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Lindenwood University – Belleville

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The Belleville Learning Center, previously known as Lindenwood University–Belleville and Lindenwood Belleville, is a defunct satellite campus of Lindenwood University. It offered evening postgraduate and undergraduate classes for about 300 students. Belleville Learning Center is located in Belleville, Illinois, and occupies the former campus of Belleville West High School. Beginning in 2009, Lindenwood University–Belleville offered traditional four-year undergraduate programs and the school gained independent accreditation in 2011, becoming a member of the Lindenwood University system and functioning as a sister-school to Lindenwood University. The undergraduate program was discontinued in 2020 and the Belleville Learning Center returned to its status as a satellite campus of Lindenwood University.

In October 2021, it was announced the City of Belleville was buying the property of the shuttered learning center[1]

History

As a result of key partnership agreements and state approval in 2003, Lindenwood University purchased the abandoned former campus of the Belleville West High School with original architecture dating back to 1925 by William B. Ittner.[2] Lindenwood-Belleville began by launching a master of arts programs in education and educational administration. Other programs were added through the university's School of Accelerated Degree Programs, an evening-based accelerated format designed for working adults and non-traditional students.[3]

As part of a campus restoration campaign, Lindenwood invested over $23 million.[4] The plan included restoration of the auditorium and updating several historic buildings on campus and surrounding properties for academic and administrative use.[2] When it opened in the fall of 2009, the Belleville campus was the only Lindenwood satellite campus to offer daytime classes.[5]

For the 2009–2010 academic year, semester-based programs were only offered to junior- and senior-level students, but in the fall of 2010 the University expanded semester-based programs to all underclassman.[4] In 2011, Lindenwood University-Belleville transitioned from a satellite campus to a separately accredited college. The University was notified of the accrediting decision in November 2011 by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.[6] Under the new accreditation, Lindenwood University-Belleville kept the same name and the same governing board as the Lindenwood University campus in St. Charles, Missouri, and was considered a sister school as part of the Lindenwood University System.[6]

Citing "ongoing financial and enrollment challenges", Lindenwood University–Belleville discontinued its semester-based undergraduate programs after the 2019–20 academic year. The approximately 1,100 students enrolled in undergraduate programs at the Belleville campus were permitted to transfer to Lindenwood University in St. Charles and the institution vowed to honor all athletic scholarships for transferring students, even if they no longer participated in sports after relocating. Following the cessation of undergraduate programs, only evening classes continued at Belleville.[7]

Campus

Dixon Student Center
The Senator Alan J. Dixon Student Center

The 35-acre (14.16 ha) campus is located on West Main Street in Belleville, Illinois, about 16 miles (26 km) east of St. Louis, Missouri. Lindenwood University acquired the campus that was previously home to Belleville West High School. The Administration Building is located at the center of the Lindenwood Belleville campus. The building also houses many of the academic spaces and facilities and Matt's Cafe.[8]

Lindenwood–Belleville also includes a 900-seat auditorium for performance art and guest speaking engagements, built in 1925 by noted architect William B. Ittner.[3] In 2009, the University began construction of the Alice E. Ackermann Welcome Center, which added 3,000 square feet (280 m2) adjacent to the current auditorium.[9] Other additions to the campus included the Communications Center, Alan J. Dixon Student Center, William L. Enyart Veterans Success Center, Badgley Tennis Complex, and Fred J. Hern Residence Hall.[10]

The campus also includes a number of recreational and intercollegiate athletic facilities. The Lynx Arena is the home to the basketball and volleyball programs while also housing a recreational gym and fitness center on the lower level. Other current sports facilities include tennis courts, a soccer field, and a football stadium.[10][11]

In 2014, Lindenwood Belleville opened a satellite campus of its own in nearby Collinsville, Ill.[12] which offered a variety of accelerated program options.

