Spoon River College - President

The Board of Trustees of Spoon River College invites nominations and applications for the position of President.

The College

For more than six decades, Spoon River College (SRC) has been a cornerstone of education, opportunity, and community connection in West Central Illinois. Founded in 1959, the college was built on a simple but powerful belief: that access to quality education strengthens individuals, families, and entire communities.

Today, Spoon River College is a public, two-year community college serving approximately 1,700 students each year across a five-county district that includes portions of Fulton, McDonough, Mason, Schuyler, and Knox counties. With campuses and centers in Canton, Macomb (new campus opened in Fall 2025), Havana, and Rushville, the college remains deeply connected to the communities it serves. Spoon River College is proud to employ approximately 230 full-time and part-time faculty and staff across the entire district.

The College maintains full institutional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The institution most recently achieved reaffirmation of accreditation during the 2021-2022 review cycle and participates in the HLC's Open Pathway. The College will complete its next Assurance Review in June 2026, and its next comprehensive reaffirmation of accreditation is scheduled for the 2031-2032 cycle. The College also maintains a strong standing with the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB). In December 2025, the institution renewed its Certificate of Recognition. The certificate is effective through December 2030.

Spoon River College continues to grow and develop, expanding academic programs, strengthening workforce partnerships, and creating new opportunities for students to succeed. This commitment to innovation and student success has earned national recognition, including being named among the Top 200 Community Colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute, a distinction that highlights the college's commitment to student success, access, and community impact.

Spoon River College offers 13 associate degree programs and 37 certificate programs. SRC has a strong transfer pathway that allows students to begin their college journey close to home while preparing for future academic success. Each year, dozens of high school students throughout the district enroll in dual credit courses, earning college credit while still in high school.

Spoon River College supports a successful Foundation, established in 1979, that manages approximately $6 million in assets, much of which is dedicated to supporting students and programs that benefit communities throughout the college district. Since its founding, the Foundation has provided millions of dollars to support scholarships, hardship grants, innovation grants, faculty research, facility and technology improvements, and community initiatives.

About the Communities We Serve

The communities in West Central Illinois served by Spoon River College are largely rural and rooted in agriculture, small business, and manufacturing. Towns such as Canton, Macomb, Havana, and Rushville are closely connected through shared economic and social networks, where schools, local employers, healthcare providers, and civic organizations play central roles in community life.

Canton offers the best of small-town living while providing strong community resources and opportunities. The city features a hospital, a privately endowed public library, an outstanding park district, and a historic downtown filled with local businesses.

Located in McDonough County, Macomb is home to Western Illinois University, which plays an important role in the local economy and culture. Together with Spoon River College's newly opened Macomb campus, the city continues to grow as a regional center for education and workforce development.

Role of the President

The new president of Spoon River College will serve as a highly visible advocate throughout the local communities, state-wide, and nationally. The president will be an inspirational, transparent, and visionary leader. This transformational leader must be committed to building trust and addressing the following challenges and opportunities. Ø AcademicExcellence, Enrollment, Workforce Development

Support Academic Excellence & Student Outcomes: Partner with faculty to uphold instructional quality and effective evaluation of student outcomes, while maintaining an understanding of the complementary value of career, technical, and liberal arts education.

Foster Student Success and Expand Access: Has a strong commitment to implementstrategies that boost enrollment, retention, and completion amid a changingstudent landscape and a declining district population. It is equally vital to focusintentionally on non-degree seekers and nontraditional students.

Grow Academicand Workforce Offerings: Ensure the continued quality and growth ofacademic and workforce offerings. Integrate emerging technologies, innovativeteaching methods, and suitable learning models to keep pace with rapidlychanging education and workforce training needs.

Ø Government Relations, Fundraising, Resource Development

Develop and Strengthen GovernmentRelationships:Continue to strengthen relationships with local, state, and federal entities,as well as elected and appointed officials to advocate for the college'sinterests.

Build Community Partnerships andInstitutional Advancement:Explore and increase new and existing revenue streams through strategicpartnerships, philanthropic outreach, community engagement, and fundraisinginitiatives. Encourage and support grant writing initiatives throughout theCollege. Actively support and provide leadership for the College's FoundationBoard.

Support Employee Relationships: Demonstrate knowledge of collectivebargaining with a solid understanding of union and employer rights,responsibilities, and the principle of good faith negotiation throughinterest-based bargaining principles. Build and nurture a strong relationshipwith the union(s).

Characteristics and Skill Sets

• Visionary Student-Focused Leader: Be dedicated to guiding thecollege into the future with a learner-centered focus and clear strategicdirection. Implement effective strategies to improve retention and completionrates. Support and engage in all campus life activities.

• Effective and Transparent Communicator: Lead by example bynurturing an atmosphere and culture of open communication, mutual respect, andfacilitation of personal and professional growth.

• Strategic Leader: Build trust, empower employees, championtransformative ideas, and set clear and measurable goals for accountability. Recruit,retain, and develop talented employees.

• Community Relations: Create and strengthen strategicpartnerships, working closely with business, industry, and education partnersto enhance economic impact regionally.

• Innovate and Integrate Technology: Support innovativeprocesses to align emerging technology with the needs of students, employees,and programs to enhance college operations and the student experience.

• Educational Partnerships: Collaborate with Pre-K-12 regional schooldistricts and higher education institutions to meet the needs of all learners.

• Board Relations: Understand and value a strongrelationship with an elected governing board and communicate openly andhonestly about college operations. Work with the board to preserve effectivegovernance practices for the greater good of the institution.

• Team-Focused: Be an authentic, personable, approachableleader with high integrity who can make difficult decisions, build trust, andfoster a collaborative work environment.

MinimumQualifications

Amaster's degree is required. An earned doctorate from a regionally accreditedinstitution is preferred.

Experienceworking with a rural community or technical college is highly preferred.

Progressive,senior-level, administrative experience in higher education at a community ortechnical college is preferred.

Collegeteaching experience preferred.

The annual salary range for this position is $175,000 to $225,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Spoon River College offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes health, dental, and vision insurance, participation in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS), paid time off, and other employee benefits. Additional details can be found on our website.