Ever wonder where a community college transformed into Oakton College? It happened right here. Welcome to Oakton College, a beacon of education. Oakton College first opened its doors in 1969. At that time it was known as Oakton Community College. The original campus was in Morton Grove. It occupied former industrial buildings. These buildings stood at Oakton and Nagle.
Fast forward to 1980. Oakton College moved to its current locations in Des Plaines and Skokie. The Morton Grove campus closed. The Skokie campus has an interesting past. It was once Niles East High School. This high school even appeared in films like Sixteen Candles and Risky Business. The school produced two Nobel laureates. However, Oakton College later demolished the old school buildings.
Now, let’s focus on the Des Plaines campus. It is Oakton’s main campus. It sprawls across 147 acres of woodlands and prairie. You will find it between Golf Road and Central Road. The Des Plaines River borders it on the west.
The college building is modern and red-brick. It houses 65 classrooms and 46 educational laboratories. Oakton also offers student services and administrative offices. You will find 19 computer classrooms here. There is also an Automotive Technology Lab and a Performing Arts Center. The William A. Koehnline Museum of Art is also located here. Oakton has a Child Care Center, a teleconferencing center, a gym and a fitness center. A library and bookstore are available too. Approximately 10,000 students are enrolled at the Des Plaines Campus.
In 2015, Oakton College completed a large addition to the Des Plaines campus. This $39 million project added 93,000 square feet. The building now houses health and science classes. It is named the Margaret Burke Lee Science and Health Careers Center. Oakton sought Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. Self-shading windows provide natural light to 75 percent of classrooms.
Oakton’s Skokie campus is known as the Ray Hartstein Campus. It sits in a residential area. The building has 31 classrooms and 12 laboratories. You will also find administrative offices here. Special facilities include a teleconferencing center. There is a distance learning center and a Child Care Center. Oakton provides offices for student activities. The Emeritus Program and English as a Second Language programs are here.
Oakton College offers many courses. You can study accounting and computer science here. Humanities and mathematics courses are also available. Oakton College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
Oakton is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association. Men’s and women’s sports teams compete in various sports. Oakton College has over 50 clubs on campus. There is a Student Government Association and a student newspaper.
In 2023, Oakton Community College officially became Oakton College. This change reflects the college’s mission. The mission is to connect, educate, empower and transform students. Oakton aims to provide students with skills and knowledge. Oakton seeks to foster critical thinking. Oakton College serves many communities. These include Des Plaines, Evanston, and Skokie. It helps students thrive.
Oakton College stands as a testament to education’s power. It empowers students. It transforms communities. Oakton is here to help you chart your path.