Students at the University Center of Lake County can stay close to home but still complete their undergraduate or advanced degrees from institutions that are far away.

The University Center of Lake County is a consortium of 19 college and universities and is located in Grayslake, next to the College of Lake County. Courses held at the UC are designed for junior and senior level university students and are held most evenings and weekends. Students have many degrees and certifications to choose from through the member institutions at the UC.

Student Alicia Brant, 42, is enrolled in a Special Education Endorsement on Admin Certificate through Northern Illinois University (NIU). While the host class is held in Naperville, Brant attends class at the UC in Grayslake on Wednesday nights and still actively participates with the host class many miles away in Naperville thanks to technology known as Distance Learning.

"I wouldn't go anywhere else," Brant said of the UC. "I love the convenience. I live in Libertyville so I'm no more than 15 minutes away from the UC campus. I can talk to my fellow students who are maybe 100 miles away."

Brant added that the UC saves time and money.

"I've considered Loyola but it's too far and too expensive even though it's a good program," she said. "For example, this certificate program I'm working on cost about 40 percent of a comparable program at Loyola. It's a no brainer."

Brant said there are occasional issues with the Distance Learning technology.

"Sometimes, there's too much white noise coming from the main campus," she said. "Sometimes, we feel neglected because the instructor and majority of students are so far away. It's a little annoying when we have to ask for a handout or reading to be emailed to us so we can follow along but for the most part, we're accepting of it."

Brant said the UC facility, located at 1200 University Center Drive in Grayslake, is very nice.

"I came to this facility as part of a workshop," Brant said. "I really liked how it was neat, clean and the food was great."

She said the UC offers many benefits.

"I like the fact my courses are significantly less expensive and I save on gas mileage coming to a centrally located campus in Lake County and the campus is so new and clean," Brant said. "I'll be spending a lot of time here during the next few years."

UC student Cyndi Padilla, 22, is working on her undergraduate degree in Psychology. She enrolled at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU), where the main campus is in Chicago, but attends most of her courses at the UC.

Padilla lives with her parents in Lake Zurich and studies at the UC Monday through Thursday.

"Most people say hi to you in the hallway and it's a friendly place," Padilla said of the UC. "As far as convenience, it's a 25 minute drive from Lake Zurich, so it's not too bad – it beats the Chicago traffic. Besides, I like to save money by living at home while earning my degree."

Her first two years of college were spent at the College of Lake County in Grayslake taking general studies. A friend and co-worker recommended the UC. Padilla transferred to NEIU last year and began to take classes at the UC. She hopes to graduate in August 2011 and earn a master's degree in Educational Psychology.

"I like the small classes here, about 15-20 students," Padilla said. "I'm enrolled in five classes this semester, four are here, and one is at the main campus. There's one Distance Learning class here at the UC which allows me to see my fellow students on the main campus through technology."

And then there is the food.

"I really like the food here, and they do such a good job," Padilla said. "It's so fresh and is one of the best things here!"

Pailla said she can take the majority of her classes at the UC.

"If I don't have a minor and don't care about taking art, a foreign language or ballet, I can take most classes here to avoid the main campus as much as possible," she said.

When asked to describe the UC to someone who wasn't familiar with the facility, Padilla said, "It reminds me of an apartment building where you have different universities renting space in the building and hosting classes. It's like NEIC has a wing, SIU has a floor, and Professional School of Psychology has a wing."