Ready to uncover the history of Inver Hills Community College? Inver Hills Community College, founded in 1970, stands as a testament to accessible education in the Twin Cities area. It is located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.
Inver Hills Community College started to meet the demand for post-secondary education. Specifically in the southeast metro area of the Twin Cities. Originally named Inver Hills State Junior College, it transitioned to Inver Hills Community College in 1973.
Dakota County purchased 97 acres of land for Inver Hills in 1966. The largest plat belonged to Alfred and Edith Kromschroeder. It was their 79-acre farm.
Dr. Art Gessner, the first president, named the college. He combined Inver Grove Heights with the site’s rolling terrain.
Classes first began in leased space at Hilltop Elementary School. Then, in September 1970, classes moved to the new building, now the library. In its first year, the college opened with approximately 400 full and part time students. The college opened with 18 original faculty members who were known as the Magnificent Eighteen.
The campus design features a unified collegiate look. The first six buildings, constructed between 1970 and 1979, form the core. Additional buildings have been added to meet the college’s growing needs. The architectural firm Berstedt, Walberg, Bergquist and Rohkohl developed the master plan. The firm won an Award of Merit for the design.
In 1990, disaster struck when a fire devastated the College Center building. Over 100 firefighters battled the blaze for nine hours. The fire caused more than $2 million in damage.
Inver Hills has expanded its offerings over the years. Career programs were added in 1972. These included accounting, human services, and law enforcement. Nursing courses started in 1974. Aviation degrees were introduced in the 1980s.
The Inver Hills Community College has contributed issues of The Forum to the Minnesota Digital Library. The Forum was the student newspaper of the college, published from October 1970 to April 2005.
Inver Hills Community College is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System since 1995. The college’s motto is: Where all students belong. Today, Inver Hills Community College continues to thrive. It serves over 4,000 students per semester. The college offers 27 degree associate programs in liberal education. As well as career-related degrees. Inver Hills Community College stands as a pillar of education. Its history reflects a commitment to serving its community.