The Illinois Central College campus on Peoria’s north side is 15 years old. The campus just unveiled a new student center. (Photo courtesy of ICC)

Illinois Central College hosts a number of so-called traditional students — the young adults who take full course loads and attend a cornucopia of classes stretching over a semester.

But the higher-education institution also is welcoming a growing number of adults attending school part-time, juggling their studies with family life and full-time careers.

Attempting to balance the needs of both groups, ICC officials say they are continuously striving to grow and evolve the programs and amenities offered at the four campuses in East Peoria, Pekin and Peoria.

When classes resume Monday, Aug. 21, students attending ICC’s 15-year-old campus on Peoria’s north side will have a new feature greeting them: a full-service student center with a dining area, tutoring center, bookstore, conference center and meeting rooms for student clubs.

Physically, ICC’s second, newer Peoria-based campus at 5407 N. University St. continues to evolve as such programs as culinary arts offerings shift to the facility. As part of the evolution, adding a student center was a logical part of the college’s strategy, officials say.

“We decided to expand our presence,” Julie Howar, dean of business, legal and information systems, said in an interview with the Chronicle. “We haven’t offered anything like this (at the northern Peoria campus) before.”

Illinois Central College President Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey and the ICC Foundation earlier this month welcomed the individuals and businesses who helped with the construction of the new Student Center. (Photo courtesy of ICC)

But Howar and other ICC officials are quick to point out the addition of a student center is a decision that did not happen overnight. Its completion was the culmination of a number of partnerships.

Six private and corporate donors provided the funding needed for the amenity. Each participant was recognized during a ribbon-cutting ceremony last month.

“The ICC Peoria campus promises to be a great resource for our students and community, thanks to everyone who worked and gave to make our new learning space a reality,” Sheila Quirk-Bailey, president of ICC, said in a statement.

Sid and Flo Banwart provided funding for the library and academic support center, while CEFCU credit union offered assistance toward the new commons area.

The family of Lowell “Bud” Grieves offered assistance for a special event space, and CORE Construction helped bring a group learning lab to fruition.

New computer lab space within the student center came to be through Pekin Insurance, while Kuhl Insurance offered the financial means necessary for a group study room.

While the new student center is a nod to the persons investing a significant portion of their day to the college experience, ICC also is continuing its efforts to reach out to pupils with more limited, constrained schedules.

Pekin Insurance was one of the regional businesses and organizations that donated funds to help build the new Student Center at Illinois Central College’s Peoria campus. (Photo courtesy of ICC)

This fall, the college is ramping up its evening course options, unveiling four new degree and certificate programs.

“This is the result of feedback we’ve received from our students,” Howar said when asked about impetus behind the decision to continue with the rollout. “We’re trying to listen to the market.”

The goal behind the evening courses, Howar said, is to offer a streamlined college experience. Many of the evening courses offer a hybrid model that intermingles face-to-face classroom time with an online component.

“This is for folks who are very busy,” Howar said. “We designed these programs with this kind of student in mind. This is ideal for people who need to plan.”

The new evening options rolling out this fall include an associate’s degree in applied science — business at the East Peoria and Peoria campuses, an associate’s degree in interdisciplinary studies at the Peoria campus and an accounting technician certificate at the Pekin campus.

Howar said ICC is constantly evaluating students’ feedback and making tweaks to programs and amenities on an as-needed basis.

— ICC evolving to meet students of all walks of life  —-