Carl Sandburg College is looking to grow its impact across western Illinois, both in student enrollment and campus improvements. Sandburg President Dr. Seamus Riley says the college currently serves around 2,000 students a year, but he has set a bigger goal for the future.
“We’re just under 1,900 students in the fall, so about 2,000 students in the year. I’ve set a very ambitious goal for 2030 for us to have 3,000 students in the fall, and that’s based upon where the needs of the community are. We have about 109,000 people in our district, and I think we should be able to serve folks.”
Riley says that growth is also showing up on campus, with improvements already made to the Science and Technology Center and the Student Development Center. The next major project is the Charger Center, which will serve as both an athletic and convention space for sports, workforce events, trade fairs, and larger community gatherings. Construction is expected to begin this summer, with hopes of completion by December of 2027.
