Schools
Oakton Community College Board Chair Suggests Name Change
Several trustees expressed an interest in considering changing the school's name to "Oakton College" to attract more students.
DES PLAINES, IL — The Oakton Community College Board of Trustees is expected to discuss dropping the word "community" from its name at a board meeting next month after several trustees suggested it could improve the reputation of the two-year college among local high school students, Pioneer Press reported.
Board Chairman Ben Salzberg proposed the trustees considering changing the name to "Oakton College" at the June 25 meeting of the board at its Des Plaines campus, according to Glenview Announcements. He said some high school seniors believe junior colleges are not as good as four-year colleges.
President Joianne Smith, Oakton's top administrator, said the board should be thoughtful, deliberate and thorough if it is serious about changing its name, Pioneer Press reported.
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"There are pluses and minuses on both sides and we must be very careful," she said.
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Salzberg's suggestion followed a presentation of a report on the school's marketing strategy called, "How We Connect: telling the Oakton story."
Trustee Gail Bush said only about 16 of the 48 community colleges in the state include the word "community" in their name. She said it was "appropriate in our 50th anniversary year" to review the name change. The discussion can continue at the board's next meeting on Aug. 20.
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