Following the January meeting, the 2003 Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees and Kaskaskia College Foundation Board of Directors were approached, and both supported the development of a feasibility study to determine the community response to a major gift campaign to assist with funding for the campus project.

On March 6, 2003 at the First National Bank of Vandalia, a Steering Committee unanimously decided a feasibility study should be conducted to determine if citizens in the Vandalia area would support a campaign to build the Kaskaskia College Vandalia Campus. The Steering Committee is a unique consortium of public and private personnel supporting continuing education for job enhancement and personal enrichment as well as credit courses leading to degrees.

The Kaskaskia College Office of Development was asked to conduct the study for Kaskaskia College and the Kaskaskia College Foundation to determine the feasibility of a campaign to secure local funding in the amount of $2.8 million to build the Vandalia Campus. Kaskaskia College has committed $500,000 for the project and is pursuing the additional $5.5 million in state appropriations to complete the $8.8 million dollar project. The study, completed in June, 2003, determined there was overwhelming support for the branch campus.

Although the Vandalia Education Center has done a very good job in providing courses and computer training, it is not viewed by the community as a "comprehensive" college campus. Further, student parking is insufficient and the classrooms and computer labs are too small.

The study also showed Kaskaskia College does a good job in providing education and training opportunities for the area in a limited facility. A major response to note was the need for more career and technical training programs. The current Vandalia Education Center is restricted in the types of courses and training that can be offered in the leased facility.

Due to limited space for instructional labs in the existing center, the opportunity for degree completion does not exist. Thus, the Kaskaskia College Vandalia Campus will provide degree completion options for area residents.

Overall, Kaskaskia College is considered to be a vital force in the northern sector of the KC district and critical to the economic development of the area.

The Kaskaskia College Vandalia Campus will link education and resources through technology . . . moving us forward in the 21st century.