Danville Area Community College: A Pillar of Education in Illinois

Danville Area Community College (DACC), situated in Danville, Illinois, stands as a comprehensive two-year community college dedicated to providing accessible and affordable education to the region's students. Founded in 1946 as an extension of the University of Illinois, DACC has evolved into an independent institution offering courses in 76 areas of study.

A Rich History and Evolution

In 1946, the University of Illinois initiated extension centers in several Illinois towns to cater to the educational needs of World War II veterans. The Danville center, located at Danville High School under the guidance of Principal R. M. Duffin, played a crucial role in this endeavor. Although these centers closed in the spring of 1949, Danville School District 118 made the decision to continue offering college classes under the name Danville Community College, with Mary Miller, the former head of the DHS English department, at the helm. At that time, the tuition rate was $5.00 per credit hour, along with a $5.00 student and library fee.

In 1965, the college relocated to buildings provided by the U.S. government, previously part of the Veterans Administration, on the southeast side of town, establishing the present-day 75-acre campus. June 1966 marked a significant milestone as the college separated from District 118 under the provisions of the Public Junior College Act, becoming an independent two-year area college governed by the Board of Trustees of Junior College District No. 507.

Since the establishment of the campus in 1965, numerous new buildings have been added, including the Mary Miller Center (named in honor of the college's first president and housing the gymnasium and the Sciences division), the Ornamental Horticulture building, the Technology Center, the Child Development Center, and Lincoln Hall. Additionally, several existing buildings dating back to the late 1890s have undergone renovations, including the Clock Tower Center, Vermilion Hall, Cannon Hall, and Prairie Hall. In 2002, DACC expanded its presence by opening the Downtown Center in the heart of downtown Danville to accommodate the growing demand for career-preparatory classes.

Academic Excellence and Program Offerings

DACC's faculty is composed of experienced professionals dedicated to excellence in teaching and committed to student success. The faculty at DACC design rigorous coursework that meets the highest standards. The college offers more than 100 career and transfer programs for credit within three academic divisions: Math and Science; Liberal Arts; and Business and Technology. These programs include: Jump-start your college journey with the GECC Certificate.

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Accounting Specialty Program: Prepares students for positions in Business Administration with a specialty in Accounting.
Agriculture Program: Designed for anyone interested in preparing for positions in numerous programming fields to feed the world while preserving biological diversity and preserving delicate ecosystems.
Automotive Technology: Designed for the student who aspires to work as a technician in a new car dealership or other advanced service facility.
Barbering Program: Prepares graduates for a career as a barber. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on experience with the latest trends and techniques.
Networking Program: This program will provide intense training and education for individuals with prior knowledge in the networking field.
Claims Representative Certificate Program: In partnership with CCMSI prepares graduates for a career as a claims adjuster.
Computer Programming/PC Systems: Prepares the students for employment as computer programmers.
Criminal Justice curriculum: Gives students the academic background and initial training for careers in corrections and law enforcement.
Corrections-Parole Officer Option Certificate Program: Provides initial training for careers in corrections.
Culinary Arts Certificate program: Prepares students for various entry-level positions in the foodservice industry.
Early Childhood Teaching Assistant Certificate Program: Provides training for individuals working in early child- hood education settings.
Electronics Technology: Gives the training needed for the installation, maintenance, operation and servicing of electronic systems in industry.
Industrial Maintenance Technology: Provides diversified training required for persons employed in the plant maintenance positions.
Manufacturing Technology: Prepares students for careers as professional draftsmen, CAD technicians, and CNC Machinists.
Marketing and Management: Gives an individual a variety of career options such as Customer Engagement, Sales, Telemarketing, Marketing, Retail Sales, Hospitality, Advertising, Travel & Tourism, and Management.
Medical Office Assistant: Allows a student the basic training for office personnel in a medical facility.
Nursing Program: Prepares students to become registered nurses (RNs), to provide safe, quality care in hospitals and ambulatory care settings.
Welding Technology: Prepares students for any welding certification examinations they might have with employers.
Wind Power Technology: Prepares individuals to work in the emerging wind power energy industry.

DACC quickly adapts instructional offerings to meet the changing economic needs of the community.

