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Illinois College

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Coordinates:39°43′49″N90°14′48″W/ 39.73028°N 90.24667°W/39.73028; -90.24667
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Illinois College
TypePrivateliberal arts college
Established1829;195 years ago(1829)
Religious affiliation
United Church of ChristandPresbyterian Church (USA)
Academic affiliations
APCU
NAICU[1]
Endowment$126.1 million (2020)[2]
PresidentBarbara A. Farley
Students1,029 (Fall 2022)[3]
Location
Jacksonville, Illinois
,
U.S.

39°43′49″N90°14′48″W/ 39.73028°N 90.24667°W/39.73028; -90.24667
Campus80 acres (32 ha)
ColorsBlue and white
NicknameBlueboys and Lady Blues
Sporting affiliations
NCAADivision III—Midwest Conference
MascotBlueboy[4]
Websitewww.ic.edu

Illinois Collegeis aprivateliberal arts collegeinJacksonville, Illinois.It is affiliated with theUnited Church of Christand thePresbyterian 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.

History[edit]

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

John M. Ellis, aPresbyterianmissionary in the East, saw the need for a “seminary of learning” in the new state of Illinois. His plans drew the attention ofCongregationalstudents atYale 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 wasEdward Beecherwho left his position at thePark Street ChurchinBostonand firmly imbued the new college withNew Englandtraditions and academic foundations. His sister,Harriet Beecher Stowe,was later the author of the influential anti-slavery novelUncle Tom’s Cabinand 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 YatesandJonathan E. Spilman,received their degrees from Illinois College in 1835. Yates became theCivil Wargovernor 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 toRobert 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 aUnited States Congressmanfrom Nebraska, theUS 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 wereRalph Waldo Emerson,Amos Bronson Alcott,Mark Twain,Horace Greeley,Oscar WildeandWendell 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 theMississippi Riverand outspoken campus leaders such as President Edward Beecher and ProfessorJonathan 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 prestigiousNational Park Servicecertification as a “National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom” site.[7]

The college became co-educational in 1903 by incorporating theJacksonville 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 thePhi Beta Kappa Societyestablished a chapter at Illinois College, and it remains one of only 11 chapters in the state.[8][9]

Academics[edit]

Illinois College is aliberal arts collegewith an enrollment of 1,029 (2022) students.[10]Over 80 different programs and majors are offered at the college, 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 beenaccreditedby theHigher Learning Commissionor its predecessor since 1913.[11]The college's Epsilon Chapter of thePhi Beta Kappanational honor society is one of only eleven in the state; it was established in 1932.[12]

All degrees awarded by Illinois College are undergraduate bachelor's degrees with the exception of a newer Master of Arts in education. TheM.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.

It established a nursing program after the closure ofMacMurray College,which had a nursing program.[13]

Starhill Forest Arboretum[edit]

Starhill Forest Arboretumis 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[edit]

The Whipple Hall on the college campus houses thePaul 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.[14]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.[15]The museum is open to tours and visits by appointment.[16]It was renovated in 2007 thanks to a donation byMohammed Al Habtoor.[17]

The college is also home to the Khalaf Al Habtoor Archives which is located in Schewe Library.[18][19][20]The collection is home to many documents and artifacts associated with Illinois College and its long history. This includes items attributed toAbraham Lincolnwho had direct and indirect ties to the school.

Both of the archives were largely funded by theKhalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Foundation.[21][22]Khalaf Al Habtoor was first introduced to Illinois College by Paul Findley.[18]

Intercultural exchange program[edit]

The college participates in an Intercultural Exchange program withRitsumeikan UniversityinKyoto,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.[23]

Clinton Global Initiative University Network[edit]

Illinois College joined theClinton Global Initiative University Networkin 2014.[24]The network was launched in 2007 by President Bill Clinton and is closely modeled after theClinton Global Initiative.The network helps support the work of leaders on college campuses around the world.[25]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.[26]As of 2015, Illinois College is one of only 70 schools to be a member of the CGI University Network.[27]

Athletics[edit]

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 byUnion soldiersduring theAmerican Civil War.The women's athletic teams are known as the Lady Blues. They have been members of theMidwest Conferencesince 1982. They were members of theCollege Conference of Illinois and Wisconsinfrom 1946 to 1953. Illinois College was a member of theIllinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conferencefrom 1910 to 1937.

Twenty varsity sports are offered for men and women.[28] 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.[29]Before Binkley, Illinois College student J.R. Dugan also became the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field National High Jump Champion in 1989.[30]

From 2003 to 2008, the Illinois College women's golf team won six consecutive Midwest Conference Championship titles.[31]

Bruner Fitness and Recreation Center[edit]

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.[32]The exterior of Bruner provides the foundation for England Stadium which holds 3,000 spectators.

Campus[edit]

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.[33] 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'sCongressional Office, and the Communication and Rhetorical Studies department.William Jennings Bryancarved 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 toHenry Ward BeecherandHarriet Beecher Stowe.The first floor of Beecher Hall is the home ofPhi Alpha Literary Society.The second floor is the home toSigma Pi Literary Society.It was named to theNational 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[edit]

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.[34]In addition to the residence halls, Illinois College owns and maintains an apartment building close to campus which serves as housing for upperclassmen.

