History of SRC

​​​​​​The citizens of Canton Union School District No. 66, aware of a nationwide movement to extend the opportunities of higher education to a greater number of youth and adults, voted to establish a community junior college in October, 1959. As a result, Canton Community College became the first public junior college to be organized in West Central Illinois.

• 1960 - Board of Education of Canton Union School District No. 66 hired faculty and staff to develop programs of study and to provide professional services.
• 1960 - College began operation on the second floor of the southeast wing of the Canton Senior High School building with a class of 187 students.
• 1965 - With enactment of the Illinois Public Junior College Act of 1965, Canton Community College was classified as a Class II Junior College.
• 1965-1966 - Because of expanding enrollment, the Board of Trustees voted to lease several buildings in downtown Canton during 1965 and 1966. This enabled the college programs to be completely removed from the high school building.
• 1968 - College became a Class I institution, was separated from the public school district by forming Junior College District 534, and became known as Spoon River College.
• 1972 - Construction of Phase I of new college campus on 160 acres west of Canton, consisting a three-story Centers Building and a two-story academic building, Taylor Hall.
• 1973 - College district enlarged with addition of Macomb-Adair-Bardolph common school districts.
• 1974 - New building occupied for the spring term in January. In February, the State of Illinois authorized the construction of Phase II of the new campus - two additional buildings - Engle Hall and the VOTEC building.
• 1974 - A portion of Schuyler County, including the Rushville area, became part of the Spoon River College district.
• 1983 - Spoon River College purchased the former Macomb High School building at 208 South Johnson Street.
• 1986 - The district was enlarged by the addition of the Balyki School District of Mason County.
• 2002 - With the help of a federal grant, the college expanded its services to the downtown area in Canton and the Macomb Campus by creating two Technology Learning Centers.
• 2003 - Construction of new Facilities Maintenance building, allowing the renovation of Engle Hall and the Child Development Center, providing the addition of the Spoon River College Conference Center.
• 2006 - Board of Trustees approved purchase of former Heilig-Meyers in Macomb for future expansion.
• 2007 - Board of Trustees approved purchase of building in Havana where college had been leasing space.
• 2007 - Board of Trustees approved purchase of property at 710 Maple in Rushville for construction of new center.
• 2009 - Construction of new college centers in Havana at 324 E. Randolph and Rushville at 706 Maple. Completion of Phase I of new Macomb Campus at 2500 E. Jackson, Spoon River College Community Outreach Center, Macomb.
• 2014 - Construction began on the new Multi-Purpose Center, Canton Campus.

The Shield - Yearbook

Lancer Publications

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