Illinois College

Illinois College is a private liberal arts college in Jacksonville, Illinois. It is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church (USA). It was the second college founded in Illinois, but the first to grant a degree (in 1835). It was founded in 1829 by the Yale Band, students from Yale College who traveled westward to found new colleges.[5][6] It briefly served as the state's first medical school, from 1843 to 1848.

Illinois College
TypePrivate, Liberal arts
Established1829 (1829)
Religious affiliation
United Church of Christ and Presbyterian Church (USA)
Endowment$129.9 million (2019)[1]
PresidentBarbara A. Farley
Students1,150 [2]
Location
Jacksonville
,
Illinois
,
United States

39°43′49″N 90°14′48″W
ColorsBlue and White
AthleticsNCAA Division III — Midwest Conference
NicknameBlueboys and Lady Blues
AffiliationsAPCU
NAICU[3]
MascotBlueboy[4]
Websitewww.ic.edu

History
Beecher Hall is the oldest college building in the state of Illinois.

The Rev. John M. Ellis, a Presbyterian missionary in the East, saw the need for a “seminary of learning” in the new state of Illinois. His plans drew the attention of Congregational students at Yale College, and seven of them, in one of the famous “Yale Bands,” came westward to help found the College.

The first president of Illinois College was Edward Beecher who left his position at the Park Street Church in Boston and firmly imbued the new College with New England traditions and academic foundations. His sister, Harriet Beecher Stowe, was later the author of the influential anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin and a visitor to the campus. His brother, Henry Ward Beecher, preached and lectured at the college as well. Beecher Hall, named in honor of president Beecher, was the first building constructed on the Illinois College campus, and remains the oldest college building in the state of Illinois.

The first two college graduates in the state of Illinois, Richard Yates and Jonathan E. Spilman, received their degrees from Illinois College in 1835. Yates became the Civil War governor of Illinois and later a U.S. senator. A program at Illinois College for first generation college students was named The Yates Fellowship Program in his honor. Jonathan Edwards Spilman composed the familiar music to Robert Burns’ poem “Flow Gently, Sweet Afton.”

William Jennings Bryan, a member of the class of 1881, is one of the most prominent alumni of Illinois College. He was a United States Congressman from Nebraska, the US Secretary of State, and the Democratic Party's presidential nominee in 1896, 1900, and 1908.

Many Illinois College graduates have gone on to have influential careers in public service. Two graduates became U.S. senators, 20 became congressmen, six were state governors and two currently serve as federal judges.

Among the visitors and lecturers on campus during the early years were Ralph Waldo Emerson, Amos Bronson Alcott, Mark Twain, Horace Greeley, Oscar Wilde and Wendell Phillips. Many speakers, including Abraham Lincoln, were sponsored by the college’s literary societies which still exist today.

Illinois College was a center of the abolitionist movement due to its Northern location near the Mississippi River and outspoken campus leaders such as President Edward Beecher and Professor Jonathan Baldwin Turner. In the mid 1800s, a group of students at the college were indicted by a grand jury for harboring runaway slaves. Two campus buildings also have ties to the abolitionist movement; Beecher Hall is believed to have been part of the Underground Railroad, and a campus house, the Gillett House, has attained the prestigious National Park Service certification as a “National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom” site.[7]

The College became co-educational in 1903 by incorporating the Jacksonville Female Academy (founded 1830), and in 1906 IC awarded degrees to its first four female graduates. Illinois Conservatory of Music (founded 1871) was also absorbed in 1903. In 1932 the Phi Beta Kappa Society established a chapter at Illinois College, and it remains one of only 11 chapters in the state.[8][9]

Academics

Illinois College is a nationally ranked liberal arts college with an enrollment of 1,150 (2020) students. Over 80 different programs and majors are offered at the school, including Combined Degree Programs in Biology with Medical Technology, Biology with Occupational Therapy, Nursing (Leading to Master’s), and Physics with Engineering. The most popular programs among students tend to be education, science, or business related.

The student to faculty ratio is often around 13:1, with a current average class size of 16 (2013) students.

Illinois College has been accredited by The Higher Learning Commission since 1913.[10] The College’s Epsilon Chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa national honor society is one of only eleven in the state, and was established in 1932.[11]

All degrees awarded by Illinois College are undergraduate bachelor's degrees with the exception of a newer Master of Arts in Education. The M.A.Ed. is a 32 credit hour on-campus degree program which was designed to specifically accommodate the professional development needs of in-service teachers

Starhill Forest Arboretum

Starhill Forest Arboretum is located 45 miles northeast of the Illinois College campus in the town of Petersburg. In 2008, Illinois College officially entered into a partnership with the arboretum. Since the partnership, Starhill has been a location for Illinois College students to visit, study, and participate in internships.

