Carl Sandburg College’s newly renovated student center on the Galesburg campus is a place where students can grab a cup of Innkeeper’s Coffee between classes and access the services available to help them succeed.
The revamped student center, which was renovated over much of the last year and opened to students last month, has a more open feel. It brings student services — including advising, academic support, student engagement, financial aid, and recruitment — under the same roof, based on input from students on what they wanted to see in the student center.
“What began as a vision to update our facilities has transformed into something far more significant — a reimagining of what student life can be here at Sandburg,” said Autumn Scott, vice president of student development. “The renovated spaces you see around you today represent our commitment to creating an environment where Chargers can connect, collaborate, and create.”
The renovated student center has upgraded lighting, new carpet and furnishings, collaborative study rooms, and an Innkeeper’s Coffee location. It’s connected to Sandburg’s new Science & Technology Center, which opened at the start of the academic year and was the most significant project since the college’s initial construction in 1969.
Both projects are part of the college’s updated campus master plan.
Sandburg student Zair Ruiz Velazquez, who serves as the student representative on Sandburg’s board of trustees, said he’s already noticing a significant difference in how students use the space.
“Watching this area be utilized adds to that sense of community I was searching for in a college,” Velazquez said. “Now, with the addition of our new student center, I feel that our sense of community is stronger than ever.”
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