Eureka College Receives $1.25 Million Lead Gift for Student Success Center
EUREKA – Eureka College has received a $1.25 million lead gift for a $2.5 million project that will create a new student success center and modernize the college library.
The 27,000-square-foot Student Success Center inside the Melick Library will house all of EC’s student life and academic support services under one roof. The project will also update the Melick Library resources.
It is a part of a larger College initiative to strengthen EC’s First-Generation program and other retention-oriented programs and services.
The generous donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, was a first-generation college student and believes in Eureka College’s dedication to helping first-generation students be successful. This fall, 54% of Eureka’s 279 first-year and transfer students were first-generation students.
“We are so grateful for the support of our generous donor who is committed to not only our First-Generation initiative, but also our effort to strengthen academic and student support services for all of our students,” Eureka College President Dr. Jamel Wright said.
Melick Library will continue to feature print and traditional library resources, and remain the home of the Mark R. Shenkman Reagan Research Center and College Archives, which features a nearly comprehensive collection of published works, dissertations and Masters Theses on the life and career of Ronald Reagan, EC’s most famous alumnus.
The construction and renovations are planned to begin in spring 2023.