sugar Grove on Route 47. Facilities there now include nine permanent buildings with 117 classrooms, several conference rooms, library, teleconferencing facilities, specialized laboratories, student lounge, bookstore, childcare center, cafeteria, observatory, 375-seat auditorium, gymnasium, 120-workstation computer center, fitness center and two-mile nature trail.

In 1986, Waubonsee opened the campus in downtown Aurora. At the corner of Galena Boulevard and Stolp Avenue, the three-story facility includes 33 classrooms, teleconferencing facilities, computer laboratories, conference center, student lounge, childcare center, bookstore and access to library facilities. The Aurora campus also houses the college's Business Services and Continuing and Professional Education departments, as well as the Small Business Development Center.

Waubonsee established another major extension center in January 1997 on the Rush-Copley Medical Center campus, adjacent to Route 34 in far east Aurora. The two-story Copley Campus features eight classrooms, computer lab and student lounge, and provides student services such as registration, counseling, advising, assessment, and access to library resources. College credit courses, community education programs and training for business and industry are held there.

Responding to community needs, the college also uses facilities in many communities as extension site locations. At these nearly 40 sites, Waubonsee provides college credit courses, seminars for business and industry, workshops for personal enrichment, and programs for youth.

Delivery of instruction across the district has also expanded through distance learning and the college’s video conferencing system. This innovative system links Waubonsee’s three academic sites, two area high schools and the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy via a two-way interactive microwave network. Using fiber optics, the network also includes Judson College, Kishwaukee College, and McHenry County College, thus enhancing the academic programs offered by Waubonsee and the Fox Valley Educational Alliance (FVEA).

Waubonsee is a founding member of the Illinois Virtual Campus (IVC) and also provides courses to students statewide through Illinois Community Colleges Online (ILCCO). Waubonsee has the distinction of being an ILCCO grant recipient naming Waubonsee as the host institution and college responsible for the development and operation of the ILCCO Learning Academy. The Learning Academy provides training and support for Illinois community college educators in the development, design and delivery of online courses. Waubonsee offers more than 100 online courses and is one of a handful of higher education institutions in Illinois to offer fully-accredited associate degrees to students in a distance learning format.

The year 2002 marked the college’s 35th year of changing lives and saw the registration of its 200,000th student.

During the 2002-2003 academic year, the board of trustees adopted the 2020 College Master Plan that outlines educational facilities necessary to meet the needs of students now and into the future. These facilities are being funded by the successful passage of two referendums that provide $67 million in bond funds to build and equip new instructional and student facilities and provide a five-cent increase in the college’s operations and maintenance tax levy to operate all campus facilities.

As Waubonsee grows, its primary focus will continue to be quality teaching and learning. The college recently chose to reaffirm its accreditation from The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools through participation in the Academic Quality Improvement Project (AQIP). The AQIP reaccreditation process fosters a culture of continuous review and self-assessment, focusing on action projects that, once completed, will improve the institution. One such action project is Waubonsee's new Learning First! initiative, which is a journey to create a more learning-centered college.