Richland Community College

Richland Community College serves approximately 3,340 students annually through its main campus, two Extension Centers and other off-campus sites throughout the District, as of the fall of 2013. The Continuing and Professional Education Division provides professional development courses, community education courses, and workforce training to over 4,000 people annually. Annually, Richland serves over 9,000 students.

Richland Community College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504.[9]

Richland Community College has been a participating institution in the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) since 2001. AQIP is an alternative process through which an organization can maintain its accredited status with The Higher Learning Commission. AQIP's goal is to infuse the principles and benefits of continuous improvement into the culture of colleges and universities in order to assure and advance the quality of higher education. AQIP allows an organization to demonstrate that it meets The Higher Learning Commission's Criteria for Accreditation and other expectations through processes that align with the ongoing activities that characterize organizations striving continuously to improve their performance.[10]

Specialized Accreditation

• Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) -- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN)
• Automotive Technology—National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (ASE Certification)
• Radiology (AAS) -- Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)
• Surgical Technology (AAS) -- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
• Medical Transcription (AAS) -- Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI)
• Information Technology—Network Technology (AAS) -- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Academy
• Health Information Technology (AAS) -- Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
• Culinary Arts (AAS) -- American Culinary Federation (ACF)
• Engineering Technology (Certificate) -- Manufacturing Skills Standards Certification (in progress)
• Welding Technology (AAS) -- American Welding Society (AWS) (in progress)
• Network Technology (AAS) -- CompTIA Authorized Academy Program (in progress)

Richland serves its District with the main campus, located at One College Park in Decatur, and two extension centers. The College's main campus resides on a site of 155 acres of land. Following substantial growth and expansion, Richland currently contains 293,590 square feet. Richland Community College has two primary off-campus locations: The Fairview Park Plaza Extension Center and the Clinton Extension Center. Several other off-campus sites, including high schools, host classes for Richland Community College. Fairview Park Plaza Extension Center, 1485 King Street in Decatur, provides classroom space for both credit and non-credit classes. Businesses have the opportunity to rent space for training workshops. The Clinton Higher Education Center, located at 140 Sunrise Court in Clinton, IL offers admissions, advising, registration, placement testing, virtual testing, financial aid, and many other services. Credit classes and workshops are scheduled in Clinton as well as other communities throughout Richland's district. In addition to regularly scheduled daytime credit classes held in Clinton, interactive evening credit classes are held via distance learning. General Education Development (GED) and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are also provided.

Heartland Technical Academy provides dual credit classes for high school students on Richland's main campus. Project READ, which offers free, one-on-one tutoring in reading and math to adults age 17 and older who are not currently enrolled in high school, is located at the Decatur Public Library, 130 N. Franklin in Decatur. Project READ became a program of Richland Community College in 1988.[11]

• Official website