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.
Main Content Area
About Aims
Our History
Opened in 1967
Opened in 1984
Opened in 1987
Opened in 2010
Through the years, the college has opened many centers and established initiatives to make learning accessible for diverse learners. These include preparatory initiatives, grant-funded academic support, transitional programs and ways to keep college affordable. Each of these was created with the mission of Aims in mind: to provide knowledge and skills to advance the quality of life, economic vitality, and overall success of the diverse communities it serves.
Today, students can choose from more than 200 degrees and certificates within various fields of study. Expansion continues as part of the College’s 2024-2027 Strategic Plan.
The original site for Aims Community College in 1967, located in the Lincoln Elementary School building in Greeley, Colorado.
The Aims Vocational Technology Center in 1967
A stuffed toy aardvark, the original mascot for Aims Community College.
An outdoor Aims graduation ceremony from the early 1970s.
Aims Community College Business instructors showing off course listings in 1971.
Students studying in the Aims library in Greeley in 1975.
Students using microscopes in a biology class at Aims during the 1970s.
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.
- August 1970: 47,000 square-foot electronics component building purchased (now Cornerstone Building)
- September 1971: Trades and Industry Building completed
- September 1973: Office Occupations Building opens (renamed Horizon Hall)
- September 1975: Skills Center (now Emergency Services Academy) is completed by Aims students
- December 1976: The Physical Education Building opens
In the 1980s, enrollment and graduation numbers continued to grow. The spring of 1987 marked 100,000 students taught at Aims since opening 20 years earlier. Demand for two-year college degrees was growing, and Aims opened two more campus locations.
Aims also established the College for Kids program to expose tweens and teens to college style learning.
A sign from the late 1970s announcing the expansion of Aims in Fort Lupton .
Interior of the Fort Lupton Campus Prairie Building, the first building on campus, circa early 1980s.
A person standing in front of the Loveland Campus building in downtown Loveland, Colorado in 1995.
An outdoor graduation ceremony at Aims Community College in 1988.
An Aims student using a computer in a graphic arts class in 1990.
Hats and t-shirts displaying an old Aims logo in the Aims Bookstore in the 1990s.
Former Aims President Dr. George Conger posing with instructors wearing Aardvarks hats and tees in the 1990s.
Time travel to the past by scrolling through this Aims media gallery from the 1980s and 1990s.
Fort Lupton Campus Opens
In 1981, Aims opened the Southern District Center Office in Fort Lupton.This was the beginning of the college’s second campus in Northern Colorado. Three years later, the Fort Lupton (South) Campus held classes for the first time.
Loveland Campus Opens
In 1987, the third campus made a temporary home in downtown Loveland. Three years later, the campus moved to a permanent location at the White Building. The Loveland (West) Campus officially began classes in fall of 1990.
- Summer 1981: Aims offers the first College for Kids courses
- July 1981: Aims Southern District Center Office in Fort Lupton opens
- September 1983: Welding Technology Complex opens
- July 1984: South Campus Opens
- September 1984: Westview General Classroom Building opens in Fort Lupton
- Fall 1987: Loveland Campus opens in a shared building in downtown Loveland
- September 1990: White Building at West Campus opens
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.
- September 1993: College Center at Greeley Campus opens
- January 1994: West Campus remodeled
- Spring 1995: Aims College Flight Training Center purchased
- Fall 1995: Monfort Early Childhood Education Center opens
- June 1997: Aims College Corporate Education Center dedicated
- June 1998: Library renamed to Jerry A. Kiefer Library
- September 2000: Harold S. Winograd Center for Innovative Learning dedicated
- October 2000: Thai House II dedicated
- March 2001: Flight Simulator Center dedicated
- January 2003: Leased Health Sciences Building dedicated
- August 2004: Continuing Education dedicates its Fort Collins Center
- August 2004: Allied Health Department moves into the Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) building
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.
- September 2005: Open House for Mildred S. Hansen building
- September 2006: Ribbon-cutting for Downtown Center
- November 2006: Open House for Construction and Automotive Technology building in Fort Lupton
- May 2007: Aims purchases a 40-acre parcel in Berthoud for future development
- September 2007: Allied Health and Sciences Building opens
- September 2007: Aviation Building opens
- September 2008: Renovations to Beaty Hall
In 2010, Aims opened a fourth campus in Windsor, including the Automotive & Technology Center to provide the latest in automotive technology education.
Budget shortfalls in 2010 forced Aims to cut the Childcare Center, Aviation Department and downtown campus, but the college was able to create new programs and achieve new milestones over the next several years.
- September 2010: The TRIO Student Support Services grant is renewed for another 5-year term.
- September 2010: TRIO Student Support Services awards a STEM grant to provide intensive academic support to 120 low-income, first-generation students in science, technology, engineering and math programs.
- June 2012: Center for the First-Year Experience (FYE) opens to help students transition socially and academically into the college community.
- September 2013: Center for Opportunity and Resilience in Education (CORE) opens, expanding the TRIO model to serve historically underrepresented students.
- January 2014: Catalyst launches as a leadership and career readiness program.
- August 2015: The Early College High School program is created with students from Greeley/Evans District 6 and Windsor Charter Academy. The program offers a structured blend of high school and college curriculum, allowing students the opportunity to complete their high school diploma and earn an associate of arts degree simultaneously.
