Illinois College (IC)

Illinois College located in Jacksonville, Illinois is a “private, liberal arts college, affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church. Built on “a strong educational foundation and history,� academics are “challenging, but in an extremely satisfying way.� Small classroom sizes foster “individualized learning as well as close connections with professors,� whose students count as Illinois’s “greatest strength.� Faculty and staff “gets to know you on a personal level and will do anything in their power to help you,� offering “opportunities for experiential learning, and funding for such opportunities if the need is there.� The student-faculty research is highly valued, offering “first-hand� experience, and undergrads believe the chosen pedagogy leads them to feel “extremely confident� in “public speaking, presentation giving, writing,� and participation in “class discussions.� The faculty makes “big contributions in the world and send students all over the world to get some valuable experiences.� Programs such as “TRIO, a mentoring program done through the [Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion] ODEI, the tutoring program, and the campus writing and speech centers…are great resources for students,� assisting with both academics and to get help “acclimating to life at college, particularly for those who are first generation college students or who are minorities.� Students believe the liberal arts education they receive is “above-average quality.� Financial aid is generous, as “everyone gets some sort of scholarship.�

Illinois College is a “diverse family.� “I use family,� one student says, “because it’s really hard to walk through campus and not see a smiling face that you know.� There is a “unique blend of urban culture, mostly coming from students from Chicago and a surprisingly large number of international students given the size of the college.� The “end result is an inescapable exposure to the culture of the rural Midwest for any student at IC and the opportunity to learn about other nations and areas,� for students who come from out of state. Based on the student body, one student remarks that the college appears to “look at applicants’ participation in clubs and organizations� and “selects well-rounded and caring individuals.�

Students praise the “football program, made great by the coaches and elite players� that the college recruits. Students like to party, and when not in class, “relax with…friends.� Local food options include fast food and family restaurants like “Hardee’s, Little Mexico, Buffalo Wild Wings, Norma’s North Star, Lonzerotti’s, and Steak n’ Shake.� Students enjoy going out to “Lake Jacksonville and fishing� when the weather permits. The city of “Springfield is nearby for shopping.� In general, “Thursday nights are when a lot of students go to the bars. The popular places to go are Don’s, KJB’s, and The West Morgan County Depot.� One student offers an example of a life one can have at Illinois: “I am treasurer of the Black Student Union, and also Special Committee chair for Student Activities Board, so I spend a lot of time planning my events in the Center for Student Involvement. Between all of that I go to meetings for my other clubs and extracurriculars.� Students take part in “service fraternities such as Alpha Phi Omega,� which engage “in community service� and put on events. “Almost everyone� on campus is involved in “a sport, theater, choir, and literary societies.� Students are involved in “international projects,� “student senate,� and many students work on-campus jobs.