Harper College and other community colleges have renewed a long-sought plan to offer four-year bachelor’s degrees in select fields, but the effort has again stalled in Springfield amid opposition from universities.
The Palatine-based school first lobbied legislators in 2003 under then-President Robert Breuder, and tried again in 2009 and 2014. Now it is making another push with President Avis Proctor at the helm. She helped develop baccalaureate degree programs when she worked at a community college in Florida—one of 24 states that such schools to offer four-year degrees.
“This is not an attempt for community colleges to become four-year institutions and offer psychology or humanities bachelor’s degrees. This is really tied to workforce needs, such as nursing, manufacturing and early child education,” Proctor said during a recent interview with the Daily Herald Editorial Board.
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