Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on About the Aspen Institute
The Aspen Institute is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering leadership, advancing policy, and promoting dialogue on critical issues facing society. Founded in 1949, the Institute is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has campuses across the United States and abroad.
With a mission to drive change through values-based leadership and open dialogue, the Aspen Institute brings together leaders from business, government, education, and the nonprofit sector. Its programs and fellowships focus on a wide range of areas including education, economic opportunity, global affairs, and civic engagement.
One of its key initiatives is the College Excellence Program, which works to improve student outcomes in higher education—especially at community colleges—by promoting strong leadership and innovative practices.
Through conferences, fellowships, research, and partnerships, the Aspen Institute continues to be a respected platform for developing solutions to complex global and local challenges.
SRC and the Aspen Institute
Spoon River College participates in two prestigious programs led by the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program, underscoring its commitment to improving student outcomes and advancing educational equity.
In July 2024, SRC was chosen to join the 2024–2025 cohort of the Aspen-AASCU Transfer Student Success Intensive. This initiative, a collaboration between the Aspen Institute and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), aims to strengthen partnerships between community colleges and four-year institutions to enhance transfer student success. SRC will work alongside its partner, Western Illinois University, and other institutions to develop strategies that support equitable transfer pathways.
Additionally, SRC President Dr. Curt Oldfield was named an Aspen Presidents Fellow for the 2024–2025 academic year. This year-long fellowship, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase, brings together 25 community college presidents nationwide to engage in professional development focused on advancing student success. Fellows collaborate with peers and experts to analyze institutional outcomes and implement reforms that promote equitable student achievement.
These recognitions reflect SRC’s dedication to fostering academic excellence and providing students with opportunities for successful transfer and career advancement.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on Spoon River College Faculty: Committed Educators Across Disciplines
Spoon River College boasts a dedicated and diverse faculty, both full-time faculty members and numerous adjunct instructors who provide quality education across various disciplines. The college maintains a student-faculty ratio of approximately 16-to-1, ensuring personalized attention and support for its students.
The faculty encompasses a broad range of academic and technical fields and all are committed to fostering an engaging and supportive learning environment. Their dedication to teaching excellence and student success is evident in the college’s strong academic programs and the personalized attention students receive.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on Dual Credit Program for High School Students
Dual Credit Program for High School Students
Spoon River College offers a robust Dual Credit Program that enables high school students to earn both high school and college credits simultaneously. This initiative provides students with a head start on their postsecondary education, offering both academic and financial advantages.
Program Highlights:
Diverse Course Offerings: SRC’s dual credit courses encompass general education subjects that are transferable to four-year institutions, as well as career and technical education programs in fields like nursing, welding, and diesel technology.
Flexible Enrollment Options: Students can participate in dual credit courses offered at their high schools, on SRC campuses, or online. Evening and summer classes are available, allowing students to balance their studies with other commitments.
Cost Savings: Tuition at SRC is approximately one-third the cost of public Illinois universities and one-eighth the cost of private four-year colleges, making it a cost-effective option for early college credit.
Scholarship Opportunities: The SRC Foundation offers dual credit scholarships to assist eligible high school students with tuition expenses. Preference is given to families with a gross annual income under $65,000 and households of four or more, though all students are encouraged to apply.
Support Services: Dedicated Dual Credit Advisors are available to guide students through the enrollment process, placement testing, and course selection. Advisors are accessible at various SRC campuses, including Canton and Macomb.
For more information or to enroll in the Dual Credit Program, students should consult their high school guidance counselors or contact SRC’s Dual Credit Advisors directly or look for additional information on our Dual Credit Programs page.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on Spoon River College to Open New Campus in Macomb
Spoon River College will open a new campus in Macomb in summer 2025, marking a significant step in expanding access to higher education in the region. The new facility is expected to serve as a modern hub for learning, career training, and community engagement.
The Macomb campus will offer a range of academic and vocational programs, including general education courses, healthcare certifications, and technical training. Designed with student success in mind, the campus will feature updated classrooms, labs, and resources aimed at supporting both traditional and non-traditional learners.
The new campus will strengthen partnerships with local businesses and schools, creating more opportunities for workforce development and dual-credit programs for high school students. The initiative aligns with Spoon River College’s mission to provide affordable, quality education across its service area.
The expansion highlights Spoon River College’s continued commitment to meeting the evolving needs of students and the regional economy. Click here for photos of the construction project through its multiple phases.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on 18th Annual Tractor Show and Car Cruise-In April 26 at Canton Campus
The 18th Annual Tractor Show and Car Cruise-In will be held Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Spoon River College Campus in Canton.
