Waubonsee is proud to be the community college for District 516, providing high-quality, low-cost educational opportunities to our residents — and your constituents. To keep up with all that's happening here at Waubonsee, we'll provide key updates on this one page; giving details on appropriation requests; highlighting key educational and legislative topics; and sharing stories about our accessible, equitable, and innovative efforts.
Strategic Plan
RISE 2030 is a commitment to continuing Waubonsee’s tradition of excellence while redefining and reinvigorating its position as The Community’s College. The culmination of an inclusive process that gathered input from our employees, students, and community, RISE 2030 will guide the college’s work for the next five years. The priorities and goals in the plan are reflective of the changing landscape of higher education and the evolving needs of our community. With this new plan, Waubonsee will lead the way into the future – rising to meet new opportunities and further lighting the way for our students.
Accessible
Affordability: A year at Waubonsee saves area students 60-80% compared to four-year schools. We're also proud to be low-cost compared to other community colleges in the state; our $149/credit hour in tuition and fees for 2025-26 is below the state average of $160. Put another way, local students can complete their full associate degree/get halfway to their bachelor's degree for less than $9k -- even without factoring in scholarships and financial aid.
Support for All Students: To help improve the educational experience and career prospects of underserved populations, including the 42% of our district adults who hold less than an associate degree, Waubonsee has submitted a Federal Community Project Funding Request to repurpose campus spaces to better support the holistic wellness needs of student parents.
Economic Growth and Opportunities: Thanks to a $100k Non-Credit Workforce Training Grant from the Illinois Community College Board, Waubonsee will be helping out area small businesses — offering its popular Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Business Growth Academy in Spanish for the first time, along with developing and offering an entrepreneurial training program in English and Spanish.
Equitable
Peer Support Program
As we look at equity and populations that may be underserved, we have to consider those dealing with mental health issues – and the stigma that is just now easing. But a great way to destigmatize anything, especially for college students, is to get peers involved. That’s what makes Waubonsee’s Peer Support Program so special, and successful. The team consists of a licensed mental health Counselor and certified Peer Support Leaders who are trained to offer basic mental health and wellness support, along with stress management techniques. These students will make referrals to additional resources and/or Waubonsee Counselors when necessary, along with maintaining an online course shell filled with mental health information and wellness skill tips.
Meet our peer support leaders:
Achieving the Dream
It is with real excitement that we announce our 2024 entry into Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national, leading higher education reform network of more than 300 community colleges. ATD’s vision is for every college to be a catalyst for equitable, antiracist, and economically vibrant communities. Waubonsee is one of just eight schools in this year’s cohort.
Proud to Be a Hispanic Serving Institution
In celebration of National Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) week this September, Waubonsee President Dr. Brian Knetl was proud to be part of a video explaining the college’s HSI designation and the many resources available through the Latinx Resource Center and Title V grant.
Innovative
To help continue driving the local workforce forward, Waubonsee will open its new Technical Education Center (TEC) in August 2025. The center is a 100k-square-foot building on the Sugar Grove Campus that will house our Auto Body Repair, Automotive Technology and Welding Technology programs.
National Science Foundation Grant
The Waubonsee Water Ways: Building Pathways to Careers in the Water Sector project has been awarded a $350,000 National Science Foundation Grant! Through this project, the college has created a water technician certificate, with the ultimate goal of addressing current and emergent water/wastewater workforce needs nationally and in northern Illinois. The project will place special emphasis on providing opportunities for underrepresented and racial/ethnic minority students.
Aviation on the Runway
REVV Aviation is located just down the street from the college’s Sugar Grove Campus at the Aurora Municipal Airport. In addition to being a great neighbor, we think they would be a great partner as we look to help meet the need for qualified Aviation Maintenance Technicians in .the region. We’re hoping to be “wheels up” on this partnership and program very soon.
Appropriation/Capital Funding Requests
While much work is already being done to enhance our current educational programs and add additional ones to meet area demands, there is always more to do as the community’s college. To help support us in that work, we would like you to be aware of appropriation and capital funding requests:
- Fund the development of an additive manufacturing program that will expand future employment opportunities for students and strengthen the area’s manufacturing base.
- Help revolutionize STEM education for WCC students by integrating augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies into classroom instruction. Funds will be used to develop educational content and train faculty on how to best incorporate this transformational technology into their teaching. AR/VR offers immersive learning experiences that can enhance comprehension, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
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Education to Career Center – Aurora Downtown Campus
Waubonsee seeks to remodel its Aurora Downtown Campus to cultivate a deeper sense of welcome and belonging from the moment students and visitors step on campus, while addressing critical academic, socioeconomic, and wellness needs through centralized, wraparound services. The center will play a pivotal role in improving access, persistence, and success. This reconfiguration will improve the flow of student services, wayfinding and access. -
Community Wellness Center – Aurora Downtown Campus
This new collaborative resource space would promote mental, emotional, and physical well-being for students and community members by facilitating access to holistic health services and resources throughout the district. The goal is to support the whole person (academically, socially, and emotionally) through intentional, inclusive, and accessible services that empower students to thrive within and beyond the college setting.
Contact
Dr. Toya Webb
Chief of Staff and Vice President of Strategy
twebb@waubonsee.edu
(630) 466-6830
