enriching individual lives
If you are interested in supporting enriching experiences, please use the How You Can Help link at left which will lead you to a page where we recommend several funds which will do exactly that.
Our diverse student body is curious, bright, and motivated. We have made it a goal to encourage that curiosity with many enriching experiences.
Real-World Learning
At Springfield, our smaller size and long-standing commitment to practical experience—a philosophy typically found in small liberal arts colleges—translates into meaningful, “real-world” learning and service experience for our students. Examples include:
- the service we provide to the community through our internship program (which we call Applied Study Term),
- our volunteer network,
- our public service and legislative staff internships
- field research opportunities.
We’re just small enough so that all of our students have a chance for experience-based learning.
A biology major, for example, might conduct risk assessment with conservationists at our Emiquon Field Station or intern with the EPA in its Springfield headquarters.
A legal studies grad student might assist a state legislator, while a history student can study with archivists in the Lincoln Papers preservation project.
“For hands-on learning,” says Chancellor Richard Ringeisen, “nobody does it better. You won’t pass through here without some quality service or civic experience.”
Practical learning and public service broaden the perspectives of our students, enrich their college experience, and better prepare them for careers.
Other Student Enrichment
Student enrichment comes in other forms, too.
Our student affairs division provides an array of services, multicultural programs, and social opportunities to help students grow personally as well as academically.
Our Visual Arts Gallery also offers access to nationally known artists.
Thanks to generous supporters like the Reesches and the Hooglands, Sangamon Auditorium hosts more than 60 world-class music, dance, and theater performances every year.
Our growing athletics program, soon with NCAA Division II status, provides another important part of a rich college experience. Indeed, the discipline and teamwork of our student athletes and those participating in our recreational programs, are a superb complement to our rigorous academics.
The Springfield Community Benefits
And we can’t overlook the benefits to local residents of a full and varied campus. The same programs that enrich our students’ lives also create a cultural oasis for our downstate community and help keep it viable and stable—even as we undergo significant demographic and economic changes.
Our Challenges...and Opportunities
- Key Needed Resources
While our generous supporters have helped us grow dramatically as a resource for applied learning and enrichment, we have yet to acquire some of the key resources and assets historically associated with top-tier liberal arts universities.
- New Degrees and Facilities for the Fine Arts
We are hopeful that the Campaign will help us establish new degrees in the fine arts, larger performance studios, and an endowment for the Creation of New Work to be performed at the auditorium.
- Expanded Athletics
We will also seek funds to expand our athletic program by establishing and building our intercollegiate sports teams, athletic scholarships, an academic advising unit for athletes, and more promotion of our sports both on and off campus. A stronger sports program--maybe even future national championships--can bring significant pride and visibility to our campus and our local community, not to mention the personal and social benefits it brings to our students.
- An Experiential and Service Learning Institute
We also know that we can build on our already strong service opportunities by developing an Experiential and Service Learning Institute, where we can formally study the successes of our practical education programs and identify the best practices that will reach beyond our campus and establish us as national leaders in this area. The institute could also expand our current array of volunteer, internship, and public service programs.
- Student Affairs Leadership Program
And then there’s the Student Affairs Leadership Program that we hope to launch with Campaign support. The goal of this program is to spark leadership skills in all of our students by offering new curricula, retreats, and other opportunities for leadership experiences.
