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Harper College President Avis Proctor (from left) and philanthropists John and Rita Canning celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Canning Student Center, which will centralize student services on Harper's campus.
Harper College hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking for its new Canning Student Center, a cutting-edge 144,000-square-foot building designed to centralize essential student services, enhance campus life and support academic programs. The center’s namesake – John and Rita Canning – also announced a new, $1 million commitment to Harper students via the Rita and John Canning Women’s Program Scholarship.
Positioned at the “front door” of Harper’s Palatine campus, the Canning Student Center will serve as a crucial facility for Harper students and include services from Academic Advising to the Job Placement Resource Center. It will also be the new home of the University Center – in which Harper partners with four-year institutions to provide opportunities for students to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees closer to home.
“The Canning Student Center and University Center will become the hub for the entire student journey at Harper College,” said Dr. Avis Proctor, Harper president. “From this vibrant center of a wheel, students will travel along its spokes to their classrooms or labs, to the library and our academic support resources, or to our Health and Recreation Center – all the while knowing that the new center of campus, with all of its supports and services, will be here for them whenever they need it.”
The cutting-edge 144,000-square-foot Canning Student Center is designed to centralize essential student services, enhance campus life and support academic programs. It will also be the new home of the University Center, a partnership between Harper and four-year institutions that enables students to earn bachelor's and master's degrees closer to home.
Dr. Proctor joined leaders from Harper, the college’s board of trustees, the Harper College Educational Foundation, offices of Illinois elected officials and University Center partners to celebrate the occasion in Harper’s Wojcik Conference Center. Event speakers included Dr. Kenneth Ender, Dr. Proctor’s predecessor who supported the Canning Student Center project during his tenure at Harper president, as well as philanthropists John and Rita Canning. Attendees learned about the impact of the Canning family’s philanthropy on Harper students, specifically those who have benefited from the Canning Women’s Program and scholarships that Rita and John established with a $1 million gift in 2013.
“I want to make sure your generosity has the impact you hope for,” said Women’s Program scholar Esmeralda Roman, a mother and part-time Harper student who is 13 credits away from earning her Health Care Office Manager associate in applied science degree. She said she will become the first person in her family to graduate from college. “Your support has made this journey possible, and your generosity truly means the world to me.”
Dr. Ender spoke about how fitting it is that Harper’s new student center is named for the Cannings – a decision prompted by their 2013 donation. He reflected on getting to know the couple during his time at the college and how he learned about Rita and John’s genuine care for lifting up others in the community.
“John is a fellow who has put all his philanthropic abilities into making sure young people in (the Chicago area) succeed,” Dr. Ender said. “Rita’s special investment is the women of Harper College. When we think about a couple who would best epitomize student-centeredness, who else would you think of but the Cannings?”
Dr. Proctor then announced John and Rita Canning’s new philanthropic gift to the Harper College Educational Foundation, committing $200,000 over the course of five years to the Women’s Program. The news was met with a standing ovation from attendees. These funds will not only help underserved students pay for courses, books and fees, but assist with other barriers such as transportation.
“We know the impact that this scholarship has on Harper students,” Dr. Proctor said. “In reviewing the data, students who receive this scholarship persist at higher rates and have higher success rates. And now, more students will graduate thanks to the Cannings’ generosity.”
Many of these scholars will embark on their journeys from the Canning Student Center, set to open in two-and-a-half years. Situated between the Health and Recreation Center and the Performing Arts Center, Harper’s new facility reflects a major commitment to student success and community involvement. This project is funded through $46.4 million in state support from Rebuild Illinois and $55.2 million in institutional funds, which includes backing from a referendum that was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2018.
“As a board member, I am honored to represent my community, and I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize my fellow community members for backing the district’s 2018 referendum,” said Bill Kelley, chair of the Harper College Board of Trustees. “Because of that commitment and foresight, along with funding from Governor JB Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois plan, Harper has been able to invest in this major capital project, which will transform how we serve students.”
The center will house a range of student services and feature modern instructional spaces for Harper's Hospitality Management programs, including state-of-the-art teaching kitchens and simulated hotel and restaurant settings. Dr. Ruth Williams, Harper’s provost, also highlighted how the Canning Student Center will be the new location of the University Center, which includes partnerships with Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois, DePaul and Roosevelt universities that enable students to earn four-year credentials (and beyond) in their community.
“Roosevelt University, along with all of the partner institutions, are so honored to be a part of the Harper College University Center,” said Erica Poremba, executive director of academic partnerships at Roosevelt. “I have always said and will continue to say, ‘We need to meet students where they are.’ And this is exactly what we are doing.”
The Canning Student Center is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2027 and will enhance Harper’s leadership in education, student support and community partnerships.
Harper College leaders and partners celebrated the groundbreaking of the Canning Student Center (from left): Erica Poremba, executive director for academic partnerships, Roosevelt University; Esmeralda Roman, Harper student; Brenda Knox, president of Harper's Educational Foundation Board of Directors; Dr. Ruth Williams, Harper provost; Dr. Kenneth Ender, former Harper president; Bill Kelley, chair of Harper's Board of Trustees; Dr. Avis Proctor, Harper president; John and Rita Canning, philanthropists; Dr. Nancy Robb, secretary of the board of trustees; Pat Stack, trustee; Diane Hill, trustee; and Walt Mundt, vice chair of the board of trustees.
Dr. Avis Proctor, Harper College president
Guests and Harper College employees celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Canning Student Center.
Dr. Kenneth Ender, former Harper College president
Dr. Avis Proctor (right) surprises philanthopists John and Rita Canning with a gift book, filled with personal stories of Harper College graduates who have benefitted from Canning Women's Program Scholarships.
Philanthropists John and Rita Canning, for whom the new Canning Student Center is named.
Harper employees and University Center partners celebrate the Canning Student Center groundbreaking.
Harper employees Jimena Flores (from left), Ashley levitan and Melissa Ochwat
Dr. Proctor, Harper president (right), invited Dr. Ender, former Harper president to the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Canning Student Center.
Rita Canning (second from left) with Harper College trustees Pat Stack (from left), Dr. Nancy Robb and Diane Hill.
Dr. Avis Proctor, Harper president; John and Rita Canning, namesakes of the Canning Student Center; and Dr. Kenneth Ender, former Harper president