Our History

In 1967, Aims Community College held classes for the first time. Since then, Aims has grown to four physical campuses in Northern Colorado, and added options for students to take classes online.

Time travel to the past by scrolling through this Aims media gallery from the 1960s and 1970s. 

In 1965, Kirby Hart of Greeley advocated creating a two-year college in Northern Colorado. Several school district representatives formed a committee to determine interest. Their study confirmed support for the institution and the Colorado State Board of Education and Weld County voters approved the plan. 

Two years later, the first governing committee was elected and tasked with the job of naming the college. The vision of the college was to aim for high and worthy goals, and the name Aims Community College was selected. Dr. Ed Beaty was appointed as the first president and an aardvark was chosen as the school’s mascot. 

The Lincoln Elementary School building was leased until the college could be built. A total of 949 students enrolled for the inaugural year at Aims and the first classes were held on September 27, 1967.

In 1971, the College was officially moved to a permanent 175-acre site on the western edge of Greeley. 

Time travel to the past by scrolling through this Aims media gallery from the 1980s and 1990s.

1992 - 2004: Aims Celebrates 25 Years Followed By Continued Growth

In the spring of 1992, Aims celebrated its 25th anniversary with a groundbreaking for the College Center (now known as Student Commons) on Greeley Campus.

The 1990s brought more growth to the three Aims campuses. To expand its scope of programs serving Northern Colorado learners, Aims remodeled existing buildings and established several new centers.

In 1999, Aims earned its 10-year “seal of approval" accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.

The next five years brought more advancement for Aims, with new centers dedicated and several transitions of presidential leadership. 

In fall 2004, Aims transitioned from a quarter system to a semester system.

2005 - 2009: Creating Accessible Education for All

As the 21st century continued, Aims expanded and improved its programs and facilities. 

During fall 2005, the College began serving 160 low-income, first-generation students with intensive academic support thanks to a five-year grant established by TRIO Student Support Services.

Aims celebrated 40 years of serving Northern Colorado in January 2007, and established more programs that same year, including:

• iFocus Academic Success Workshop Series - launched to address student needs in academics, leadership, career development and technology.
• Emerging Scholars Program - aimed to support students in developmental education who demonstrated potential for academic success.
• Advancing Academic Achievement (AAA) Courses - required for students in developmental education to support their transition into the college curriculum.

In March 2008, Aims established the College Promise Scholarship Program with grass-roots funding from local community and business leaders, providing scholarships to Greeley-Evans District 6 graduates. 

Aims partnered with Weld County Employment Services to develop a new program to prepare graduates to fill positions in electric, oil and gas, solar, wind and geo-thermal industries.

Aims finished the decade by creating a “green” and sustainable building program that focused on teaching solar construction techniques, net-zero energy building, passive thermal architecture and super insulation.

Presidents Past and Present

Dr. Leah Bornstein was named the sixth president and CEO of Aims Community College on August 1, 2015 by the Aims Board of Trustees. She is a long-time advocate for student success, quality instruction, increased access to education and strong strategic and tactical planning.