Excellence and high quality are traditions that formed the cornerstone upon which McKendree University was built and the character that has kept it growing. Founded in 1828, McKendree has the distinction of being the oldest college in Illinois.
McKendree exemplifies a classic and caring tradition of excellence combined with a contemporary curriculum. Classes are taught by faculty who are leaders in their fields, with nearly all having earned a terminal or doctorate degree. The student population of nearly 1,300 is of exceptionally high quality, with 17 valedictorians in the 2003-04 class of first year students and an average class GPA of 3.7. Our students come to know and rely on their professors both in the classroom and through involvement with co-curricular activities.
The main campus at McKendree is situated in Lebanon, Illinois, a charming historic community just 25 minutes from downtown St. Louis. More than 650 students occupy the residential facilities that include a modern apartment complex with clubhouse, swimming pool and sand volleyball courts. McKendree offers more than 30 major areas of study, and the college fields 21 intercollegiate athletic teams.
As we move into the 21st century, we are keeping pace with advancing technology by enhancing course offerings and incorporating the latest computer technology to keep our education competitive. At the same time, we continue to insure our status as a Midwest college of exceptionally high quality by maintaining the nurturing environment that has become a hallmark of the McKendree University learning experience.
McKendree University students excel both inside and outside the classroom. Co-curricular programming is a very important part of a McKendree education. Our Speech and Debate Team has taken top honors nationally in its competitions against institutions that include Princeton, Stanford and the University of Florida. Our Track and Field Team is placed among the top in the nation and our football team, which was reintroduced in 1996 after a 45-year hiatus, has been in the NAIA championship playoffs and has enjoyed all winning seasons. Recent additions to our athletic offerings include wrestling and ice hockey. The college is expanding and improving in many exciting ways.
This year we continue the growth that has marked the academic and co-curricular progress at McKendree during the past several years. A new masters degree program now offers students the opportunity to earn a Master of Arts in Education. Campus facilities are expanding to accommodate our growing student body. The new $5.5 million Marion K. Piper Academic Center houses 13 classrooms, two seminar rooms, faculty offices and admissions offices and includes the latest in computer technology. The college also offers some of the finest athletic facilities and student housing with a new addition to the sports complex and apartment living for upperclassmen that ranks among the best in the nation. We have introduced new course offerings and majors, including a new Music Education major, increased our faculty, enhanced our student activity programs, renovated buildings and provided new housing to accommodate the largest on-campus student population in the history of the college. With a recent gift of $5.3 million, McKendree’s plans for a Performing Arts Center are becoming a reality. Offshoots of this growth are the expanding music program that includes marching and pep bands, and the addition of an intercollegiate bowling team, wrestling and ice hockey. McKendree is on the move and the “best kept secret” is now “out of the bag.”
We are proud to be recognized as one of America’s 100 Best College Buys and to have been honored by The Lincoln Foundation with a Commitment to Excellence award. A front page feature story in the Chicago Tribune highlighted the success and vitality of this small Midwest college. Along with the growth and advances at the institution, one thing remains constant, McKendree University continues to provide a caring environment, offering students unique opportunities and challenges that lead to unmatched personal and professional growth. We invite you to visit our beautiful 100-acre campus and enjoy the quaint shops and charm of Lebanon, Illinois.