The Kaskaskia College Salem Education Center, since its establishment in 2003, has been very successful at reaching, enrolling, and serving citizens in the Salem area. This Center was created to make higher educational opportunities more accessible. As a result of creating the Center, the College has been quite effective in serving a population that was not being reached because of variable time and distance factors which are so critical to students in acquiring a higher education, especially given the demands placed upon their lives. Now, we find that climbing gas prices are contributing to their transportation challenges in managing not only the time, but also the expense of travel to make education accessible.

Demands for additional educational programs along with limited enrollment opportunities at the present center (because of small classroom sizes) caused the College to explore options for additional space. It was concluded that a larger facility was needed to meet the demanding and changing needs in the Salem area for higher education. We further saw a larger Kaskaskia College Salem Education Center as a permanent site in which new programs can be developed and offered for the entire College.

An alternate location for the Salem Education Center was identified, selected and purchased and a plan was developed for the implementation of additional programming and services at the new location. This alternate location, which is at 1437 W. Whittaker, Salem, Illinois will allow the College to accomplish the goals in Salem, in accordance with the College’s Institutional plan.

The 12,342 square-foot Salem Education Center was previously occupied by a grocery store. This location provides ample front parking space for students and the center patrons. It has five classrooms, a state-of-the-art computer lab,  a tutoring room, a wet lab, an industrial trades lab, as well as business incubator offices.

New programs, such as commercial custodial will be offered at the new site, along with associate degree general education classes.

Renovation of the new Kaskaskia College Education Center was completed at the end of 2008, with classes being held starting in the spring 2009 semester.