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COLLEGE WELCOME AND OVERVIEW

ICC President Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey

Dear ICC Cougar,  

Welcome to Illinois Central College and thank you for making us your Smart Choice.  

I encourage you to explore our catalog to discover how Illinois Central College can help you achieve your goals. A great “first stop” is meeting with an admissions rep who can answer questions about classes or degree programs. They can also help navigate you through the admission and financial aid application processes.  

Last year ICC students received over $900,000 in scholarships. Be sure to visit icc.edu/scholarships/ and complete one application to be considered for over 600 scholarships. Also, connect with other students and get involved in one of our 40+ student organization groups at icc.edu/studentlife. To help you succeed, take advantage of the abundance of resources and academic support available at icc.edu/academicsupport.     

At ICC, you will earn a high-quality education opening opportunities for you to achieve your dreams. Your degree or certificate will provide a pathway leading to high-demand, higher-wage jobs. When you earn a credential with labor market value, it not only can change the trajectory of your life, but also the lives of your family.    

Congratulations on taking this step to change your life and better your future. We are happy you’re here and look forward to being a part of your educational journey.  

Best wishes,   

 
Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey 
President of Illinois Central College 

History

Illinois Central College first started classes on September 18, 1967, in temporary buildings at its East Peoria location. Situated on over 400 acres of wooded terrain, the East Peoria Campus is now home to the Edwards Library Administration Building, Academic Building, Agricultural and Industrial Technologies Building, CougarPlex, Performing Arts Center, the Caterpillar Building, and the Horticulture Land Laboratory.  

In 1973, Illinois Central College purchased a downtown site on Southwest Adams Street, which included the Perley and Thomas Buildings. ICC’s presence at this location has been phased out, and it is now utilized as the Peoria Innovation Hub.  ICC Peoria, located at 5407 N. University Street in Peoria, opened in December 2002. In August 2004, student residences opened, offering students an on-campus, apartment-style living option. In 2008, the College developed ICC Pekin at the Riverway Business Park, located at 225 Hanna Drive. ICC Peoria was newly renovated in 2016. The Student Resource Center was completed in 2017 and includes a Student Success Center, Student Activities Office, cafeteria, bookstore, student lounge, and meeting rooms.

Three out of ten graduating high school seniors living in the ICC district choose Illinois Central College. ICC annually awards more than 1,800 degrees and certificates.

Philosophy

Founded as a comprehensive community college in 1966 in response to the Illinois Master Plan for Higher Education, Illinois Central College was established to meet the post-secondary needs of the citizens of the District and to supplement the area schools and four-year colleges.

The College was formed on the belief that individuals have worth and dignity in their own right and should be educated to the fullest extent of their abilities and motivation. Education of each citizen creates a better community for all. The College strives to provide quality education appropriate to each individual’s needs within the bounds of fiscal responsibility. Illinois Central College is committed to non-discrimination and equal opportunity regardless of age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or physical capability. We believe that by representing the diversity of our district, we enrich the learning experience and create a broader and better understanding of our global community. In support of building this learning environment, we are dedicated to being a leader in recruiting, retaining, and promoting a diverse group of students, faculty, and staff.

The student is the center of all that is done at Illinois Central College. The College strives to provide students with the knowledge, skills and understanding for successful and satisfying careers and for intelligent participation in, and preservation of, a free and democratic society. This includes the development of a higher sense of values and the desire for continuous education throughout life. To achieve these purposes, the College encourages excellence in teaching and close communication between instructor and student.

To fulfill its philosophy and mission, the College:

  • Promotes student access through both admission policies and reasonable student costs that encourage enrollment of those who can benefit from the instruction and services offered.

  • Enhances the academic and personal development of all students through a full range of support services.

  • Provides a broad general education curriculum for students in all programs as a basis for further study and specialization.

  • Offers the requirements and prerequisites in preparation for successful transfer to a four-year institution to complete a baccalaureate degree. 

  • Provides a variety of career and technical programs in preparation for successful employment.

  • Provides developmental and foundational level studies for students with academic deficiencies.

  • Provides opportunities for students to appreciate and benefit from the diversity of people in a global community.

  • Offers continuing education opportunities for students interested in meeting personal goals or updating employment skills and pursuing cultural and leisure interests.

  • Cooperates with other educational, business, and governmental entities to address educational needs related to the economic health of the residents of the District.

  • Provides special cultural, recreational, and general interest events which enrich the life of the community.

Core Values

The College is committed to its Core Values:

  • Learning

  • Community

  • Integrity

  • Responsibility

  • Excellence

Vision

Illinois Central College is a comprehensive college committed to a future that “surprises” our students, employees, and community. We do not think that “settling” is enough. We, the people of ICC, are dedicated to becoming an institution that delights our students with relevant and up-to-date classes, exemplary service, and an enriching campus life, all at an affordable cost. We know what it takes for our students to succeed, and we make it happen. Education at ICC leads to successful careers, transfers to baccalaureate programs, and life-long learning experiences to improve our students’ lives and opportunities. The short version of the vision is:

We provide an exceptional educational experience that delights our students and stakeholders.

Mission

The mission of the College is expressed in these sentences:

Through learning, minds change.
We believe by changing minds, we can change the world.

Diversity Pledge

Illinois Central College stands committed to diversity in all of its dimensions. The College embraces, values, and encourages diversity at all levels of its operation. The College stands for tolerance, non-discrimination, and cultural sensitivity.

Inclusion is at the core of Illinois Central College’s educational and service strategies. Respect for diverse individuals will be evident in the College’s interactions with students, employees, and the communities it serves.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action

Illinois Central College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It is the policy of this College that no person, on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran's status, shall be discriminated against in employment, in educational programs and activities, or in admission.

Inquiries and complaints may be addressed to:

Title IX/Civil Rights Equity Coordinator Illinois Central College • 1 College Drive • East Peoria, Illinois 61635-0001 • (309) 694-8460

Feedback to Illinois Central College

ICC encourages current students to provide input in the form of compliments, suggestions, or complaints. Your feedback needs to be written and can be submitted using the ICC online feedback form found at the bottom of each page of the website. The College wants to hear about the good things that work, things that maybe weren’t so great, and ideas to make ICC better.

We ask that you provide feedback that is respectful, detailed, and timely, and refrain from using profanity, name-calling, or other inappropriate language. Submissions may be made anonymously, but if the submission includes an email, ICC personnel will follow up with the individual with the answer or resolution or for further clarification if needed to resolve the situation.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADAA), As Amended

Illinois Central College shall provide that no otherwise qualified individual with a disability, shall solely by reason of disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity engaged in by the College as required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disability Act of 1990, as amended.

Inquiries or complaints may be addressed to:

Human Resources, Illinois Central College • 1 College Drive • East Peoria, Illinois, 61635 • (309) 694-5437