Open Admissions and Student Support

Danville Area Community College has an open-door admission policy. The College admits all students qualified to complete any of its programs including transfer, career, basic skills, and Corporate and Community Education provided space is available. Many DACC classes require placement testing prior to enrollment to demonstrate academic readiness at designated skill levels to support academic achievement. Therefore, most new students and all students enrolling in classes with prerequisite skill proficiencies are required to present ACT or SAT scores, or participate in the college's placement program. However, our Nursing (Practical Nursing Certificate and Registered Nursing AAS), Radiologic Technology AAS, and Sonography certificate are selective admissions programs. Students must be admitted into the program before taking major-specific courses. A student who has been enrolled in one or more institutions of higher learning is eligible for admission to Danville Area Community College. This school is authorized under Federal Law to enroll non-immigrant alien students. International students must carry a minimum of twelve (12) semester hours. Six (of the required 12+) credit hours during the fall and spring semesters must be traditional, lecture-based, on-campus courses. Students are not allowed to take all classes in the online course format. In addition to the above criteria, international students are accepted on the basis of available space in the various educational programs. Enrollment into courses will be determined by placement test scores and personal evaluations. Permission to audit a course may be obtained from Division Deans when space is available. The student is expected to attend classes regularly, but will not receive grades, take examinations nor receive credit. Qualified students may change from auditing to regular enrollment status during the first two weeks of a twelve-week or longer course or during the first week of a course that meets less than twelve weeks. However, students may not change to auditing status once a class begins. Students auditing a class must pay regular tuition and course fees. Students who have previously attended Danville Area Community College must apply for readmission.

The Student Success Center provides support and educational tools for students with physical, learning, and economic barriers to higher education. The College has introduced programs to assist returning military veterans in overcoming barriers to employment and integration into the non-military world. For those who need financial assistance, the Financial Aid staff and DACC Foundation work overtime to insure resources are available to students.

A Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Danville Area Community College is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution. It is the policy of Danville Area Community College to provide equality of opportunity in education (and employment) for all students (and personnel). The College is committed to a program of affirmative action to alter patterns of growth and employment which indi- cate underutilization of members of minority groups and women, whether in administration, faculty, classified staff, or students. Danville Area Community College welcomes enrollment of students with disabilities at DACC. The College fully sup- ports the laws and regulations which protect students with disabilities.

Learning Opportunities for All Ages

Learning opportunities stretch from preschool to the golden years at DACC. The Child Development Center is open to children as young as fifteen months. College for Kids offers summer enrichment to students in elementary and middle school. The Career Lab brings career exploration opportunities to junior high students, and there are several dual credit programs for high school students. Developmental Education courses are designed to help students remediate needed skills to enter the college-level curriculum. The areas of emphasis in Developmental Education are focused towards math; basic English grammar and composition; and reading, vocabulary, and study skills. Adult Education conducts GED and Basic Education courses for high school completion, and English as a Second Language to improve skills for non-native speakers. Dual Credit programs allow high school students to take college-level courses and receive college and high school credits. The completed courses and grades are recorded on both the high school transcript and college transcript.

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Affordable Education and Financial Aid

The Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, and administration work to maintain a low tuition rate so college remains affordable and accessible.

Campus Life and Activities

Beyond academics, DACC offers a vibrant campus life with various clubs, organizations, and athletic teams. Students have the opportunity to engage in extracurricular activities, develop leadership skills, and build lifelong friendships. DACC has hosted the NJCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship since 1994. Students involved with the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society at DACC have won multiple awards for scholarship and community service.

A Responsive Institution

Community colleges, DACC in particular, are especially responsive to economic and societal changes. Jump-start your college journey with the GECC Certificate at Danville Area Community College! Knock out your gen eds earlyâthrough Dual Credit in high school or on campusâand transfer smoothly to any Illinois public university.

Key Facts and Figures

Location: Danville, Illinois
Type: Public two-year college
Academic Calendar: Semester-based
Campus Size: 75 acres
Enrollment: 2,171
Student-Faculty Ratio: 15-to-1
Acceptance Rate: 93%
Freshman Retention Rate: 69%
In-District Tuition and Fees (2020-2021): $5,200
Out-of-District Tuition and Fees (2020-2021): $8,650
Application Fee: None
Degrees and Certificates: 45 fields
Popular Programs: Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, General Studies, and Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer

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