Class of
2021!
The University Partnership program at Lorain County Community College was created 25 years ago with support from a visionary community who recognized the powerful impact raising educational attainment in Lorain County could have on our community and our region. Today, the program has expanded to 15 partner colleges and universities offering more than 100 programs and more than 7,000 graduates.
25 Years of Impact
History of the University Partnership
1993
LCCC’s strategic planning process reveals a need to address the county’s low educational attainment – the lowest within a seven county region and 40 percent lower than the national average
1994
November – LCCC convenes more than 300 community residents as part of the University Center Partnership Plan Summit Conference to develop a plan to bring bachelor’s and master’s degrees to Lorain County December – LCCC’s District Board of Trustees approve the planning recommendations for the University Partnership
1995
Lorain County voters approve the creation of the University Partnership with a 1.2 mil levy
1996
Launched with five colleges and universities delivering 12 bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
1997
Programs expand to include three additional master’s degrees with Kent State University, Cleveland State University, and Ashland University
1998
First class of University Partnership students graduates. University Center building opens on LCCC’s Elyria campus providing a permanent hub for University partners to advise students and hold interactive distance learning classes.
1999-2006
1999-2006 – Programs continue to expand to 27 bachelor’s degrees and 12 master’s degrees
2013
University Partnership Ridge Campus opens in North Ridgeville with state-of-the-art space dedicated to The University of Toledo’s Computer Science and Engineering bachelor’s degree program
2014
Laboratory Science building opens providing full-service lab space for upper level chemistry courses critical to many University Partnership programs
2016
LCCC’s District Board of Trustees unanimously votes to dedicate the University Center in honor of President Emeritus Dr. Roy A. Church’s remarkable leadership and dedication
2018
LCCC becomes the first community college in Ohio to deliver an applied bachelor of science in microelectronic manufacturing
2021
The first three graduates of the applied bachelor of science in microelectronic manufacturing graduate. LCCC’s second applied bachelor of science degree launches (advanced manufacturing/robotics).
SOAR - Success and Opportunity Advancing the Region
Lorain County Community College presents SOAR, an outdoor installation of 2,022 sculpted birds designed to celebrate the college’s commitment to student success and advancing Northeast Ohio through education and career training while highlighting the 25th anniversary of the University Partnership. Visitors can walk around the 200-foot-long installation to view the birds, which are in perpetual kinetic motion, and experience a sensation of being at the starting point of when a flock of birds unites and takes flight. Augmented reality components, designed by LCCC students, create a comprehensive sensory experience.
