Eureka College: Looking Ahead
May 2, 2024
Hello Fellow Alumni,
As many of you know, Eureka College (EC) has been criticized by a group of alumni over the last several years with repeated claims that our campus is on the brink of closure. While we, like many other schools across the country, continue to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and face industry-wide headwinds in higher education, we want to be clear that EC intends to continue serving future students and alumni just as we have since 1855.
The Board of Trustees, President Wright and her leadership team are focused on the work of increasing enrollment, strengthening student retention, and diversifying revenue sources. We are seeing important progress in all these areas.
EC is proud to have paid down more than a third of the college’s long-term debt in the last decade and strengthened fundraising efforts that have resulted in more than $8 million in budget-relieving grant funding. A significant lead donor gift of more than a million dollars, along with state grant funds, were secured for a new student success center. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to increase student retention and graduation rates. Grants have also been received to enhance our student and visitor experience at the Ronald Reagan Museum, including support for internships and creating an online catalog available for researchers and general public interest.
For years, the board and administration have been anticipating the “enrollment cliff” where lower birth rates mean that fewer students will be attending college. Our situation is exacerbated by the reality that Illinois is a significant net exporter of students. Despite factors like these that are beyond our control, we still welcomed one of the largest entering classes on record in fall 2022 and followed that up with a solid recruitment year in fall 2023. The two ways to grow enrollment are to recruit more students to campus and then increase the retention rate of those who have chosen EC for their education. We are investing substantial resources in both of these areas. One of the anchors of our enrollment plan is a more robust strategy to recruit out-of-state students and we are seeing early indications of success in this area.
In addition to attracting and retaining more students, efforts to increase partnerships and diversify revenue streams continue. We have introduced new curricular, co-curricular, and certificate programs like cybersecurity and essential workforce skills, men’s & women’s wrestling teams, an FM commercial station, an award-winning TV station that covers EC athletic games and provides valuable experience for students, and a partnership with LaGrange College to offer a 3+2 program where students graduate with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
It's important that all alumni know that positive things are happening and have access to accurate information. With that in mind, we are sharing some background information to help set the record straight on misinformation that has spread online recently about our 2022-23 audit.
We are grateful for our dedicated EC staff and faculty who devote their time and talent to our students and thankful for the EC alumni who continue to support the place we once called home. Soon, we will congratulate our next class of graduating seniors as they walk across the stage for commencement and participate in the ivy ceremony. Their success is a testament to the incredible things that continue to happen on our campus each and every day.
As we prepare to celebrate the achievements of our Class of 2024, it’s important to remember that the ongoing sharing of false and distorted information, discouraging prospective and current students and/or donors, and efforts to generate negative media stories about the college are not productive toward our shared goal of seeing EC not only survive, but thrive. Eureka College is blessed with bright and passionate students, dedicated faculty and staff, a talented and focused administration, the Ronald Reagan legacy, and you - our committed alumni - who want to see the next generation find their place in the world.
We look forward to what the future holds for all of us ‘neath the elms. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to our VP of Advancement, Dr. Arto Woodley or Director of Alumni Affairs, Angie Mitchell. They are here to listen and continue a dialogue with our alumni. They are also eager to talk with you about the way your time, talent, and treasure can have a positive impact on the next chapter of Eureka College.
Warmly
Rev. Beau Underwood '06
Chair, Board of Trustees
Clint Drury ‘01
Vice Chair, Board of Trustees
