Spoon River College
Encyclopedia
Spoon River College located in Canton, Illinois
, is one of 48 two-year, open-admission colleges of the Illinois Community College System
(ICCS), organized under the Illinois Public Community College Act. Spoon River College's district comprises parts of Schuyler County, McDonough County, Mason County, and Knox County
in West-Central Illinois
.
to establish a junior college, 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
and signed by Illinois Governor Otto Kerner, Jr.
in 1961, legislation was later enacted that created the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). The IBHE was tasked by statute with formulating a master plan for higher education
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
, and the institution was officially renamed Spoon River College and reclassified as a Class I institution.
. In 1984, a large second location, known as the Macomb Campus, was opened in Macomb, Illinois
, and occupied the old Macomb High School building. The building required extensive renovation which took ten-years and $2.6 million to complete.
In addition to these two large campuses, the college holds for-credit classes at learning centers in Havana, Illinois
and Rushville, Illinois
. 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. A large $10 million expansion is planned for the extension center in the near future.
Spoon River College currently operates a satellite campus at the local Illinois River Correctional Center under contract with the Illinois Department of Corrections. SRC holds vocational and rehabilitative classes at the IDOC facility, closed to the public.
(NCA) to offer certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees. It received the maximum ten-year accreditation approval by the Higher Learning Commission of the NCA during its last review in 2002.
Spoon River College has transfer agreements with four-year colleges and universities such as Southern Illinois University Carbondale
, University of Illinois at Springfield
, and the Western Illinois University
, 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
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. The two educational tracks offer a total of 35 associates degree programs, and 36 certificate programs.
, SRC offers campus housing for its students through a special arrangement with Western Illinois University
(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 space. Spoon River College students who live on the WIU campus also can access WIU's Beu Health Center.
(ΦΘΚ), the international honor society
for two-year colleges and academic programs.
SRC also publishes the journal Kaleidoscope, which is a journal of student produced artwork. It is published each spring and offered to the residents of the college district.
Canton, Illinois
Canton is the largest city in Fulton County, Illinois in the United States. The population was 18,288 as of the 2000 Census. The Canton Micropolitan Statistical Area covers all of Fulton County; it is in turn part of the wider Peoria-Canton, IL Combined Statistical Area .-Geography:Canton is...
, is one of 48 two-year, open-admission colleges of the Illinois Community College System
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 where 3 of the community colleges offer additional classes...
(ICCS), organized under the Illinois Public Community College Act. Spoon River College's district comprises parts of Schuyler County, McDonough County, Mason County, and Knox County
Knox County, Illinois
Knox County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 52,919, which is a decrease of 5.2% from 55,836 in 2000...
in West-Central Illinois
Forgottonia
Forgottonia is the name given to a fourteen-county region in Western Illinois in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This geographic region forms the western bulge of Illinois that is roughly equivalent to "The Tract," the Illinois portion of the Military Tract of 1812, along and west of the Fourth...
.
History
Spoon River College was founded on October 17, 1959 as Canton Community College, after the Canton Union School District passed a referendumReferendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
to establish a junior college, 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
Illinois General Assembly
The Illinois General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois and comprises the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Illinois has 59 legislative districts, with two...
and signed by Illinois Governor Otto Kerner, Jr.
Otto Kerner, Jr.
Otto Kerner, Jr. was the 33rd Governor of Illinois from 1961 to 1968. He is best known for chairing the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders and for accepting bribes....
in 1961, legislation was later enacted that created the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). The IBHE was tasked by statute with formulating a master plan for higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
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
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
, and the institution was officially renamed Spoon River College and reclassified as a Class I institution.
Campus
Spoon River College currently has its main campus in on 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) of land four miles from the city of Canton, IllinoisCanton, Illinois
Canton is the largest city in Fulton County, Illinois in the United States. The population was 18,288 as of the 2000 Census. The Canton Micropolitan Statistical Area covers all of Fulton County; it is in turn part of the wider Peoria-Canton, IL Combined Statistical Area .-Geography:Canton is...
. In 1984, a large second location, known as the Macomb Campus, was opened in Macomb, Illinois
Macomb, Illinois
Macomb is a city in and the county seat of McDonough County, Illinois, United States. It is situated in western Illinois southwest of Galesburg. The population was 18,588 at the 2000 census. Macomb is the home of Western Illinois University.- Geography :...
, and occupied the old Macomb High School building. The building required extensive renovation which took ten-years and $2.6 million to complete.
In addition to these two large campuses, the college holds for-credit classes at learning centers in Havana, Illinois
Havana, Illinois
Havana is a city in Mason County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,577 at the 2000 census, and 3,260 at a 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Mason County.-Geography:...
and Rushville, Illinois
Rushville, Illinois
Rushville is a city in Schuyler County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,212 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Schuyler County.-Demographics:...
. 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. A large $10 million expansion is planned for the extension center in the near future.
Spoon River College currently operates a satellite campus at the local Illinois River Correctional Center under contract with the Illinois Department of Corrections. SRC holds vocational and rehabilitative classes at the IDOC facility, closed to the public.
Academics and demographics
Spoon River College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and SchoolsNorth Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools , also known as the North Central Association, is a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states, that is engaged in educational accreditation...
(NCA) to offer certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees. It received the maximum ten-year accreditation approval by the Higher Learning Commission of the NCA during its last review in 2002.
Spoon River College has transfer agreements with four-year colleges and universities such as Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public research university located in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1869, SIUC is the flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system...
, University of Illinois at Springfield
University of Illinois at Springfield
The University of Illinois at Springfield is a public university in Springfield, Illinois. The University was established in 1969 as Sangamon State University by the Illinois General Assembly and became a part of the University of Illinois system on July 1, 1995.The University of Illinois at...
, and the Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University is a public university founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. Like many similar institutions of the time, Western Illinois State Normal School focused on teacher training for its relatively small body of students. As the normal school grew, it became...
, 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
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
completion program
Degree completion program
A degree completion program is an educational program providing a way for learners to get college credit for learning that they acquired through life and work experience. Degree completion programs, unlike diploma mills, work within the established university community to provide accredited degrees...
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. The two educational tracks offer a total of 35 associates degree programs, and 36 certificate programs.
Enrollment
As of March 16, 2009, Spring enrollment at SRC was 2,124, of which 890 were enrolled full-time, and 1,234 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 239.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 housing
Although the Illinois Public Community College Act prevents community colleges from building student housingDormitory
A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...
, SRC offers campus housing for its students through a special arrangement with Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University is a public university founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. Like many similar institutions of the time, Western Illinois State Normal School focused on teacher training for its relatively small body of students. As the normal school grew, it became...
(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 space. Spoon River College students who live on the WIU campus also can access WIU's Beu Health Center.
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 KappaPhi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa, also ΦΘΚ or sometimes PTK , is the international honor society of two-year colleges and academic programs, particularly community colleges and junior colleges. It also includes Associate's degree-granting programs offered by four-year colleges...
(ΦΘΚ), the international honor society
Honor society
In the United States, an honor society is a rank organization that recognizes excellence among peers. Numerous societies recognize various fields and circumstances. The Order of the Arrow, for example, is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America...
for two-year colleges and academic programs.
SRC also publishes the journal Kaleidoscope, which is a journal of student produced artwork. It is published each spring and offered to the residents of the college district.