Congressional Museum and Archives

The Whipple Hall on the college campus houses the Paul Findley Congressional Office Museum, dedicated to former congressman and alumnus, Paul Findley. Findley graduated from Illinois College in 1943 and served as a member of the House of Representatives from 1961 to 1983. It contains artifacts related to Findley's political career, his interest in Abraham Lincoln, and his involvement in human rights and Middle East issues.[12] Items currently on display include Lincoln's 1837 law office sofa, Findley's congressional desk, WWI and campaign memorabilia, and gifts from seven U.S. presidents and international leaders.[13] The museum is open to tours and visits by appointment.[14] It was renovated in 2007 thanks to a donation by Mohammed Al Habtoor.[15]

The college is also home to the Khalaf Al Habtoor Archives which is located in Schewe Library.[16] The collection is home to many documents and artifacts associated with Illinois College and its long history. This includes items attributed to Abraham Lincoln who had direct and indirect ties to the school.

Both of the archives were largely funded by the Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Foundation.[17][18] Khalaf Al Habtoor was first introduced to Illinois College by Paul Findley.[16]

Study Abroad

Students at Illinois College are encouraged to study abroad if possible during their four years at the school. Study abroad typically lasts one semester or one academic year. There are many approved study abroad programs which have been established with other institutions in the U.S. and other countries around the world. In addition, arrangements may be made if a student wishes to study at a country or institution where a study abroad program has not yet been established. Popular study destinations include: Spain, Japan, Ecuador, Germany, Ireland, England, France, and Australia.

BreakAways

BreakAways are another opportunity for IC students to travel. They are group trips which take place when classes are not in session. Each trip has a specific focus or theme and can last from ten days to three weeks. There are often four BreakAways each academic year. Past BreakAway destinations have included: Washington D.C., Greece, Mexico, Morocco, Switzerland, Taiwan, Peru, and Turkey.

Intercultural Exchange Program

The college participates in an Intercultural Exchange program with Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan. Each spring 25 Japanese students come to Illinois College to live and study for four weeks. During this time, students live with families in the Jacksonville community for part of the time and with current IC students on campus in residence halls for the remainder of their stay.[19]

Clinton Global Initiative University Network

Illinois College joined the Clinton Global Initiative University Network in 2014.[20] The network was launched in 2007 by President Bill Clinton and is closely modeled after the Clinton Global Initiative. The network helps support the work of leaders on college campuses around the world.[21] As a member of the network, Illinois College pledges a minimum of $10,000 in funding to students of the campus who become Clinton Global Initiative University student commitment-makers.[22] As of 2015, Illinois College is one of only 70 schools to be a member of the CGI University Network.[23]

Accolades

In 2013, Illinois College was ranked by Washington Monthly as one of the top 25 liberal arts colleges in the nation.[24]

In 2012[25] and 2013,[26] Illinois College received recognition for its commitment to community service and was included on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

In 2012, Washington Monthly ranked Illinois College third amongst liberal arts colleges for number of staff participating in and supporting community service, and fifth for community service by students and hours served.[27]

Illinois College has been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus USA four times: 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.[28]

In fall 2006 Illinois College opened Abraham Lincoln Residence Hall with a LEED certification for energy efficiency.[29]

Athletics
The Bruner Fitness Center during a home football game.

Illinois College's men's athletic teams are known as the Blueboys which is a reference to the uniforms worn by Union soldiers during the American Civil War. The women's athletic teams are known as the Lady Blues. They have been members of the Midwest Conference since 1982. They were members of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin from 1946-1953. Illinois College was a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from 1910-1937.

Twenty varsity sports are offered for men and women.[30] Soccer, basketball, volleyball, baseball, Softball, indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Cross Country. Swimming, Tennis, Football, and golf. In addition to the varsity teams, there are two non-competitive spirit squads.

Illinois College student Missy Norville won nine NCAA Division III National Champion titles for indoor/outdoor Track and Field while at the school.

In 2010, student Dillon Binkley became the High Jump National Champion for NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field.[31] Before Binkley, Illinois College student J.R. Dugan also became the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field National High Jump Champion in 1989.[32]

From 2003-08, the Illinois College women's golf team won six consecutive Midwest Conference Championship titles.[33]

Bruner Fitness and Recreation Center

The Bruner Fitness Center was constructed in 2003 and is the primary location for athletic events at Illinois College. The building also houses the college swimming center and the Sherman Gymnasium which has seating for 1,600 spectators. The fieldhouse section of the building includes a 200-meter indoor track and four multipurpose courts for basketball, volleyball, and tennis.[34] The exterior of Bruner provides the foundation for England Stadium which holds 3,000 spectators.

Campus
Sturtevant Hall photographed from the upper quad.

The Illinois College campus consists of 80 acres of land located centrally within the town of Jacksonville. The land the campus occupies is higher in elevation than many of the other areas in Jacksonville, and IC is therefore sometimes referred to as “On the Hilltop”, or “The Hilltop”.