- 2017: Aims celebrates its 50th anniversary with community events and special programs throughout the year.
- 2017: Aims joins the Open Textbook Network, allowing students to use free textbooks when possible and save hundreds of dollars on books each semester.
- 2018: Arty’s Pantry opens to address student hunger and basic needs. Aims is designated a Hunger-Free Campus in 2022.
- 2019: Aims and the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) announce the Aims2UNC partnership. A concurrent enrollment program, students earn a two-year degree at Aims and transition to UNC with the support of a transition advisor.
- 2020: With the COVID-19 pandemic threatening some students’ ability to graduate in the spring of 2020, the Aims Community College Foundation awards 52 students $1,000 emergency assistance scholarships as part of the “Keep the Dream Alive” campaign.
During this timeframe, Aims received reaffirmation of accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. Aims was also named one of the top 10 Digital Community Colleges by the Center for Digital Education and the American Association of Community Colleges.
Through the decade, Aims continued to impact the Northern Colorado economy. A 2017 report found that Northern Colorado Public Colleges and Universities (NoCoPCU), including Aims, added $3.9 billion in income to the economies of Larimer and Weld counties. (Read the full report.)
- January 2010: Automotive & Technology Center opens in Windsor
- July 2010: College Center renovations complete
- May 2011: Horizon Hall remodel complete
- September 2011: Synergy Resources completes oil wells on Greeley campus
- September 2012: Greeley Campus Promenade complete
- August 2013: Fort Lupton dedicates the new Platte Building and renovated Prairie Building
- February 2015: Electronic Components Building renovations complete, renamed to General Services and subsequently to Cornerstone
- September 2015: Physical Education and Recreation Center renovations complete
- January 2016: Public Safety Institute Building opens on Windsor Campus
- August 2017: Applied Technology and Trades Center opens
- August 2017: Newly renovated Greeley Campus Welding Building opens
- August 2019: Aims Flight Training Center opened at the Northern Colorado Regional Airport in Loveland
Aims Community College Today
Aims currently offers more than 200 degrees and certificates. The work of the college moving forward is outlined by the 2024-2027 strategic plan. It focuses on two pillars:
- Strategy One: Aims supports learners throughout the recruitment, enrollment, and retention journey by streamlining processes and
extending opportunities. - Strategy Two: Aims provides innovative, transformative and flexible course and campus experiences for learners and workplace experiences for employees.
This plan ensures that Aims remains at the forefront of innovation and excellence in higher education, which ultimately creates better experiences and outcomes for our learners.
Dr. Leah Bornstein
CEO/President of Aims
Sustainable expansion and evolution at Aims continues through new facilities, programs and awards.
- The Aims Welcome Center opened in 2021, winning a design award in 2023
- Gateway Building and Sim City opened on Windsor Campus in December 2023
- Public Safety Bachelor of Applied Science Degree (2023)
- Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Associate Degree (2023)
- Industrial Technology Certificates in Manufacturing Operations, Energy and Robotics (2023)
- Partnership with Alquist 3D began to start first-of-its-kind 3D concrete printing training (2023)
- Data Analytics Certificate (2024)
- Acute Care Nurse Aide Certificate (2024)
- Master Automobile Service Technology Ford ASSET Associate Degree (2024)
- Medical Billing and Coding Certificate (2025)
- Aircraft Maintenance Technician (2026)
- CareForward Colorado Funding (2022)
- Reisher Bridge Scholars Program (2024)
- Aims Tuition Promise Program (2024)
- Aims Strong Start Scholarship (2024)
- Aims Community College was recognized as a Top Workplace in Colorado by the Denver Post in 2018 and 2024 and as a national top workplace by Energage, LLC in 2022 and 2025.
- Aims received a Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award in 2024 for its commitment to prioritizing employee learning and growth.
- The Colorado Department of Higher Education awarded Aims a Hunger-Free Campus designation in 2022 and 2023 for its programs providing direct food assistance, such as Arty’s Pantry and monthly visits from the Weld Food Bank Farms to Families' fresh food truck.
In keeping with the Aims strategic plan to provide innovative, transformative and flexible course and campus experiences, here are some projects in the works that will enrich and enliven the Aims community:
- A new aviation facility and academic program are slated to open in January 2026. The Aircraft Maintenance Training Center will house the new Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic (A&P) degree program.
- A new Student Health and Wellness Center was approved in 2024 and is set to open in August 2026. The Center will offer on-campus medical and mental health care to Aims students.
- The Aims Board of Trustees approved the Aims Workforce Innovation Center (AWIC) in December 2023. Scheduled to open in fall 2026, the AWIC will be the first-of-its-kind innovation incubator in Weld County.
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.
- Dr. Ed Beaty: 1967 - 1975
- Dr. Richard A. Laughlin: 1975 - 1979
- Dr. Jerry A. Kiefer (acting): 1979
- Dr. George R. Conger: 1979 - 1997
- Dr. Jerry A. Kiefer (interim): 1997 - 1998
- Dr. Paul N. Thompson: 1998 - 2001
- Russ DeVriendt (acting): 2001
- Brenda Beckman (interim): 2001
- Dr. Paul Gianini (interim): 2002
- Dr. Marilynn "Marsi" Liddell: 2003 - 2015
- Donna Norwood (acting): 2015