Kaskaskia College

The college originated in 1940 as the first community college in the state established under the Junior College Act under the name "Centralia Township Junior College". [ 1 ] George Evans was appointed interim president of Kaskaskia College in November 2017 [ 2 ] and officially became the institution’s 11th president in June 2018. He has been affiliated with Kaskaskia College since 2008, holding a variety of positions, including adjunct faculty member, director of the Education Program at the Centralia Correctional Center, and dean of career and technical education. [ 3 ] In 2023, Evans was appointed by Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker to the Illinois Community College Board. [ 4 ] He was confirmed in 2025. [ 5 ] The college's 9th president, Dr. James C. Underwood, died in early 2023. [ 6 ]

Kaskaskia College Associate of Arts and Associate of Science Degrees for students who wish to transfer to four-year colleges and universities. The college also offers 50 associate degree career programs and 102 certificates in occupational areas. The college has been accredited since 1964 and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission . [ 7 ]

Lifelong Learning Center Main building Fitness Center and Gym Kaskaskia College's main campus is located on approximately 190 acres, three miles west of Centralia. The college has since constructed additional education centers in the communities of Vandalia, Salem, Greenville, Trenton, and Nashville. The college also houses its heavy occupation programs, Heating and Air Conditioning, Carpentry, Welding, and Industrial Technology at the Crisp Technology Center on Route 161 East in Centralia. In January 2025, the Crisp Technology Center was renamed to the Crisp Manufacturing and Trades Center. [ 8 ] Animal Disease Laboratory In 2012, the state of Illinois closed the Centralia Animal Disease Laboratory [ 9 ] as a cost-savings measure. In 2015, the Illinois House of Representatives passed a vote permitting the Illinois Department of Agriculture to sell the Animal Disease Lab to Kaskaskia College for one dollar. [ 10 ] Illinois State Rep. John Cavaletto and Rep. Charlee Meier were the primary advocates for the state to transfer the building to the college. [ 11 ] The former lab was added to campus as the Agricultural Building. In April 2024, Kaskaskia College voted to rename the building to the John D. Cavaletto Agricultural Center to honor John D. and Connie Cavaletto and their unwavering support for the college. [ 12 ]

In 2022, the college announced a multi-phase project aimed at modernizing its main campus, solidifying the college's infrastructure needs for the next 20-plus years. [ 13 ] Improvements consisted of a $25 million renovation to modernize classrooms, a new innovative model to make the registration process more efficient and convenient, and upgraded spaces for the Auto Technology area. [ 14 ]