Riverland Community College is a public community college with three campuses in southeastern Minnesota: Albert Lea, Austin, and Owatonna. Founded in 1940, Riverland offers educational programs and courses to over 4,900 students annually through traditional, hybrid, and online delivery systems.
The college offers academic degrees including bachelor's degrees through partner institutions, Associate of Arts (two-year transfer degrees), Associate of Arts with Emphasis, Associate of Fine Arts, diplomas, and certificates.
Riverland Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is one of 31 institutions in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (now Minnesota State) system, Minnesota's largest provider of higher education.
According to Academic Dean Ruben MelandâÂÂs document âÂÂAustin Junior College â Nine Years of Community ServiceâÂÂ, Austin Junior College opened on September 3, 1940. Enrollment was 138 freshmen, served by a faculty of five full-time and four part-time instructors.
According to the âÂÂSelected Report on Austin Junior College Prepared for Minnesota Junior College Board dated December 1963âÂÂ, âÂÂThe Austin Area Vocational-Technical School was established in Austin, Minnesota as a part of the public school system in 1951 and at present (Dec. 1963) provides post high school training to an enrollment of about 250 in: Carpentry, Farm Equipment Mechanics, Welding, Machine Shop (tool & die), Automotive Mechanics, Auto Body Rebuilding, Industrial Electronics, Practical Nursing, and Cosmetology (beauty school).âÂÂ
Ruben Meland, college dean and president, wrote in his memoirs, âÂÂIn June 1966, we moved our offices into the new administration wing and we opened for classes September 22, 1966, (our 26th year) with about 850 students and a faculty of 40. At this same time our name was officially changed to Austin State Junior College. The new college campus was officially dedicated on January 29, 1967.âÂÂ
According to âÂÂA Brief History of the MN AVTI System and DirectorsâÂÂ, âÂÂAlbert Lea was tentatively approved by the State Board of Education on September 30, 1968. They received the final approval on November 4, 1968.â Mr. Wayne Broecker is the Director of the AVTI at Albert Lea.âÂÂ
An Owatonna PeopleâÂÂs Press advertisement dated September 16, 1971, reads, âÂÂAustin State Junior College Owatonna Extension Center, classes starting Monday, September 20, 1971 at 12:30 p.m.â An Owatonna PeopleâÂÂs Press advertisement dated November 17, 1971 reads, âÂÂLetâÂÂs start college in Owatonna, Minnesota, Austin State Junior College. Owatonna campus located on the beautiful grounds of the State School.âÂÂ
An undated document created for the Mower County Historical Society states, âÂÂDuring February of 1972 the move from the various sites started and the total moving of all programs to the new Austin Area Vocational-Technical School were completed in March of 1972. It was also during this time that the State Department of Education changed the names of all Area Vocational-Technical Schools to Area Vocational-Technical Institutes.âÂÂ
A March 3, 1998, memo from Tim McManimon, Owatonna community leader, to John Gedker, college president, reads, âÂÂRiverland Community College has served the Owatonna area for the past 13 years, primarily in the area of customized training for business and industry. It is the Owatonna community vision to create a seamless link between education, work and the community."
According to âÂÂHistorical Overview 1945âÂÂ1995, 50 Years Minnesota Technical College SystemâÂÂ, âÂÂMinnesota Riverland Technical College, District #2501, was formed on July 1, 1991. MRTC is the Austin, Faribault, and Rochester campuses and the Owatonna Technical Training Center.âÂÂ
A November 1996 memorandum from John Gedker, college president, reads, âÂÂRiverland Community College was established on July 1, 1996. Austin Community College (established in 1940 as Austin Junior College), Riverland Technical CollegeâÂÂAustin (established in 1951 as Austin Area Vocational School) and Owatonna campuses, and South Central Technical CollegeâÂÂAlbert Lea (established in 1968 as Albert Lea Technical Education Center) campuses merged to form Riverland Community College.âÂÂ
According to a March 22, 2003, Owatonna PeopleâÂÂs Press article, âÂÂJanuary 14, 2002 was the first day classes were held at Owatonna College and University Center. Currently, Riverland is the host institution at OCUC and also offers classes at the site. Concordia University, St. Paul; Minnesota State University, Mankato; Southwest State University; University of St. Thomas; and South Central Technical College also offer classes.âÂÂ
The OCUC Celebration brochure dated February 17, 2009, states: âÂÂIn April 2008, Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed into law a bonding bill that allowed the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system to acquire the Owatonna College & University Center. On December 31, 2008, MnSCU finalized the sale. Three Partners. One Purpose. Minnesota State University, Mankato, Riverland Community College, and South Central College."