Summary
Illinois College is a private, liberal arts college, affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church (USA), and located in Jacksonville, Illinois. It was the second college founded in Illinois, but the first to grant a degree (in 1835). It was founded in 1829 by the Illinois Band, students from Yale University who traveled westward to found new colleges.[3][4] It briefly served as the state's first medical school from 1843–1848, and became co-educational in 1903.
Campus
Beecher Hall, the first college building erected in Illinois, is named after its 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.
In fall 2006 Illinois College opened Abraham Lincoln Residence Hall with a LEED certification for energy efficiency. [5]
The campus is divided into two quadrangles. The North "upper" quad is home to several historic buildings including Sturtevant Hall where William Jennings Bryan carved his initials while he was a student. Other buildings on the North 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. Whipple Hall, which was once a preparatory school, is undergoing renovations. Upon completion it will house the Al Habtoor Leadership Center. Tanner Hall, built for the College's centennial, once housed the library. It now houses administrative offices.
The South Quad is home to the modern residence halls and dining complex. A walkway which separates the two quads was created from a portion of Mound Avenue. Students enjoy many events held in these outdoor venues.
Academics
Illinois College's Epsilon chapter of Phi Beta Kappa national honor society chapter is one of only eleven in the state.[6] The college has been accredited by the The Higher Learning Commission since 1913.[7]
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.[8]
Athletics
Illinois College's athletic teams, known as the Blueboys, have been members of the Midwest Conference since 1982. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming & diving and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field and volleyball.
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. The basketball team received recognition in 2011 when senior guard Jacob Tucker won the NCAA Division 1 slam dunk contest.[9]
Literary societies
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, which are practices in oratory skill; parties, intramural sports teams; service events; and social gatherings. There are seven literary societies at Illinois College. The men's societies are: Sigma Pi, Phi Alpha, Gamma Nu, and Pi Pi Rho. The women's societies are Gamma Delta, Sigma Phi Epsilon Literary Society, and Chi Beta. Phi Alpha and Sigma Pi are both located in Historic 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. All three female societies are housed in Historic Smith House.