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Eureka College opens Sanders Hall; boasts freshman class enrollment

Denise Molina-Weiger
/
Peoria Public Radio

The first all-academic building to be constructed at Eureka College in nearly 100 years is open and ready for students. The school opened Sanders Hall Tuesday with it’s customary Ivy Cutting Ceremony. The four-story facility is mostly dedicated to science education, but will be utilized by almost every academic division.

The nearly seven-million dollar building adjoins the existing Vennum-Binkley Science Hall. It includes a state of the art chemistry lab, a tiered multi-media room, classrooms, study lounge and outdoor area for research. 
The project was made possible by a three million dollar gift from retired history professor Dick Sanders. Sanders says the more than 25-years he taught at Eureka College were some of the best of his life. 
“I’m sort of overwhelmed to see my name on a classroom building, especially a state of the art edifice like this. It’s a long way from being on a one-semester contract in the dead of winter of 1984.”

One-point-five million dollars of the construction cost for Sanders Hall is coming from Eureka College trustees. 

Eureka College President J. David Arnold says new classroom facility was needed.

“We’ve grown in terms of enrollment, so our registrar who schedules classes has found it very hard to get all the professors scheduled with the classrooms that we have. So, this addition really adds flexibility and the capacity for our growing student enrollment.”

Eureka College is expecting its second-largest group of freshmen when classes begin Wednesday. The college estimates 170 first-year students. That’s about 30 more than last year.

But overall enrollment is down. About 655 students are expected in classes this year. That’s down nearly 40 from last year. College officials are attributing the overall decline to large graduating classes and fewer part-time students.

Meanwhile, Eureka College is positioned to have a record-high number of students living on campus. About 400 students will take up residence on school property.