Spoon River College
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Spoon River College (SRC) is a
public In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociology, sociological concept of the ''Öf ...
community college A community college is a type of undergraduate higher education institution, generally leading to an associate degree, certificate, or diploma. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an open enr ...
in
Canton, Illinois Canton is the largest city in Fulton County, Illinois, United States. The population was 13,242 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, down from 14,704 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. The Canton Micropolitan Statistical Ar ...
. It is part of the
Illinois Community College System The Illinois Community College System consists of 39 public community college districts, composed of 48 community colleges and one multi-college center (East St. Louis Community College Center) where 3 of the community colleges offer additional ...
. Spoon River College's district comprises parts of Schuyler County, McDonough County, Mason County, and Knox County in West-Central Illinois.


History

Spoon River College was founded on October 17, 1959, as Canton Community College, after the Canton Union School District passed a
referendum A referendum, plebiscite, or ballot measure is a Direct democracy, direct vote by the Constituency, electorate (rather than their Representative democracy, representatives) on a proposal, law, or political issue. A referendum may be either bin ...
to establish a junior college,History
, Spoon River College website, accessed December 1, 2009
to allow students from the local high school district the opportunity to receive post-secondary education similar to university curriculum. It held its first classes in 1960, using space in the Canton Senior High School building. Authorized by the
Illinois General Assembly The Illinois General Assembly is the legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. It has two chambers, the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in ...
and signed by
Illinois Governor The governor of Illinois is the head of government of Illinois, and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by p ...
Otto Kerner Jr. Otto Kerner Jr. (August 15, 1908 – May 9, 1976) was an American jurist and politician. He served as the 33rd governor of Illinois from 1961 to 1968 and chaired the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (the Kerner Commission). He wa ...
in 1961, legislation was later enacted that created the
Illinois Board of Higher Education The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) is a state government agency that oversees higher education in the U.S. state of Illinois. The IBHE was created in 1961. Since 2012 the IBHE also permits and oversees business schools and other voca ...
(IBHE). The IBHE was tasked by statute with formulating a master plan for
higher education Tertiary education (higher education, or post-secondary education) is the educational level following the completion of secondary education. The World Bank defines tertiary education as including universities, colleges, and vocational schools ...
in the state of Illinois. In July 1964 the higher education master plan was published by the IBHE, which led to the Junior College Act of 1965. Under the Junior College Act, Canton was classified as a Class II Junior College. In the mid-1960s, the college moved its operations out of the high school building and into leased space in Canton. In 1968 the formation of Junior College District 534 completed the college's separation from the Canton public
school district A school district is a special-purpose district that operates local public Primary school, primary or Secondary school, secondary schools or both in various countries. It is not to be confused with an attendance zone, which is within a school dis ...
, and the institution was officially renamed Spoon River College and reclassified as a Class I institution.


Campus

The Spoon River College main campus is on of land four miles from the city of
Canton, Illinois Canton is the largest city in Fulton County, Illinois, United States. The population was 13,242 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, down from 14,704 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. The Canton Micropolitan Statistical Ar ...
. In 1984, a second location, known as the Macomb Campus, was opened in
Macomb, Illinois Macomb () is a city in and the county seat of McDonough County, Illinois, United States. It is situated in western Illinois, about southwest of Peoria, Illinois, Peoria. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of the c ...
, and occupies the old Macomb High School building. Since that time, over $3 million has been invested in renovating the building. In addition to these two campuses, the college holds for-credit classes at learning centers in
Havana, Illinois Havana is a city and the county seat of Mason County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,963 at the 2020 census, a decline from the figure of 3,301 tabulated in 2010. History Havana was a major ancient American settlement two thousan ...
and
Rushville, Illinois Rushville is a city in Schuyler County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,005 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Schuyler County. It was first settled by Euro-Americans in 1823. History In 1823, Calvin Hobart and his fami ...
. Spoon River College also holds non-credit and career development classes at two Community Outreach Centers in Macomb and Canton, Illinois. High demand for both credit and non-classes and training at the Macomb Campus has led to the building of an expansion center. The $2.2 million phase one portion of the project was completed in August 2009. An $18 million expansion is planned for the extension center in the near future.


