New Robert Morris campus ups number of colleges in Elgin

The recent announcement that Robert Morris University will open an Elgin branch next fall brings the total of higher-education institutions in the city to seven.

RMU. Judson College. Providence Baptist College. A Webster University satellite campus. DeVry. National-Louis. Elgin Community College.

In the Chicago suburbs, only Naperville is tied with Elgin for number of college campuses.

Schaumburg and Aurora feature four and three colleges, respectively.

So what's the draw to Elgin?

Elgin Mayor Ed Schock, himself a retired school principal, said he believes Elgin's continued population growth and business growth are major factors.

Almost every college that has an Elgin address, he noted, has business degree programs.

With unemployment rates in the double-digits in Elgin, "One of the things we need desperately is work force development," Schock said.

"We need to improve the skills of our workers so they're qualified for these new jobs."

Comparing Elgin's population with those of other communities up and down the Jane Addams Tollway, "We would probably be in the lower end of residents who have college degrees," Schock said.

"Everyone doesn't need a degree, but they do need options."

With the unemployment rate up, enrollment has spiked by 20 percent at Elgin Community College this semester.

"This is all good," Schock said.

"It shows when times are tough, people do realize they need to go back to school and enhance their skills. This is going to become common practice."

The Robert Morris campus will be located at 1707 Randall Road and is designated as a branch of the university's school of business administration. Students there can earn either business or accounting degrees.

According to a news release, construction in the coming months will remodel the office suite in the San Filippo nut company building into classrooms.

During the construction, admissions counselors will be available at the location for students.

Interested students are encouraged to contact an Elgin campus admissions counselor at (847) 622-5900.

Additional information on Robert Morris University is available at robertmorris.edu.