Grant helps Augustana renovate Erickson dorm
Augustana College is getting financial help to renovate a residence center on campus.
The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) has awarded a $6.7 million grant to the Rock Island private school to renovate the Erickson Residence Center on 12th Avenue. Statewide, $400 million was awarded to 45 private higher-education institutions.
The grants provide financial assistance to private, not-for-profit colleges and universities in Illinois to construct, repair and renovate infrastructure on campuses to provide equitable learning experiences to students, said the IBHE in a news release from Augustana.
Renovation on Erickson began earlier this month and is expected to continue through August 2024. Improvements include a new HVAC system, windows, bathrooms, flooring and storage or cabinets in residence hall rooms. The first phase of the project is estimated to cost $5.6 million.
The remaining $1.1 million will be used for the second phase of the project, which is expected to cost between $5.6 – $6 million. Erickson is located adjacent to Westerlin Residence Center on the upper campus, and close to the Pepsico Recreation Center.
The hall features a spacious main lounge, two laundry rooms and a basement recreation area that includes a large screen TV, pool tables and a full kitchen.
Augustana’s Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Administration Kirk Anderson said the investment of grant funding highlights the partnership between the state of Illinois and private schools.
“Augustana and other beneficiaries of this grant are able to multiply the impact of the state’s funding by investing in students who go on to become leaders in their fields,” he said in a school release. “Capital funding like this is heavily leveraged by donations to the college, forming in effect a public-private partnership that builds Illinois’ future economic capacity.”
Other private colleges in the region to receive IBHE funding are:
Knox College — $4,111,732
Monmouth College — $3,540,181
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