Housing

In February 2012, Lindenwood Belleville announced that it purchased the EconoLodge motel, formerly known as the Hyatt Lodge motel, at 2120 W. Main Street for use as student dormitories, named the Lynx Lodge.[13] The addition of the Lynx Lodge property increased the residential student capacity to about 500 for the 2012–13 academic year.[13] Lindenwood Belleville continued to purchase private residential homes surrounding the campus to increase on-campus living capacity, totaling 35 homes as of 2017.[14]

Lindenwood Belleville opened its first of two traditional residence halls in early 2014. The first residence hall is a 25,000-square-foot building that housed 180 female students. The residence hall was built at a cost of $4 million. A second residence hall, the Fred J. Kern Residence Hall, completed in 2014, is a three-story building that housed 200 male students. With the completion of the second residence hall, Lindenwood Belleville had the capacity to house approximately 1,000 students on campus.[15][16]

Lindenwood Belleville offered a variety of housing options, from traditional residence halls to apartments and residential houses. The Fred J. Kern Men's Residence Hall opened in 2014, and the Lady Lynx Lodge opened in 2013. Apartments and residential houses were available to upper classmen. The rooms are furnished and have Internet access.

The campus offered three dining options: Matt's Café, located in Old Main Hall; the Dixon Center Dining Hall; and Grab-and-Go, located in the U.S. Senator Alan J. Dixon Student Center. All offered a variety of options with flexible hours.

Academics

Admin Building
Administration Building

Lindenwood Belleville had full accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.[17] Lindenwood Belleville was also fully accredited by the Illinois Board of Higher Education and Lindenwood's Plaster School of Business and Entrepreneurship was fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).[18]

Athletics

Lindenwood Belleville Lynx logo

The Lindenwood–Belleville athletic teams were called the Lynx. The university was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA); primarily competing as a member of the American Midwest Conference (AMC) from 2014–15 to 2019–20 (when the school closed).[19]

During the 2014–15 season, Lindenwood–Belleville added men's and women's ice hockey as well as men's and women's swimming and diving. The AMC is a non-football conference, so the Lindenwood–Belleville football program played in the Mid-States Football Association beginning in 2015.[15][20][21]

Athletics history

When the campus closure was announced, student-athletes comprised nearly 80 percent of the student body at Lindenwood–Belleville. Since beginning the Lindenwood–Belleville athletic program, the university has steadily increased the number of sports offered, with more to be added in the future.[22] The university began competition as a member of United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) beginning in the 2009–10 school year.[5] Lindenwood–Belleville was accepted into the NAIA as a full member effective August 1, 2012 and competed as an independent within the NAIA in the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) as well as the USCAA.[23]

The university announced the additions of nine new sports for the 2011–12 academic year, including baseball, softball, table tennis, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's bowling, wrestling, and women's field hockey.[24][25]

Lindenwood–Belleville joined the American Midwest Conference (AMC) starting in the 2014–15 academic year and the Mid-States Football Association for the 2015 season. Lindenwood–Belleville also added men's and women's ice hockey as well as men's and women's swimming and diving.[26][27]

The University continued to expand athletics, with the announcement of men's and women's rugby and women's field hockey programs.[28][29]

As part of the university's announcement of the cessation of traditional undergraduate programs, 2019–20 was the final season for all but two intercollegiate athletics programs—swimming and diving and the men's ice hockey teams were disbanded after the 2018–19 season.

Teams

In the 2017–18 school year, the university fielded 33 varsity teams for men and women. Teams competed in the American Midwest Conference (AMC), Mid-South Conference, Mid-States Football Association, and American Collegiate Hockey Association.[30]

Men's sports included: baseball, basketball, competitive cheer, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling.

Women's sports included: basketball, competitive cheer, competitive dance, cross country, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling.

For details pertaining to Lindenwood University-Belleville athletics, visit here.

Football

Stadium
Lindenwood University-Belleville Stadium

In December 2011, Jeff Fisher (not to be confused with the former Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Rams head coach of the same name.) was announced as the first head football coach of the Lindenwood–Belleville football team, which began play in fall 2012.[31] Fisher came to Lindenwood–Belleville after serving as an assistant coach and the offensive coordinator for McKendree University for 15 years.[31]

In March 2012, Lindenwood–Belleville broke ground on a $2.3 million renovation to the former Township Stadium. The upgraded stadium, named Lindenwood Stadium, has a seating capacity of 4,129. The Lindenwood–Belleville football program opened its first NAIA season on September 1, 2012, with a 43-37 win over Avila University.[32][33]

Dale Carlson was hired as head football coach for the 2015 season.[34]

