Eureka College

Eureka College

Motto	"The Moment of Discovery"
Type	Private College
Established	1855
Affiliation	Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Endowment	$16,190,377
President	Dr. Jamel Santa Cruze Wright
Students	785
Location	Eureka, Illinois, United States 40°42′50″N 89°16′05″W / 40.714°N 89.268°W / 40.714; -89.268Coordinates: 40°42′50″N 89°16′05″W / 40.714°N 89.268°W / 40.714; -89.268
Campus	112 acres (0.45 km2) rural
Colors	Maroon and Gold
Nickname	Red Devils
Website	www.eureka.edu

Eureka College Administration and Chapel
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Administration Building
Location	300 College Ave. Eureka, Illinois
Coordinates	40°42′50″N 89°16′09″W / 40.7139°N 89.2691°W / 40.7139; -89.2691
Area	2.8 acres (1.1 ha)
Built	1858
Architectural style	Italianate, Georgian, Federal
NRHP Reference #	80001426
Added to NRHP	May 31, 1980

Eureka College is a liberal arts college in Eureka, Illinois, related by covenant to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It has a strong focus on the mutual development of intellect and character. Stated core values are learning, service and leadership. Eureka offers a classical liberal arts education with an array of requirements that are designed to create well-rounded, critical thinking leaders. Popular majors include education, business, history, political science, communication, and the fine and performing arts. Enrollment in 2010–11 was about 785 students. Dr. David J. Arnold resigned in 2016. Dr. Jamal Santa Cruz Wright is currently serving as Interim President of Eureka College.

Eureka College was the third college in the United States to admit men and women on an equal basis. U.S. president Abraham Lincoln spoke on campus in 1856. Future U.S. president Ronald Reagan graduated from Eureka College in 1932 with a degree in economics and sociology, and the college has continued to be closely associated with his legacy. In 2010, Eureka College was designated as a national historic district by the National Park Service.

The college was founded in 1848 by a group of abolitionists who had left Kentucky because of their opposition to slavery and was originally named the Walnut Grove Academy. It was chartered in 1855. When the school was founded, it was the first school in Illinois (and only the third in the United States) to educate women on an equal basis with men. Abingdon College merged with Eureka in 1885.

The school's main library, Melick Library, was named in honor of Wesley M. Melick and Clinton F. Melick. The building was dedicated on September 28, 1967, by California governor and Eureka College alumnus Ronald Reagan '32, who was later elected President of the United States.