Academics and demographics

Spoon River College is
accredited Accreditation is the independent, third-party evaluation of a conformity assessment body (such as certification body, inspection body or laboratory) against recognised standards, conveying formal demonstration of its impartiality and competence to ...
by the
Higher Learning Commission The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an institutional accreditor in the United States. It has historically accredited post-secondary education institutions in the central United States: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa ...
. Spoon River College has transfer agreements with four-year colleges and universities such as
Western Illinois University Western Illinois University (WIU) is a public university in Macomb, Illinois, United States. It was founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. As the normal school grew, it became Western Illinois State Teachers College. Once West ...
,
Southern Illinois University Carbondale Southern Illinois University (SIU) is a public research university in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Chartered in 1869, SIU is the oldest and flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system. SIU enrolls students from all 50 sta ...
, and
University of Illinois Springfield The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) is a public university in Springfield, Illinois, United States. The university was established by the Illinois General Assembly in 1969 as Sangamon State University with a focus on post-graduate edu ...
, as a part of the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide transfer agreement which ensures general education credits are transferable among more than 100 participating college or universities in Illinois. SRC has a specific dual-enrollment compact with Western Illinois University that began in 1998. The agreement between the schools permits students at SRC to transition into WIU through a pre-defined curriculum and automatic transfer protocol between institutions. In addition to the IAI, SRC offers students a
bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...
completion program that allows students to enroll in one of nine participating institutions and take classes at local SRC campuses or online. There are two primary educational tracks at SRC: Transfer Programs, and Career Educational Programs. Transfer students at SRC can earn an Associate in Arts (AA) or an Associate in Science (AS) with over 30 different areas of concentration. Career program students at SRC can earn an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree in eight areas, an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), or Certificates in over 30 areas.


Enrollment

As of April 28, 2011, spring enrollment at SRC was 1,906, of which 943 were enrolled full-time, and 936 were enrolled part-time. In addition, 94 non-credit enrollees were reported by SRC for the same period. In addition, dual credit enrollees obtaining college credit while attending high school stood at 312.


Library

Spoon River College provides a library within its Learning Resources Center at its main Canton, Illinois Campus. It has facilities for study, research, leisure reading, class preparation, and Internet access for students.


Student life


Student housing

Although the Illinois Public Community College Act prevents community colleges from building
student housing A dormitory (originated from the Latin word ''dormitorium'', often abbreviated to dorm), also known as a hall of residence, a residence hall (often abbreviated to halls), or a hostel, is a building primarily providing sleeping and residential qu ...
, SRC offers campus housing for its students through a special arrangement with
Western Illinois University Western Illinois University (WIU) is a public university in Macomb, Illinois, United States. It was founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. As the normal school grew, it became Western Illinois State Teachers College. Once West ...
(WIU). Under a November 1994 agreement between SRC and WIU, SRC students have the opportunity to live in WIU campus housing. The agreement allows a smoother transition for SRC students seeking to transfer to WIU, while allowing the university to utilize unused housing. Spoon River College students who live on the WIU campus also can access WIU's Beu Health Center.ANNUAL REPORT 2008
Division of Student Services,
Western Illinois University Western Illinois University (WIU) is a public university in Macomb, Illinois, United States. It was founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. As the normal school grew, it became Western Illinois State Teachers College. Once West ...


Academic clubs and cultural activities

SRC hosts several registered student clubs involved in academic, competitive, and cultural based activities. In addition, the campus has an active chapter of
Phi Theta Kappa Phi Theta Kappa ( or PTK) is an honor society for students of associate degree-granting colleges. Its headquarters are in Jackson, Mississippi and it has more than 4.3 million members in nearly 1,300 chapters in eleven nations. History Phi The ...
(ΦΘΚ), the international
honor society In the United States, an honor society is an organization that recognizes individuals who rank above a set standard in various domains such as academics, leadership, and other personal achievements, not all of which are based on ranking systems. ...
for two-year colleges and academic programs. SRC also publishes the journal ''Kaleidoscope'', of student produced artwork. It is published each spring and offered to the residents of the college district.


References


External links


Official website
{{authority control Community colleges in Illinois Universities and colleges established in 1960 Buildings and structures in Macomb, Illinois NJCAA schools Education in Fulton County, Illinois Education in McDonough County, Illinois 1960 establishments in Illinois Two-year colleges in the United States