References

  1. ^ Koziatek, Mike (October 18, 2021). "Belleville closed on purchase of Lindenwood campus. Where did the money come from?". Belleville News–Democrat. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  2. ^ a b O'Gray, Sophia (March 20, 2005). "Lindenwood University adds to lesson plan in Belleville". St. Louis Business Journal. Archived from the original on April 8, 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Smith, Kerry L. (September 15, 2003). "Lindenwood University opens first Illinois campus". Illinois Business Journal. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  4. ^ a b Staff (August 15, 2010). "Lindenwood Passes Its First Tests". Belleville News-Democrat.[dead link‍]
  5. ^ a b "The USCAA Welcomes New Member, Lindenwood-University-Belleville". USCAA. January 20, 2009. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  6. ^ a b Wuerz, Scott (November 5, 2011). "Lindenwood gets a dual identity, Belleville and St. Charles sites are separate campuses says accrediting group". Belleville News Democrat. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  7. ^ Bernhard, Blythe (May 14, 2019). "Lindenwood University will end most undergraduate programs at Belleville campus". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Archived from the original on May 13, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  8. ^ Moll, Brian (November 2009). "The Woods Cafe" (PDF). The Lynx Tale. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 12, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  9. ^ "In brief - News". The Legacy. November 4, 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  10. ^ a b "Lindenwood University - Belleville Campus". Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  11. ^ Wuerz, Scott (May 16, 2011). "Lindenwood plans major upgrade to football stadium, more classrooms". Belleville News-Democrat. Retrieved May 26, 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ "Lindenwood University - Collinsville Center Officially Open for Business". belleville.lindenwood.edu. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  13. ^ a b "Lindenwood buys motel on West Main; will turn it into student dorms". Belleville News-Democrat. February 25, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  14. ^ "Student housing irks some Belleville residents". The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. October 6, 2015. Archived from the original on November 17, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Metro-east news from Belleville, IL - Belleville News-Democrat". bnd.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014.
  16. ^ Lee Enterprises. "Belleville council OKs plan for new dorm on Lindenwood campus". stltoday.com.
  17. ^ "Directory of HLC Institutions". Higher Learning Commission. June 20, 2010. Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  18. ^ "LU's School of Business and Entrepreneurship gains ACBSP accreditation". Lindenwood University. Archived from the original on June 2, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  19. ^ "Lindenwood University–Belleville to join American Midwest Conference". NAIA. May 23, 2013. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  20. ^ "Lindenwood University–Belleville to join American Midwest Conference". NAIA.org. May 23, 2013. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  21. ^ "Mid-State Football Association Welcomes New Members". NAIA.org. May 10, 2013. Archived from the original on September 14, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  22. ^ Wuerz, Scott (May 8, 2011). "Lindenwood campus grows by leaps and bounds". Belleville News-Democrat. Retrieved May 26, 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  23. ^ "NAIA Approves LU-Belleville". Lindenwood University - Belleville. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  24. ^ Staff (November 8, 2010). "Lindenwood University expanding". KMOX. Archived from the original on November 12, 2010. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
  25. ^ "Lindenwood – Belleville to Add Nine New Sports for 2011-2012". Lindenwood University-Belleville. January 6, 2011. Archived from the original on August 12, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  26. ^ Staff (2014). "Lindenwood adding dorm, new sports". Illinois Business Journal. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  27. ^ Wuerz, Scott (August 6, 2014). "Lindenwood–Belleville touts new cafe, new degrees, more sports". Belleville News Democrat. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  28. ^ Goff, Alex (January 6, 2015). "Lindenwood-Belleville Embraces Rugby, Hires Coach". Goff Rugby Report. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  29. ^ Press Release (February 9, 2015). "WIIL Adds Strength to South Division". Rugby Today. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  30. ^ "Lindenwood Lynx". lindenwoodlynx.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  31. ^ a b Korte, Steve (December 8, 2011). "Fisher eager to build program at Lindenwood-Belleville". Belleville News-Democrat. Retrieved December 20, 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  32. ^ Astleford, Andrew (July 16, 2012). "Lindenwood-Belleville's turf causing a stir". Fox Sports Midwest. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  33. ^ Korte, Steve (August 30, 2012). "Hungry Lynx await debut of their football program". Belleville News-Democrat. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  34. ^ "Dale Carlson Named Head Football Coach". Lindenwood University-Belleville. Archived from the original on December 28, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
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