In 1964, area residents met to consider establishing a community college in Lake County. After the group had gathered enough evidence to justify its establishment, the localLeague of Women Voters petitioned successfully to place the issue on a countywide ballot, and it passed in 1965; the passage of the related levy passed in 1967. Classes began later that year in various locations in Painesville; the college purchased land for its current permanent location in Kirtland in 1968, with classes commencing there in 1971. In 1968, 400 acres of land the community college is built upon, including Mooreland Mansion, was purchased by the Lakeland Community College Board of Trustees. The college expanded in ensuing years, including the construction of the engineering building in 1983, the business building in 1988, the Student Center in 1993, and the Health Technologies Building in 1995; the renovation and expansion of the library in 1997; the renovation of the Athletic and Fitness Center in 2000; the construction of the Holden University Center in 2011; and the addition of extension campuses in the Lake County locations of Madison in 1994 and Willowick in 1997. The Health Technologies Building was expanded further in the 2010s, reopening in 2018. Lakeland's mailing address was Mentor from 1971 to 1994. Lakeland was the site of training camp for the Cleveland Browns from 1982 to 1991.
Academics
Lakeland is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college offers more than 130 associate degrees and certificates that prepare students for employment or transfer to a four-year college or university. Areas of study include arts and humanities, business technologies, engineering technologies, science and health technologies, and social science and public service. The college also offers non-credit community learning and professional development classes and workforce development training. Mooreland Mansion, officially Edward W. and Louise C. Moore Estate as listed on the National Register of Historic Places, built in 1898, expanded in 1906, and renovated in 1998, is located on the campus, and is used as a community facility. Lakeland offers credit and noncredit courses at one off-site center located in Madison, Ohio. Classes offered at the off-site center are the same as those in the regular Lakeland curriculum and are taught by the same pool of full-time and part-time faculty. Community learning courses are also offered, providing residents of the service area an opportunity to access noncredit, non-grade-based learning experiences. Courses are offered during the fall and spring semesters with limited offerings in the summer. Courses are conducted throughout the day, evening, and Saturday mornings.
Student demographics
The average age of Lakeland students is 27 and approximately 80% of students are employed full-time or part-time while taking classes. Part-time students comprise 58% of the total student population. About 60% of students reside in Lake County, 21% in Cuyahoga County, 10% in Geauga County, and 6% in Ashtabula County. The student population is split approximately 61-39 female-male, and 14% of students are listed as of minority ethnicity.
