|
 Latham and Gillett worked with the local Cumberland Presbyterian
church leadership to lobby vigorously to the Synod for the city of
Lincoln and against the three competing communities of Newburg, IN,
Mt. Zion/Decatur, IL, and Cherry Grove, IL. Collectively they
donated the land for this prestigious institution and marshaled the
community to raise the significant required funds to start the
College and to build University Hall. The community rallied, and in
1865 raised $30,000, which was a huge sum in those days. This feat
alone is amazing.
That, however, would not be the only time the community came
together to support its budding jewel of a liberal arts college. In
1901, when expansion was required to meet the needs of the students,
the community again jumped into action and raised $25,000 (in
today's dollars is equivalent to $670,000) to build the
Administration Building.
 This pattern of support has continued for our entire 151-year
history. During the early 1960’s the community assisted in raising
funds for the ‘Lincoln the Student’ statue that resides in front of
the McKinstry Library. In addition, volunteers and fire department
members came out to fight the fire that engulfed the Administration
Building sometime after midnight in 1969. Later, others donated
funds to build the Lincoln Center which houses the Athletic Complex
and Lincoln Heritage Museum. Even many of the Museum’s artifacts
were donated by local community leaders. Over 10,000 visitors have
now toured the Lincoln Heritage Museum since its reopening in the
Lincoln Center in 2014.
Millions of dollars have been donated to support Lincoln College
over the past 151 years, and with that we have educated more than
31,000 students providing them with the foundation of their love of
learning, leadership development, a love of our community, and
economic security. Thank you for that support, and I hope you take
pride in the accomplishments of our graduates and in having Lincoln
College succeed in our community.
 Our impact on the city of Lincoln and Logan County, however is much
greater than this support, and can actually be measured. Utilizing
the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities’
web-based economic impact calculator, and by inputting specific
details, our direct and indirect annual local financial impact is
estimated at over $40,000,000. This impact is reflected in actual
dollars spent in the community through buying houses, acquiring
groceries, construction activity, hotel stays, purchasing cars and
gas, supporting events, and eating at restaurants, to name a few.
|
Annual
Economic Impact Summary |
| |
|
|
Direct
Expenditures: |
|
|
Total
Expenditures |
$19,074,134
|
|
Salary
Expenditures |
$10,278,409
|
|
Total
Operational Expenditures |
$3,242,438
|
|
Total Students |
1,192 |
|
Total Staff |
350 |
|
Estimated
In-State Alumni |
15,000 |
|
Student
Expenditures |
$7,666,944
|
|
Visitors |
1,672 |
|
Visitor
Expenditures |
$188,963
|
|
Capital
Expenditures |
$5,000,000
|
| |
|
|
Total
Economic Impact: |
|
|
Total Impact
to Illinois |
$43,549,681
|
|
Total Illinois
Jobs |
588 |
|
Total Local
Impact |
$41,146,629
|
|
Total Local
Jobs |
561 |
[to top of second column] |
The great news is that this contribution will
grow exponentially over the next decade. By adding eight
additional bachelor degree programs over the past two years,
with more to come, and our move to four-year athletics, the
increased impact has been immediate. Last fall we added an
additional 100 students at the College. We anticipate we will
have an additional 100 students next fall. We also expect to
double our student population in size over the next 8 years.
This will occur just by giving students the opportunity to stay
four-years versus two and by adding additional relevant bachelor
degree programs that will lead to great jobs.
This is an exciting time for Lincoln College as we expand and
return back to our roots as a baccalaureate and master granting
University. We will continue to reinvest in this jewel of
Lincoln by growing student enrollment, renovating the historic
151-year-old University Hall, and expanding academic,
residential and social opportunities for our students. This year
alone we are investing $350,000 of donated support by alumnus
Pat Carroll and others in University Hall to replace some
antiquated windows and bricks, repair mortar joints, and spruce
up some classrooms. In addition, we have invested another
$350,000 in the new TV studio for the Radio, TV, and New Media
bachelor degree program. We have hired additional faculty and
staff, some of whom have moved to the community. Our Student
Activities office has partnered with the Lincoln Grand 8 Theater
and has purchased 2,800 movie tickets as a convenient way to
engage and involve our students. We have also added a regularly
scheduled student shuttle that provides transportation to local
businesses, had student musicians performing throughout Logan
County, student groups volunteering at the community festivals
and non-profit organizations, as well as a handful of
senior-year internships in local businesses.
I know that Lisa and I are new to the community, but we feel
great pride and excitement for Lincoln College. I hope you do as
well.
[David Gerlach, Ph.D.
President of Lincoln College]
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