Academics
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.”
Student Body
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.”
Campus Life
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.
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