The primary section of campus is divided into two areas commonly called the upper and lower quads. The upper quad is on the northern part of the campus, and is higher in elevation than the lower quad which is located on the southern part of the campus.

The upper quad is the location of many of the academic buildings. This includes the notable Sturtevant Hall which is often featured in pictures because of its unique towers and windows which are currently found in the College logo.[35] Other buildings on the Upper Quad include Crampton Residence Hall, which was once the oldest continuously used dormitory in the state. It was closed as a residence hall in May 2006, and re-opened in August 2011 after renovations had been made. Whipple Hall, which was once a preparatory school, underwent renovations, and is now the home to the Al Habtoor Leadership Center, Congressman Paul Findley's Congressional Office, and the Communication and Rhetorical Studies department. William Jennings Bryan carved his initials into a Whipple Hall banister while he was a student, and the initials can still be found on the building along with a commemorative plaque. Tanner Hall, built for the College's centennial, once housed the library. It now houses administrative offices including the Academic Dean’s Office, the Business Office, the Office of Business Affairs, and the Enrollment Offices. Beecher Hall, the first college building erected in Illinois, is named after the College's first president, Edward Beecher, sibling to Henry Ward Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe. The first floor of Beecher Hall is the home of Phi Alpha Literary Society. The second floor is the home to Sigma Pi Literary Society. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places.

The lower quad is the newer section of campus where many of the residence halls are located along with the Caine Student Center. Just south of the lower quad is the Bruner Fitness Center as well as the athletic fields for football, soccer, baseball, softball, and tennis.

The upper and lower quads are separated by the Steuer Walkway. Originally, a section of Mound Avenue ran through the campus and provided the separation between the upper and lower quads. Eventually, the section of Mound Avenue running through campus was closed off and the Steuer Walkway was constructed to unify the campus and eliminate traffic concerns for students walking between the quads.

Residential Life
Lincoln Hall dormitory photographed from the lower quad.

Eight residential halls are located on the Illinois College campus: Ellis Hall, Pixley Hall, Gardner Hall, Lincoln Hall, Turner Hall, Mundinger Hall, Crampton Hall, and Greene Hall.[36] In addition to the residence halls, Illinois College owns and maintains an apartment building close to campus which serves as housing for upperclassmen.

Activities

There are over 80 different clubs and organizations established at Illinois College. Of those, there are three main organizations which help provide campus wide programming and governing:[37]

Student Activities Board (SAB): Consists of six student-run committees dedicated to providing programming to the Illinois College community. SAB sponsored events include comedians, bands, community service projects, trips, lectures, dances, and more.[38]

Homecoming Committee: Homecoming has been a long-standing tradition at Illinois College. Each year, the Homecoming Committee helps plan the pep rally, Powder Puff Football games, parade, formal dance, and an event called Follies which features the talents of students. Class games are often held during Homecoming Week as well.[39]

Student Senate: Student Senate is the student governing body at Illinois College. The organization’s goal is to act as a representative for the student body and promote the best interests of the students.[40]

Greek Organizations

Illinois College is home to a number of Greek organizations. Along with the many academically affiliated Greek organizations, Illinois College also houses a number of national recognized Greek organizations such as Alpha Phi Omega; the co-ed service fraternity that is the largest collegiate fraternity in the United States.

Illinois College is one of the few campuses in the United States that still supports literary societies. These are Greek organizations whose purposes vary from society to society. Activities include but are not limited to: Literary Productions, intramural sports teams, service events, and social gatherings.

There are four men’s literary societies at Illinois College. They are: Sigma Pi, Phi Alpha, Gamma Nu, and Pi Pi Rho. Phi Alpha and Sigma Pi are both located in Beecher Hall (Phi Alpha on the first level and Sigma Pi on the second). Gamma Nu is located in lower Baxter Hall and Pi Pi Rho is currently in a temporary house.

There are three women's societies at Illinois College. They are: Gamma Delta, Sigma Phi Epsilon, and Chi Beta. All three female societies are housed in the historic Smith House.

Society pledging was suspended during 2012 after three "serious incidents” including what college officials described as "dangerous practices". One society pledge was sent to a hospital after receiving life-threatening injuries.[41]

Abraham Lincoln connection

The Illinois College campus and alumni shared many connections with Abraham Lincoln during his life. While Lincoln never received a formal college education, it is documented that he was tutored by William and Lynn Greene who were brothers and students at Illinois College. The brothers would share with Lincoln, through books and notes, what they had learned from Illinois College professor Jonathan Baldwin Turner. Lincoln later practiced law in Springfield, Illinois where he was the partner and mentor of Illinois College alumnus William Herndon.[42] The law office they shared together can still be seen in the Central Springfield Historic District of the city.[43] In 2009, a statue of Abraham Lincoln was dedicated on the Illinois College campus, and he was posthumously awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree from the school.[44]

Notable alumni

Notable faculty and staff

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