Kaskaskia College
| Type | Community College |
|---|---|
| Established | 1940 |
| Endowment | $7,405,000 |
| President | George Evans - Interim President |
| Students | 5,193 |
| Location |
Centralia, IL, US 38°33′45″N 89°11′34″W / 38.56250°N 89.19278°WCoordinates: 38°33′45″N 89°11′34″W / 38.56250°N 89.19278°W |
| Campus | Rural |
| Colors | Navy Blue, White |
| Athletics | Blue Devils/Blue Angels |
| Website |
www |
Kaskaskia College, located in Centralia, Illinois, is a comprehensive community college located sixty miles east of St. Louis, Missouri, KC serves all or part of nine counties, including Bond, Clinton, Fayette, Marion, Washington, Jefferson, St. Clair, Madison and Montgomery. Kaskaskia College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
College Mission Statement
Kaskaskia College is committed to lifelong student learning and to providing quality, comprehensive education.
College History
Kaskaskia College was established in 1940 as Centralia Township Junior College through the Illinois Public Junior College Act of 1937. The bill was prepared and written, by Oscar Corbell, the Superintendent of Centralia High School, who also became the first president of Centralia Township Junior College. Centralia Junior College's classes were held at Centralia High School, and its curriculum was patterned after the University of Illinois freshman and sophomore courses. Fifty-seven courses were offered in the first college bulletin...ranging from Botany, Zoology, Elementary Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Economic History of the United States, English, Engineering, French, Speech and Physical Education.
In the early 1960s, a Master Plan for Higher Education in Illinois was developed and included recommendations concerning the development of an improved system of higher education in Illinois. Subsequently, many of these recommendations were written into the Illinois Public Junior College Act which passed the state legislature on June 29.1965, and was signed into law on July 15, 1965. The Public Junior College Law provided for the establishment of Junior College Districts in Illinois by direct vote of the people in a given area. Junior College District 501 was established on October 16, 1965, including all of Marion County, all of Clinton County, most of Washington County, and part of Jefferson County. This district has since been expanded to include most of Bond, much of Fayette and parts of St. Clair, Madison and Montgomery counties. Kaskaskia College was the first Class I Junior College to be established under provisions of the Public Junior College Act of the State of Illinois. Kaskaskia College, Junior College District 501, encompassed all of Centralia Junior College which has been established as a part of Centralia High School District in 1940. Consequently, Centralia Junior College ceased to exist as a legal entity on July 1, 1966, when Kaskaskia College assumed responsibility for the education program.
Programs
Kaskaskia College Associate of Arts and Associate of Science Degrees for students who wish to transfer to four-year colleges and universities. The college also offers 50 Associate Degree career programs and 102 certificates in occupational areas.
Campus
Kaskaskia College's main campus is located on approximately 190 acres three miles west of Centralia. The college has since constructed additional education centers in the communities of Vandalia, Salem, Greenville, Trenton and Nashville. The college also houses its heavy occupation programs, Heating and Air Conditioning, Carpentry, Welding, Industrial Technology at the Crisp Technology Center on Route 161 East in Centralia.