2012 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll
	Illinois College joined a select group of the nation’s colleges and universities by earning a place on the 2012 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for its strong commitment to community service. In releasing an in-depth report of community service programs at college and university campuses nationwide, the Corporation for National and Community Service praised Illinois College for achieving Honor Roll status. The Honor Roll serves as the highest form of federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service learning and civic engagement. As a result of the 2012 report, Illinois College is among a handful of Illinois colleges and universities that have earned Honor Roll status during each of the past six years.

	Washington Monthly ranks Illinois College third for community service
	Illinois College is identified as one of the top 100 liberal arts colleges in the nation in the Washington Monthly annual College Guide and Rankings for 2012. The editors of the magazine describe their rankings as “more interesting than virtually any rankings out there,” because the Washington Monthly rankings are based on what colleges are doing for their students and their country. Of the 249 liberal arts institutions ranked in the annual assessment, Illinois College ranks third for the number of staff participating in and supporting community service; and fifth for community service participation by students and hours served. Illinois College is one of nine liberal arts schools in the State of Illinois included in the list and places in the top 100, along with Knox College, Illinois Wesleyan University, Lake Forest College and Wheaton College. When measuring social mobility ― a measure of how well a school performs, by providing its students opportunities for an education ― Illinois College ranks 70th, a significant increase over last year’s social mobility ranking of 122. “Community service is an integral part of the learning environment at Illinois College, and the college is firmly committed to providing its students opportunities for upward social mobility,” commented President Axel Steuer. “To be recognized for that by such a well-regarded national publication as Washington Monthly is significant. The students, faculty and staff of the Illinois College community embody the qualities found in the leading liberal arts colleges. They are committed to excellence in education and to serving our local community and the nation.”

	2012 College Access and Opportunity Guide
	Young people from all walks of life dream of going to college. In fact, eight of 10 expect to attain a bachelor’s degree or higher, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Despite these aspirations, however, students who are the first in their family to pursue higher education or come from low-income backgrounds are severely underrepresented on college campuses. Illinois College is working to reverse this trend and has been recognized in the Center for Student Opportunity’s 2012 College Access & Opportunity Guide, a comprehensive college guidebook designed to help low-income, first-generation students make college a reality.

	Arbor Day Foundation Names Illinois College a 2012 Tree Campus USA
	Illinois College is a Tree Campus USA for the fourth year in a row, the Arbor Day Foundation announced today. Tree Campus USA is a national program created in 2008 to honor colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals. Toyota helped launch the program and continues its generous financial support this year. Illinois College achieved the title by meeting Tree Campus USA’s five standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures toward trees, an Arbor Day observance and student service-learning projects.

	Abraham Lincoln Hall Wins LEED Silver Certification
	The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) awarded LEED Silver Certification to Illinois College’s newest residence hall, Abraham Lincoln Hall. Illinois College’s new green residence hall is among the first structures in downstate Illinois to achieve this award and was the first college or university building in downstate Illinois to achieve LEED Silver certification.

	The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment
	Illinois College has joined a growing network of colleges and universities nationwide that are committed to sharply reducing and eventually eliminating all of their institutions’ global warming emissions, and accelerating the research and educational efforts to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate. The pledge came when Illinois College President Axel D. Steuer signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, joining the leaders of other institutions across the country.

	Starhill Forest Arboretum National Recognition
	Illinois College’s arboretum, Starhill Forest, has been accepted as one of the 16 designated National Reference Collections in North America for the genus Quercus (oaks) by the American Public Gardens Association. This honor coincides with Starhill Forest’s full membership in the North American Plant Collections Consortium.