Mission and History

Inver Hills College Mission

Inver Hills Community College

Inver Hills is a comprehensive community college committed to continuously improving student understanding and capabilities that help students lead purposeful lives, contribute to a vital social and economic community, and pursue lifelong learning.

College Goals

Inver Hills will be recognized as outstanding, quality college and will pursue the following goals:

• Provide multiple opportunities to help students determine their educational and career goals.
• Help students persist to achieve their personal, academic, and career goals.
• Prepare students for success in specific careers.
• Provide students with an integrated perspective and appreciation of a liberal arts education.
• Provide the foundation for continued formal education and lifelong learning.
• Help students become responsible citizens in a diverse and global society.
• Improve student understanding and effective use of technology in learning and work.
• Help organizations improve effectiveness through employee education and training.
• Implement continuous evaluation and improvement strategies throughout the college.

History/Overview

Founded in 1970, Inver Hills is a comprehensive community college offering over 20 degree options including liberal education courses (A.A.) that lead to transfer to four-year colleges and career-related degrees (A.S., A.A.S.) in leading occupational areas such as nursing, computers, law enforcement, human services, business, emergency health care, and more.

The 90-acre campus includes eight modern buildings that fit naturally into the surrounding wooded hills and wetlands. The campus is located just off Highway 52 at 80th Street in Inver Grove Heights.

Inver Hills students come from all over Minnesota and western Wisconsin (and a dozen foreign countries), but the most significant portion are from within a 20-mile radius of the campus, particularly Dakota and Washington counties and the city of St. Paul.

More than 1,200 course sections are scheduled each year in 50 academic disciplines. About half meet evenings, late afternoons, and weekends so working people can attend. Traditionally about half of Inver Hills students are working adults and part-time learners.

With distinctive architecture and separate buildings, the campus has a small-college look and feel about it. The physical setting seems a natural complement to the college's student-centered philosophy and emphasis on academic support, learning assistance, and personal development