Frequently Asked Questions

What is Heartland Community College’s Beyond Buildings project?
Why is development of the College necessary?
How is this project being funded?
How will these projects benefit me?
Is the planned athletic stadium at Heartland a Beyond Buildings project?

What is Heartland Community College’s Beyond Buildings project?
Beyond Buildings is the name of Heartland’s College Development Plan—a strategically-driven, proactive response to meeting the growing needs of District 540. The Beyond Buildings physical plan includes an additional classroom building, a student center, a community education center, an enhanced child development lab, a fitness and recreation center and a receiving and storage building. The Beyond Buildings communications have been developed to ensure that community members are aware of the many resources that are available to them through the Heartland project. More information can be found about the individual projects by clicking on the links to the left.

Why is development of the College necessary?
Heartland Community College currently serves more than 200,000 people over 1,863 square miles. Research estimates indicate that by 2015, the district population will increase eight percent to 215,000, and that the College can expect an additional 50 percent increase in enrollment as it matures. Heartland’s Beyond Buildings project is a response to that growth, as well as an increasing number of full-time traditional-age students.

In addition to district growth, the cost of building materials continues to escalate at a remarkable pace. Committing to these projects now has secured construction bids that will allow the completion of these projects at the absolute lowest cost to district taxpayers.

How is this project being funded?

When bids for the Beyond Buildings projects were higher than anticipated, the College’s Student Government Association agreed to a funding solution that allowed students to seal the funding gap by way of a Student Center fee. This $2 per credit hour fee, applicable from the Summer 2008 term to the Spring 2013 term, will contribute approximately $1 million over the next five years, helping the College complete the Student Center portion of its College Development Plan. Since the Student Center addition will not be completed until 2010, students paying this fee during 2009 and 2010 who do not have the opportunity to benefit from the new Student Center will be offered a $100 “rebate” provision. Those students will be able to contact the Cashier or the Business Office in Academic Years 2011 or 2012 to claim their rebate, which can be applied to costs of credit classes or for other activities or memberships on campus.

Heartland Community College’s elected leaders carefully examined and weighed various funding options for Beyond Buildings. Several factors, including the limited availability of state funding for projects, higher costs in the future and the disadvantages to Heartland students posed by not meeting their immediate and future needs, impacted the decision to move forward with a modest tax increase to address the $60 million cost for college growth. Preparation for the increasing needs of the district, projected enrollment growth and betterment for the whole community were the responsible and compelling rationale for the planning strategy that ensued.

How will these projects benefit me?
The Beyond Buildings project will offer vital access to quality and affordable higher education to everyone in the Heartland community by expanding space for new and enhanced degree and certificate programs and workforce training through a centrally-located campus. The entire community benefits from Heartland’s continued growth and dedication to its district's needs.

Is the planned athletic stadium at Heartland a Beyond Buildings project?
No. The athletic stadium that will be built on Heartland’s campus will primarily be funded by private investors. The stadium’s construction, estimated at $12 million, includes a $1 - $2 million commitment from the Town of Normal for infrastructure development. The Heartland Board of Trustees agreed to commit $3.5 million to the project—an amount the College had originally earmarked for the development of its own athletic facility. For that same $3.5 million, Heartland Community College will receive a state-of-the-art stadium for its sports teams, complete with classrooms and other amenities that weren’t part of its own athletic complex design. The stadium is scheduled for completion by Spring 2010.