Lakeland Community College

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 local League 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. This was after a $3 million renovation aimed at maintaining its historical integrity while improving functionality. The Health Technologies Building was expanded further in the 2010s, reopening in 2018. Lakeland's mailing address was Mentor from 1971 to 1994. (About a quarter of Lakeland's property extends into Mentor.) Lakeland was the site of training camp for the Cleveland Browns from 1982 to 1991. In 2024, the state auditor issued a report that the college was experiencing financial distress that was nearly severe enough to warrant formal action by the state. Enrollment was about half of what it was in 2012 but staffing levels remained the same and the college had opened new facilities, a combination of factors that had led the college into debt. ==Academics==

Lakeland is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The college offers more than 130 associate degree and certificate programs 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, Their most popular degree program is Liberal arts and sciences, likely accounting for all of the associates of arts (no concentration) degrees they grant. Their second-most popular programs is nursing, making up over 10% of 2021 graduates. This may be in part due to the many prominent healthcare centers in northeast Ohio including the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals. Lakeland offers several credit and noncredit courses at nearby partner high schools via the College Credit Plus Program. Classes offered here 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. ==Athletics==

Lakeland Community College offers seven varsity athletic teams. Women's sports include basketball, softball, and volleyball. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, and soccer. Lakeland CC participates in Region XII of the NJCAA and are members of the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC). The Lakeland Lakers have long been represented by a line drawing of a wave and a simple "L" on uniform caps. In 2019, a new logo and mascot named "Crash" were selected by the college. ==See also==