Activities[edit]

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:[35]

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.[36]

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.[37]

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.[38]

Greek organizations[edit]

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 asAlpha 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.[39]

Abraham Lincoln connection[edit]

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 professorJonathan Baldwin Turner. Lincoln later practiced law inSpringfield, Illinoiswhere he was the partner and mentor of Illinois College alumnusWilliam Herndon.[40]The law office they shared together can still be seen in theCentral Springfield Historic Districtof the city.[41] In 2009, a statue of Abraham Lincoln was dedicated on the Illinois College campus, and he was posthumously awarded aBachelor of Artsdegree from the school.[42]

Notable alumni[edit]

Notable faculty and staff[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"NAICU – Membership Directory".National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
  2. ^As of June 30, 2020.U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20(Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers andTIAA.February 19, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 20,2021.
  3. ^"Illinois College".RetrievedAugust 9,2023.
  4. ^"Fast Facts".Illinois College Athletics.
  5. ^The record of the celebration of the... - Google Books.2008-05-19.Retrieved2010-10-05.
  6. ^Bateman, Newton; Selby, Paul; Hurd, Harvey Bostwick; Sheppard, Robert Dickinson (2008-05-13).Historical encyclopedia of Illinois - Google Books.Retrieved2010-10-05.
  7. ^"Member Search Results".Retrieved9 January2017.
  8. ^"Illinois College -> About Us".Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2004.Retrieved9 January2017.
  9. ^Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911)."Jacksonville, a city and the county-seat of Morgan county, Illinois, U.S.A.".Encyclopædia Britannica(11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  10. ^"College Navigator - Illinois College".
  11. ^[1]ArchivedJanuary 1, 2011, at theWayback Machine
  12. ^1/12/2012 12:00:58 PM."Phi Beta Kappa Society:: Phi Beta Kappa Society".Pbk.org. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-02-13.Retrieved2012-02-10.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^Jesse, David (2021-02-12)."1 rural town, 2 small colleges and the thin line between death and survival".Detroit Free Press.Retrieved2021-03-06.
  14. ^"Paul Findley Congressional Office Museum".Illinois College.RetrievedMarch 18,2019.
  15. ^"Museum Collection".Illinois College.RetrievedMarch 18,2019.
  16. ^"Education Tours & Outreach".Illinois College.RetrievedMarch 18,2019.
  17. ^Spearie, Steven (November 29, 2014)."One of world's richest men pours millions into Illinois College".The State-Journal Register.Springfield, Illinois.Archivedfrom the original on November 26, 2018.RetrievedMarch 18,2019.
  18. ^abFoundation, Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor."The Khalaf Al Habtoor Archives to be Dedicated at Illinois College on Monday, October 13, 2014"(Press release).Retrieved9 January2017.
  19. ^"The Khalaf Al Habtoor Archives at Illinois College".www.habtoor.com.7 November 2014.
  20. ^"Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor".
  21. ^"A beautiful friendship nurtured between Khalaf Al Habtoor and Illinois College - The National".7 October 2014.Retrieved9 January2017.
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  28. ^"Illinois College: Blueboys and Lady Blues".Retrieved9 January2017.
  29. ^Staff Report."Illinois College's Binkley wins high jump title".Retrieved9 January2017.
  30. ^"Ohio Wesleyan University"(PDF).Bishops.owu.edu.Retrieved2017-01-09.
  31. ^"MWC Women's Golf Championship History".Retrieved9 January2017.
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  33. ^"Illinois College, a private Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts college in Jacksonville, IL".Ic.edu. Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-04.Retrieved2017-01-09.
  34. ^"Illinois College -> Business Affairs -> Facilities Management -> Buildings".Archived fromthe originalon 9 January 2017.Retrieved9 January2017.
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  36. ^"Illinois College -> Campus Life -> Student Involvement -> Student Activities Board".Retrieved9 January2017.
  37. ^"Homecoming 2016".Archived fromthe originalon 9 January 2017.Retrieved9 January2017.
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  39. ^"IC stops literary society pledging after students hospitalized - The State Journal Register".www.sj-r.com.2012-01-31.Retrieved2014-02-12.
  40. ^"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2014-03-10.Retrieved2014-03-10.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  41. ^"Visit Springfield Illinois - Travel & Tourism - Official Site".Retrieved9 January2017.
  42. ^Reynolds, John."Lincoln statue dedicated at Illinois College".Retrieved9 January2017.
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  44. ^Cherny, Robert W. (1994).A righteous cause: the life of William Jennings Bryan.University of Oklahoma Press.p.2.ISBN0-8061-2667-1.
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  47. ^Davis, William Morris (1915).Biographical memoir of John Wesley Powell, 1834–1902.United States National Academy of Sciences.p.13.
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External links[edit]

Wikisourcehas the text of the 1905New International Encyclopediaarticle "Illinois College".
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Illinois_College&oldid=1230155941"