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 President Lincoln would never see the university that was
established in his name, or experience any of the 150 years of
students’ undertakings, academic rigors and convocations that
followed. Just weeks after the charter was issued, he was shot and
killed.
Now with its 150th Anniversary, the college is planning a full year
of observations which has already begun with a Charter Day
celebration, and continues next on Alumni Reunion Weekend, April 24
- 25. This anniversary year will offer the public many opportunities
to attend cultural, sporting, entertainment and environmental
learning activities and events that are offered year round, every
year at the college, with a few added special opportunities.
LC is unique: as the only private, two-year residential college in
the state of Illinois. In recent years the college has made a number
of important education expansions and now also offers several
baccalaureate degrees, as well as exchange and outreach programs.
In addition to the Lincoln Campus, the college has a campus in
Normal, outreach programs in LaSalle Peru, and cooperative programs
with Heartland College and Lincoln Land College.
This year enrollment on the Lincoln campus has been approximately
650 students, up eight-percent from last year. Last year’s
enrollment of 604 was up six-percent from the previous year.
 The Normal campus has 150 full-time, 50 part-time traditional
students, 25 students in the college of cosmetology, and 300
students participating in the ABE (Accelerated Bridge to Education)
adult program.
Going on three years ago, LC Trustee John Blackburn made a personal
sacrifice. He came out of a short-lived retirement committing to a
few years to take the lead of the college. He brought forward
knowledge of the college from his 11 years on college’s board of
directors, three of those as the board chair.
His 30-year career at Country Financial, 10 years as its CEO, has
more than kept the college on its tracks during a challenging
economy.
And, like many of the trustees who themselves, family members or
children have attended Lincoln College, he has a daughter that
attended.
President Blackburn announced in September that he would be retiring
his presidency in the summer of 2015. He and his wife Barb are
committed to still being here in Lincoln and continuing to help the
college as they can.
While President Blackburn has only been president for a short term,
he has accomplished much, and seen the completion of several big
projects.
The first big job President Blackburn inherited was that of
completing Lincoln Center. The gigantic multi-million dollar complex
was built to house athletic and convocation events, concerts and
fine arts performances, exhibits, a fitness center, offices and
meeting/classrooms. It opened in January 2010.
The relocation and expansion of the Lincoln Heritage Museum into
that same building took place this past spring. The state-of-the-art
Museum has gained renowned acclaim. If you haven't visited yet, you
are missing something. Plan a trip during some of the many special
events this year or take the family and go any day.
President Blackburn also inherited the task of seeing that Creekside
Environmental Center, an outdoor classroom spearheaded by Dr. Dennis
Campbell, was completed. Creekside's grand opening was celebrated in
the fall of 2014. This is another great community asset not to be
missed. Watch LDN for announcements about special events at
Creekside. Creekside offers a tranquil setting and multiple learning
disciplines set just five miles north of Lincoln on Sugar Creek.
See where the gigantic 20 million-year-old mammoth "Judson Tusk" was
found. View the stars on a gazing night. Hear the soothing wind blow
through the naturalized prairie grasses, see natures life-cycle
unfolding, evolving in the greenhouse, in the woods and around the
ponds. Experience Creekside.
 The college's continues to offer studies and training in performing
arts. The public is invited through out the year to musical, dance
and dramatic performances in the Johnston Center.
It also has a rich history in team sports that have provided
entertainment throughout the year as well.
The college's many arenas, meeting rooms, grounds, even off season
dormitory use, have served as venues for events that benefit the
community.
In its academics progression, most recently, Blackburn was the
driving force behind bringing the University of Illinois’ College of
Aces to Lincoln College. Starting this year students are being
offered a two-year transfer program in the field of agriculture.
Logan County had no other specific agriculture degree work available
that would permit local students a couple more years at home. This
is a great measure that helps support our vital agriculture
industry.
Blackburn explained that the mission of the college is wrapped
around the phrase “Experience outstanding -- an outstanding place to
work -- an outstanding student experience -- and outstanding
results.”
Blackburn said that locally, Lincoln Community High School is
turning out some outstanding graduates who are very well prepared
for college. Because of this, Lincoln College has some great success
stories from LCHS. He named three in particular, Taylor Perry, Sarah
Edwards and Katie Nelson. He said those students entered LC ready to
excel, and they did so. In part, Blackburn credited this to the
relationship the college has with LCHS and to the dual credit
program offered between the high school and college.
