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Knox College is a private liberal arts institution located in Galesburg, Illinois. The college has been ranked in the top 100 among liberal arts colleges in the United States and was featured in the influential book by Loren Pope, Colleges That Change Lives. Knox College was established in 1837 and has been open to students from all backgrounds since its inception. The school’s founding document, the Circular and Plan, opposed all forms of slavery and declared that the College would be accessible to all students regardless of race or color – a bold position to take in the mid 1830’s. Today Knox boasts more than twenty Fulbright Fellowships awarded since 1999 and is ranked as the 11th in the nation in producing Math and Science PhD candidates.
Academic Programs
Knox College is accredited through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and offers more than 60 courses of study, including nearly 40 majors and 50 minors in the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences as well as more than eight pre-professional and cooperative programs, including business, engineering, and law. Knox’s majors include, Anthropology & Sociology; Biochemistry; Business & Management; Classics; Computer Science; Education; English Literature; Environmental Studies; Gender & Women’s Studies; Integrated International Studies; Journalism; Modern Languages; Political Science; Psychology; and Theatre. Many of Knox’s students choose to double major and students are also free to design their own major.Every student at Knox participates in some type of experiential learning in the form of an internship, service program, independent, or collaborative research. Knox’s faculty is especially committed to collaborative research and in providing ongoing mentorships for students. All of Knox’s students and faculty follow the Honor System, which is an integral part of life at the college and allows for academic integrity and grants student freedom and responsibility. The idea was initiated by a student and put into practice in 1951; all students and faculty have the obligation to understand the System and follow its provisions.
Student Life
Knox’s student body is made up of more than 1,000 students coming from over 47 states and territories and more than 50 foreign countries. 95% of students live on campus and the rest live in nearby houses and apartments. Most students, including all first-year students, live in traditional residence halls, while apartments and townhouses are reserved for upperclassmen and are assigned through a lottery system. The college also owns several houses which include fraternities, cultural centers, and theme houses where a dozen or so students live together. Over 100 student-led clubs and organizations exist on campus, and Knox is home to several cultural centers, including the International House, ABLE Center for Black Culture, Casa Latina, Asian Cultural Center and Human Rights Center. Housing arrangements at Knox are designed to foster and support closeness and diversity within the college community.Competing at the NCAA Division III level, Knox hosts approximately 20 varsity teams along with more than 10 club and intramural sports. Nicknamed “Prairie Fire”, Knox’s teams have won approximately 60 conference championships in the last 30 years.