Northern Illinois University (NIU) is entering into an exciting new partnership with MCC.
Through the partnership, MCC students and community members across McHenry County will be able to complete NIU coursework in psychology, business administration, computer science, health sciences, and early childhood education at the recently announced University Center at MCC in Woodstock, IL.
The pathway from MCC to NIU has already been well-worn. MCC serves as one of NIU’s largest feeder institutions. Additionally, MCC is a longstanding partner with NIU on a shared vision for providing a smooth transfer experience and bachelor’s-degree completion. The University Center at MCC simply removes additional barriers from this journey.
“We’re proud to support McHenry County College in its efforts to remove the sometimes-overwhelming barrier of having to commute or relocate to pursue a bachelor’s degree,” Northern Illinois University President Dr. Lisa C. Freeman said. “This partnership leverages the advantages and expertise of both of our institutions. We are excited about bringing high-demand NIU courses to place-bound learners who can’t easily travel to DeKalb for classes because of work and family obligations.”
NIU courses offered through the University Center at MCC will be open to both MCC students and community members, and the classes will be taught by NIU faculty. NIU professors stand with the best, both for personal attention and the hands-on learning experiences they provide. Other advantages to taking NIU coursework through the University Center at MCC include tuition savings; reduced travel expenses and access to parking and public transportation; and access to area resources.
Sonia Reising, NIU alumni and current Associate Vice President at MCC, recently reflected on how this partnership could have made her life so much easier when she was seeking her degree. “As a nontraditional student, having NIU within my community after graduating MCC would have saved me time, and money, and provided me with course options that worked with my life circumstances. I would have given anything for a shorter commute, the ability to save money, access to more daycare options, and more time to devote to my young child. As a transfer student who chose NIU, I worked through many complex challenges to earn my bachelor’s degree on NIU’s main campus, but having NIU so close by would have made everything more accessible. What a great opportunity this will be for future transfer students!”
Nevada Perry, an NIU student, and MCC alumnus, shares in this excitement. “For me, transferring to NIU was about pursuing the education needed for my dream career while staying close to home. It’s fantastic to hear that other students will be able to pursue theirs without the financial or social challenges of moving away from McHenry County,” he said.
MCC President Dr. Clint Gabbard expressed that “working moms and dads, and students financially tied to their locales, all deserve an opportunity to be a part of a world-class education.”
“What we start with students at MCC will be seamlessly passed on to our NIU partner through the MCC University Center,” Gabbard added. “The result, I believe, keeps individuals and families finding a way to live and thrive in our county.”
NIU’s presence in McHenry County demonstrates its commitment to the community’s success. The university seeks to promote personal, professional, and intellectual growth; and transform the world through research, artistry, teaching, and outreach.
“NIU and MCC have shared values on student success and the accessibility of high-quality degree programs for all types of learners,” said College of Education Dean Laurie Elish-Piper, who will take the reins in July as NIU interim executive vice president and provost. “We’re very excited at the prospect of offering NIU courses to help McHenry County residents meet their workforce and community needs.”
MCC leadership is in discussion with several other four-year universities to offer additional programs through the University Center at MCC, with information coming out soon. Interested students and community members can find out more at
www.mchenry.edu/ucenter.
