The Office of Community College Research and Leadership (OCCRL)

The Office of Community College Research and Leadership (OCCRL) was established in 1989 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. OCCRL is affiliated with the Department of Educational Policy, Organization and Leadership in the College of Education. Our mission is to use research and evaluation methods to improve policies, programs and practices to enhance community college education and transition to college for diverse learners, at the state, national, and international levels. The Office was started with funding from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), utilizing leadership funds associated with federal career and technical education legislation. Over the years, OCCRL has conducted its work with support from the ISBE and the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) and other state agencies, the United States Department of Education, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and numerous private, not-for-profit foundations. In 2003, OCCRL partnered with the ICCB on various policy and programmatic initiatives, and this partnership continues to be a major focus of OCCRL's agenda today.

Current initiatives focus on partnerships between community colleges and high schools, including studies of programs of study, academic and career pathways, applied baccalaureate degree programs, and college and career readiness programs, all initiatives that support youth or adult learners' transition to college and careers.

Office of Community College Research and Leadership
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
51 Gerty Drive, 129 CRC
Champaign, IL 61820

Phone: 217-244-9390
Fax: 217-244-0851
E-mail: occrl@illinois.edu