In the everyday success of its students, one of the challenges the
college faces is preparing students for their freshman year.
Blackburn explained that with the diversity of the college, not
everyone coming in is at the same level of preparedness. “These are
bright and capable kids,” Blackburn said, “But they need us to help
get them focused.”
He went on to say that in many cases, these are first-generation
college students. They don’t have a reference point from other
family members as to what college will be like, and they don’t know
what to ask for in order to get them brought up to speed in the
classroom.
Because of this, the school on-the-whole needs to be prepared to
recognize these situations and help students address them through
programs offered at the college.
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He said the college is fortunate because it does have
outstanding faculty that are dedicated to the students. In
tutoring labs, students who need that extra help receive
one-on-one help assistance.
“One of the things the academia have created is "learning
communities,’” Blackburn said. “We call them linked courses
where students are in three courses together and the instructors
work as a team to make sure they are progressing at a proper
rate.”
“We have the academic success center, which is free professional
tutoring available to our students. There is a writing lab and
there is a math lab.” Blackburn concluded, “I have to give a lot
of credit to our instructors. In the success center, not only is
it free professional tutoring, but our instructors personally
spend a lot of their free time in those labs. This is not paid
time; they give it to the students because they want them to
succeed.”
This summer the college also started a pilot program Blackburn
referred to as the ‘Summer Bridge.’ Approximately 40 students
were selected for conditional admission to LC with their final
admission being dependent on their successful completion of the
program.
Blackburn explained, "The Summer Bridge program we piloted this
summer is to help students be better ready to enter their
freshman year. We’re real excited about it."
In Summer Bridge, students register for nine hours of class.
Blackburn said, “They were here for four very intense weeks.
They took math and composition, which were seven of the [nine]
hours. We did a PE class because we needed to let them get out
and get some fresh air because each of the two classes is four
hours a day.”
Then program also included ‘The First-Year Experience,’ which
granted one credit hour. It introduced students to how to
operate socially in college, time management, dorm life,
civility, and all those things that will help them on the social
side, Blackburn said.
“We did a survey in the end, and they raved about it. These kids
are ready, and they would not have been ready. Again, these
students are very bright, but they need to accelerate their
readiness. This program has got us excited."
 The result of the program -- 75 percent of the students passed
conditional status and were admitted. After their first year is
completed, he said, “We want to evaluate it now, improve it, and
expand it."
Blackburn said the true measure of the success of the program
will be to see how the students’ progress throughout this year,
and to see what student retention is once they get ready to go
into that second year.
Though Lincoln College may be a “small school” the result of
getting an education there is a big experience that prepares
students for what lies ahead. Blackburn said between high school
and college there is a moment when a kid is no longer a kid, but
a young adult.
The goal of the Lincoln College is to help students become good
adults, not only through education, but also through
socialization. Blackburn gave kudos to the civility program at
LC that was developed by Tina Nutt as part of her doctoral
studies. The three-year initiative started in 2012 has helped
address a growing nation-wide issue concerning behaviors,
particularly related mobile technology. President Blackburn
noted that the overall behavior of the college population is
greatly improved over the past few years.
Blackburn noted that the success of Lincoln College has been
dependent upon many things. He said he couldn’t say enough about
the faculty, their dedication to the college and its students.
In addition, as a private college there is very little state and
federal funding that helps support the school. He said the
community on the whole is very supportive of the college, and
without that support many of the programs offered wouldn’t be
possible. He noted in particular the Woods Foundation who helped
fund the Summer Bridge program. He said, “The Woods Foundation
is very focused on helping students who need assistance. They
are a great organization and very good to Lincoln College.”
In addition, he said the school has had many great donors and
benefactors, as well as the support of many of the local
businesses. He said he also appreciated the relationship the
college has with LCHS. He noted in particular they share
facilities, noting specifically the high school uses the college
swimming pool for their swim team, and the college uses the high
school track for their training and practice, both without fees
or charges.
 The mission and vision of Lincoln College, “Experience
outstanding" is being practiced on a daily basis on the campus
of Lincoln College.
If you haven't done it before, this is the year to plan a visit
Lincoln College to become familiar with all that this college
offers students and the community.
[Nila Smith with contributions by
Jan Youngquist]
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