For 60 years, Lincoln Land Community College has been transforming lives through education, workforce development and community engagement. Since opening its founding in 1967, LLCC has empowered generations of students to achieve their goals, pursue new opportunities and make meaningful contributions to our communities.

Throughout 2027, we invite students, alumni, employees, retirees, donors and community partners to join us in celebrating six decades of learning, innovation and impact. Together, we'll honor the people, programs and milestones that have shaped LLCC's history while looking ahead to an exciting future.

From memorable stories and historical highlights to special events and recognitions, our 60th anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on where we've been, celebrate where we are today and envision what's next.

Events

Upcoming anniversary events, activities and commemorations will be announced and added to this page as plans are finalized.

• Save the date! Founder's Day – Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2027

History

Community colleges were relatively unknown in the United States prior to the 1960s. When the Illinois Junior College Act was passed by the Illinois General Assembly in 1965, it permitted the voters in the state to create their own community college districts. 

A study group of 51 interested citizens representing participating high school districts surrounding Springfield prepared the initial groundwork in April 1966 and recommended that a district be formed. District 526 was officially voted into existence on Feb. 23, 1967, as Lincoln Land Junior College. (The name was changed to Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC) in October 1968.) 

In June 1968, a 10-acre site was leased on South 6th St. in Springfield near the Heritage House restaurant for the interim LLCC campus where six temporary buildings (later expanded to 10) provided classroom space for several years.

The doors opened for the first fall quarter classes on Sept. 23, 1968. Around 700 day students were projected to enroll for the first program offerings of 115 courses in arts and sciences and 103 vocational/technical courses. Even at its beginning, the new college was well supported by the community, but no one expected that the first registration during those rainy September days would bring in 1,449 students waiting in line. The enrollment more than tripled to 4,650 students by the 1971 fall quarter.

LLCC purchased 241 acres on the western side of Lake Springfield on Shepherd Road in summer 1969 as the permanent campus site. Phase I in the development of this site began with the ground breaking in June 1970 and the construction of Menard and Sangamon Halls, which were partially occupied in September 1971. The library complex and Cass Gym were completed in Phase II. The board named the buildings after counties in the college district. Later, several of the temporary buildings from 6th St. were moved to the permanent campus, refurbished, placed on new concrete pads and named Logan Hall and Mason Hall, housing performing arts, nursing and community services. A few years later, Mason Hall was renovated for a horticulture program. By December 1974, all on-campus college operations had been moved to the permanent site, vacating the interim campus. In May 1975, a special dedication ceremony of the new campus was held in front of Menard Hall.