The event is hosted by Phi Mu Tau fraternity students in the Diesel and Power Systems Technology program. Anyone who has a classic car or tractor is invited to bring or drive them to the college and be part of the show. There is no entry fee.
“This is a free, fun, casual event,” said Todd Thompson, DPST instructor and Phi Mu Tau advisor. “Bring the family and come on out. There is always a nice variety of antique vehicles and tractors, plus some new and unique ones.”
Registration will be from 9-11 a.m. Awards for best car and best tractor will be determined by fan voting and announced at 2 p.m. Raffle and 50-50 drawing winners will also be announced at 3 p.m. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
The event is free and open to the public. In case of inclement weather, it will be held inside the VOTECH building.
The Canton Campus of Spoon River College is located at 23235 N. County Hwy 22.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on SRC Hosting Job Fair May 2 at Canton Campus
A job fair will be held on Friday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Multi-Purpose Building on the Canton Campus located at 23235 N. County Hwy 22.
Job seekers are encouraged to bring their resumes and be prepared to talk with employers on site. Event sponsors are Spoon River College, Spoon River College Office of Community Outreach, Canton Area Chamber of Commerce, and Fulton and Mason County Career Link offices.
As of press time, the following employers are registered to attend:
Heat and Control-Galesburg; Nature’s Grace & Wellness, Graham Health System, Western Illinois University Office of Public Safety, Bridgeway-Pekin, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Advanced Medical Transport, Cook Medical/Cook Polymer Technology, Illinois Department of Human Services, State of Illinois-Department of Central Management Services, Watco-Pittsburg, IL, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, The Loft Rehabilitation and Nursing, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Spoon River College, Illinois Department of Transportation, and the Canton Police Department.
To see the most recent list of employers attending, or to register a participating employer, visit www.src.edu and click on Career Services under the Student Services tab, or click the following link https://www.src.edu/event/2025-src-job-fair.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on Phi Theta Kappa Induction Held at Spoon River College
Spoon River College inducted new members into the Nu Delta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society in a ceremony held April 3 at the Spoon River College Canton Campus. A total of 92 students joined this year, with 36 attending the ceremony.
After a welcome by Spoon River College President Dr. Curt Oldfield, the history of Phi Theta Kappa was presented by Breauna Rawley, President of the Canton Chapter, and Misty Peyer, President of the Macomb Chapter.
Missy Wilkinson, Dean of Student Services, introduced the four members who were named to the Phi Theta Kappa All-Illinois Academic Team, chosen on the basis of academic achievement, volunteer work, campus activities, honors, and awards. Those students were Samantha Ayala, Sarah Davis, Amanda Koll, and Breauna Rawley.
Phi Theta Kappa faculty advisors Shelli Stuart and Rebecca Werland presided over the initiation of new members, who were introduced by Dr. Andrew Kirk, Communications professor, and Melissa Miller, Dean of Career and Workforce Education.
Following are the inductees.
Astoria: Gage Peters;
Bloomington: Meadow Bronke, Kate Oyler;
Bushnell: Shayna Ludwig, Matthew McDonald;
Canton: Isabella Alig, Paige Anderson, Ava Barrera, Timothy Bates, TK Bennett, Callista Bull, Lazario Cornish, Keely Coulter, Amelia Fuller, Ella Goforth, Jena Goforth, Ian Hart, Addison Haskins, Bryson Kessinger, Alexi La Fleur, Brady Mayall, Addison Haskins, Abigail McCartney, Ryleigh Moser, Ignacio Nascimento Zschaeck, Kiera Raker, Elijah Renner, Garrett Sego, Tori Sehr, Kayleigh Shubert, Brent Skiles, Rebecca Strode, Yulia Strunova, Ryan Sweet, Nicholas Taylor, Carlyn Utt, Kerastin Walters, Keighley Watson, Ryleigh Watson, Emma Wuebbling;
Macomb: Kenadee Allensworth, Bryant Barnes, Ivy Chapla, Chloe Cheesman, Ava Coupland, Dawson Davis, Kalea Foster, Sonya Hamilton, Caidance McCord, Mary Popoola, Samantha Sensor, Rose Shelko;
Mapleton: Liliana Serna;
Marietta: Brooke Buchen;
Mason City: Clay Butler;
Oakford: Jamie Masten-Rueter;
Rushville: Conner Abernathy, Ted Eifert, Karlee Ham, Rosemary Hays;
Tennessee: Allie Schauble;
Trivoli: Emmalea Carpenter;
Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society – Nu Delta Chapter is the internationally recognized honor society for two-year colleges. Spoon River College’s Nu Delta Chapter offers membership to students who distinguish themselves academically with 12 credit hours of completed enrollment at SRC with a 3.25 cumulative GPA.
