The beginning of the year saw many promising achievements and its close ushered in a global pandemic that brought historic challenges for many industries, including higher education. Through the ups and downs of this year, the resilience, creativity, determination and kindness of our Illinois College community has continually shone through.

Thank you for continuing the Illinois College tradition. Each name listed in the IC Impact Report is the name of a person who believes in the special qualities of Illinois College graduates. Your support is a testament that the world needs these qualities more than ever. You have had a meaningful impact on the lives of IC students and helped to make the world a better place.

IC WITHIN REACH OF $50M CAMPAIGN GOAL
As the new fiscal year at Illinois College began, the $50 million Inspiring Achievement: The Campaign for Illinois College had just launched its public phase. At the time, the College had raised $36 million of its goal.

Raising funds for a major renovation of Crispin Hall to turn it into a state-of-the-art science center is a centerpiece of the Campaign. Other Campaign priorities include scholarships; hands-on learning experiences like internships, study abroad and research; scholarships; and other areas of student support through the IC Fund.

Today, the College has raised $40 million, or 80% of the Campaign goal. During the Campaign, 35 new endowed scholarships have been established and nearly 10,000 donors have participated. 

PROGRAMS AND OFFERINGS FOR STUDENTS EXPANDED
Expanded endorsement for teachers, a new online accounting degree program, the development of a program in human resources and the addition of a traditional four-year track in nursing were among updates at IC during the 2019-2020 academic year.

IC’s online program continued to grow, both by the addition of academic offerings and by the number of enrolled students. The addition of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree was a major addition to the College. The nursing degree prepares graduates for meaningful careers in health care and helps meet the urgent needs of community and regional health care providers.

“Nursing is a critically-important field,” said Catharine O’Connell, provost and dean of the College, “and we believe that excellent professional education built upon the foundation of our strong curriculum will prepare students to make tremendous contributions to their communities as leaders in nursing.”

Students in the program began taking class in the fall of 2020.

LARGEST EVER FIRST-YEAR CLASS LEADS TO RECORD-SETTING ENROLLMENT
Over the past 10 years, Illinois College has experienced a 20% increase in overall enrollment while raising the average high school GPA of first-year students and realizing a more diverse student body.

In fall 2019, the College welcomed about 320 first-year students and 50 transfer students. The number is a 12% increase from IC’s 335 new students the year before. IC’s total 2019 enrollment of 1,048 was up 7% from the previous year’s 980 students, which was the highest in a decade.

“Illinois College is dedicated to student success. Students are choosing an IC education because they want to Graduate READY and we are with them every step of the way,” said Vice President of External Relations Stephanie Elpers Chipman, who oversees enrollment.

“It’s exciting to see so many new students beginning their journey at Illinois College. I am confident that the experiences they have here will prepare them to join our alumni as leaders in their fields.” Growing enrollment to 1,200 students by 2022 is part of Illinois College’s plan to ensure student success, realize strategic growth and achieve sustainable foundations.

FINE ARTS SERIES CELEBRATES 40 YEARS
Dean Donald R. Eldred H’04 founded the Illinois College Fine Arts Series, originally entitled the McGaw Fine Arts Series, to honor the arts at IC. For 40 years, the concert series has enriched the local arts community, bringing a variety of diverse musical performances to the Illinois College campus each year. The program has expanded to include family-focused evenings with offerings such as a Halloween story night. The series began its 41st year virtually this fall, with hopes that spring performances can be in person.

DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS TEAM CONTINUES TO GROW
In early November 2019, the Illinois College alumni and development team welcomed IC graduate and fundraising professional Monica Pitman Bucek ’86 as assistant vice president of major gifts and campaigns.

Bucek, who is based in the Chicago area, is a knowledgeable development officer with over 20 years of experience in the field, including several years in higher education. Bucek says she is excited to be back at IC. She credits her Illinois College education with inspiring her to make a difference through a career in philanthropy.

In December 2019, Kris Williams Houser ’91 joined Illinois College as executive director of development and alumni relations. The strong team is led by Vice President of External Relations Stephanie Elpers Chipman.

STATE-OF-THE-ART AUDITORIUM HONORS CAMPAIGN CHAIR AND FAMILY
In December 2019, Illinois College announced that the newly renovated auditorium in Crispin Hall will officially be named the Del ’72 and Lisa Dunham Auditorium in honor of a lead gift made by the family to the College. The upgraded auditorium was unveiled at the start of the fall semester. The space meets a wide range of campus needs, serving as a large-scale active-learning classroom and dynamic gathering place for campus and community events.

Several classes were held in the auditorium this semester, and it was the site of an alumni reception at the 2019 Homecoming celebration. The state-of-the-art technology made this improved space a vital part of the College’s plan when classes transitioned to remote learning due to the pandemic.

The Dunhams, who reside in Texas, have long been leaders in the Illinois College community. They are members of the Illinois College Varsity Club and lifetime members of the Illinois College Society, the premier annual giving circle at the College. The Dunhams established the Jack Mann and Fred Pilcher Physics and Mathematics Research Support Fund in October 2014 to support physics and math students and faculty in conducting research, and later established the Del ’72 and Lisa Dunham Family Endowed Scholarship. Del has served on the Illinois College Board of Trustees for over 15 years and currently serves as chair of Inspiring Achievement: The Campaign for Illinois College.

President Barbara A. Farley expressed gratitude for the lasting contributions of the Dunham family: “The entire Illinois College community, especially our students, will benefit for many years because of the generosity of the Dunham family. They have helped ignite an excitement on campus, and we are thankful for their leadership and vision.”

ILLINOIS COLLEGE WELCOMES MACMURRAY STUDENTS
The March announcement that MacMurray College would permanently close its doors at the end of spring semester was sad news for the entire Jacksonville community. President Barbara A. Farley issued a statement that included a message of welcome for those students who wished to continue their education locally.

“The closure of MacMurray is a great loss for the entire community. Since the 1800s, MacMurray College and Illinois College have been pillars of higher education in Jacksonville,” Farley said. “Our hearts are heavy. Illinois College will support Jacksonville and the MacMurray College community in the days ahead.”

Illinois College quickly developed ways to serve those students affected by the closure with transfer and financial benefits. Ultimately, 97 MacMurray students enrolled at IC and the College hired 9 professors.

#TOGETHERIC HELPS STUDENTS AFFECTED BY PANDEMIC
In March 2020, the College launched the #TogetherIC campaign to support IC students impacted by the pandemic. Like many across the country, students are facing financial setbacks; they may have family members who are sick or have passed from COVID-19 and others are struggling with their own health concerns. All of them have had to adapt to the changes this year has brought.

Over $30,000 was raised for the IC Fund during this campaign to directly help students remain successful during this difficult time. Alumni and friends of the College continue to play a vital role in preserving the health, safety and wellbeing of Illinois College students.

For the latest campus news, visit www.ic.edu/news.

*All photos included in this issue were taken before 2020.