EAST PEORIA, Ill. – Central Illinois education leaders met with East Peoria’s business leaders to provide updates over breakfast Friday morning.
Bradley President James Shadid and Illinois Central College President Jamonica Rolle were the featured speakers at the East Peoria Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs and Issues.
Shadid spoke on Bradley’s efforts to try and attract more students to campus. He says part of that effort involves improving campus life through new women’s club sports, modernizing housing, and adding new recreational opportunities such as pickleball courts.
But Shadid says one of the biggest drivers is getting the entire campus to buy in on selling the message and story of Bradley University. He says that involves faculty and staff being more involved on campus tours.
Shadid says that has paid off with increased freshmen enrollment.
“Our numbers would indicate, based on our orientation and projections, that we should have 850-855 students arrive,” Shadid said.
Shadid says the last school year only saw 620 new students arrive at Bradley.
In addition, Bradley is attracting double the number of students from last year that come from central Illinois high schools. And the university is welcoming 70 transfer students from Illinois Central College.
Shadid says those numbers matter because it helps keep more people in central Illinois. He says about 30% Bradley students and graduates stay in the Peoria-area for their careers.
Jamonica Rolle started her role as ICC’s president on July 1st, and says she has spent most of the first month getting a feel for the community and its needs. But she likes what people have told her about the college so far.
“I am encouraged by what I have learned during the first few weeks on the job, I am excited that ICC has a strong foundation, the community really believes in the college,” Rolle said.
Rolle’s first month has been spent on listening tours to find out what the top priorities and needs are.
Rolle says those include employers wanting to align the college’s programs with their needs, developing soft skills such as communication and teamwork, and meeting students where their needs are.
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