Students who have designated a privacy hold on their account will not be listed.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on Spoon River College Celebrates Community College Month in April
April is annually recognized as Community College Month as a way to bring awareness and understanding of the value of community colleges. This year’s theme is “Best Decision Ever.”
“Community colleges were created to serve the needs of their communities, and they do it exceptionally well,” said Spoon River College President Curt Oldfield.
Besides providing access to affordable, high-quality higher education for all people, community colleges are the primary educators of nursing and other healthcare professionals, serve as an onramp to higher-level degrees, prepare people for the workforce, provide adult literacy programs, community classes that enhance personal and professional development, and lifelong learning opportunities.
“We do all of that here at Spoon River College, and every day, our dedicated faculty and staff create an environment where students thrive, and when students succeed, our communities grow stronger,” Oldfield said. “Community colleges are a good value, whether the goal of the student is workforce training or transfer to a four-year university.”
To ensure the college is meeting the needs of students and the communities in their district, Spoon River College fosters partnerships with both local and regional employers, economic development organizations, and with four-year universities to ensure success for transfer students. Career and workforce education programs utilize advisory boards that offer insight and advice on their specific employment area.
Support systems within the college, such as TRIO, the Student Needs Pantry, and Student Success Coaches, provide direct support to students, and TimelyCare, a free 24/7 telehealth service available to all SRC students, offers mental health support.
“We recognize that every student’s journey is unique, and we are committed to providing the guidance and support they need to achieve their goals,” said Oldfield. “Community colleges are first-class institutions that are vital to our local and state economies, and this month allows us the opportunity to celebrate that importance and value.”
Spoon River College District 534—which encompasses the counties of Fulton, Mason, McDonough, and portions of Schuyler with campuses in Canton and Macomb and Centers in Havana and Rushville—is part of the Illinois Community College System, the third largest in the nation.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on Nursing Program at Spoon River College Offers Students Unique Option
The Associate Degree in Nursing program at Spoon River College is a two-year program that offers the option of completing a practical nursing certificate at the end of the first year. Becky Sherwood, director of the program, says this ladder program is what sets it apart from other nursing programs.
“Students who complete the first year (the LPN certificate) along with an additional five-week course and then successfully pass their LPN boards can begin working as an LPN, enabling them to get real world working experience while finishing the second year, which prepares students to take the RN exam.”
Sherwood says it also benefits students who don’t want to complete the second year or may not be able to. “Sometimes life throws up barriers and if a student can’t immediately finish the second year, they can still have a nursing career.”
The smaller class sizes also benefit students by allowing more one-on-one time with faculty and with each other. “This is one of my favorite aspects of the program, seeing the cohesiveness of our students, building relationships and bonds, and becoming a team, so that when they start working, they know what it’s like to work as a team.”
“Students are part of a family here; when they graduate, we cry with them, hug them, and celebrate their success. That’s what we’re here for, to see them succeed.”
The deadline to apply for entry into the Fall 2025 ADN program is May 15, and there is no application fee. For more information, call 309-649-6227 or email sarah.bowton@src.edu.
The SRC Nursing program is fully approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on College Visit Day at Spoon River College in Macomb April 11
Spoon River College will host a College Visit Day Friday, April 11, from 9-11 a.m. at the SRC Community Outreach Center located at 2500 E. Jackson in Macomb.
“Although attendees won’t be able to tour the new campus due to the construction work still being completed, they will be able to view the architectural boards and get an idea of how the finished space will look,” said Jo Branson, assistant dean of student services. “We are excited about starting the fall semester at the new campus.”
College Visit Days are open to people of all ages who are interested in learning about both the transfer and the career education programs available at Spoon River College, including the different degrees and short-term certificates each program offers. Associate degrees typically take two years to complete, while certificate programs can often be completed in a year or less.
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with advisors and financial aid specialists, and will receive information about the application process, tuition costs, and financial aid options including scholarships, as well as student life activities, clubs, and organizations. Attendees will receive a free t-shirt.
RSVPs are encouraged, and can be made by visiting www.src/admissions or by calling 309-833-6069.
