Knox College ( Illinois ) Knox College is a four - year coeducation al private liberal arts college located in Galesburg , Illinois , United States . Knox is classified as a more selective institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and is ranked 75th among liberal arts college s by the 2011 edition of America ' s Best Colleges in " U . S . News & World Report " . It is one of 40 schools featured in Loren Pope ' s " Colleges That Change Lives " . History . Knox College was founded in 1837 by anti - slavery social reformers , led by George Washington Gale . Many of the founders , including the Rev . Samuel Wright , actively supported the Underground Railroad . The original name for the school was Knox Manual Labor College , but it has been known by its present name since 1857 . The college ' s name came about through a compromise among its founders . Though founded by a colony of Presbyterians and Congregationalists , the county in which the college is located was already named Knox County , after Henry Knox , the first United States Secretary of War . Arguments have been made that the college was named for Calvinist leader John Knox , but it is not certain for which Knox it was named ( if not both ) . George Candee Gale , a great - great - grandson of two of the founders , explains that " contrary to general belief , Knox was not named for either General Knox or the Scottish Presbyterian Knox , according to my father . . . Some wanted the college named for one Knox , some for the other ; so they compromised on KNOX . Certainly most of them were pious enough to want the churchman and fighters enough to want the soldier as well . " Knox was the site of the fifth debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A . Douglas in 1858 . The Old Main building is the only site from the debates that stands today . Two years after the debates , and during his presidential campaign , Lincoln was awarded the first honorary doctorate ever conferred by Knox College — a Doctor of Laws degree , announced at the commencement exercises of 5 July 1860 . Academics . Rankings . Knox College was ranked 71st among liberal arts college s by the 2011 edition of America ' s Best Colleges in " U . S . News & World Report " . In August 2010 , Knox was listed as one of the " Best - Kept Secrets : 10 Colleges You Should Know About " by the Huffington Post , based on a Unigo survey completed by over 30 , 000 students . In the August 11 , 2010 issue of " Forbes " magazine , Knox was ranked among the Top 100 liberal arts colleges listed and over 600 evaluated ; In the 2009 rankings , Knox was 101st of 600 listed . The " Princeton Review " consistently cites Knox on its " " Best of " " lists , most recently in 2010 as one of the Best 371 Schools , and one of the Best Midwestern Colleges . The " Kiplinger " private colleges rankings for 2010 placed Knox 47th on its list of 50 best values in liberal arts , measuring academic quality and affordability . And in 2010 " Washington Monthly " named Knox among the Top 50 best liberal arts colleges , calling their list " a guide not just to what colleges can do for you , but what colleges are doing for the country . " Knox College is also one of 40 schools featured in the book " Colleges That Change Lives " by former New York Times Education Editor Loren Pope . In the 2009 – 2010 academic year , The Chronicle of Higher Education noted Knox as one of 9 bachelor - level institutions to produce 2 or more Fulbright Awards for U . S . Scholars . In 2009 , a Knox study of itself found that the college ranks in the top 3 % of colleges by based on graduates who go on to earn a Ph . D . Academic program . Knox employs a 3 – 3 academic calendar rather than a traditional semester - based approach . In each of the three 10 - week terms , students take only three courses . Faculty members teach only two courses each term , giving them more time for one - on - one mentoring . No matter what course of study students decide to pursue , education at Knox contains common elements , including an educational plan that students design . Knox College introduced the school ' s honor code in 1951 . All students are held responsible for the integrity of their own work , and students are required to abide by the code . Because of this policy , tests are not proctored , and in many cases students may take their exams in any open , public place within the same building . Any cases of students caught disobeying the system are evaluated by their peers through the Honor Board , a committee consisting of three seniors , three juniors , three sophomores , and three faculty members . With the implementation of Renewed Knox , the 2003 curriculum overhaul , the school expanded its academic offerings to meet the needs of a liberal arts education in the 21st century . In 2003 , the Howard Hughes Medical Institute awarded the school a $ 1 million grant to create a new major in neuroscience ; in 2005 , the college signed agreements with The George Washington University to create an early admission program into the university ' s medical school , and with the University of Rochester to create a direct admissions program into the university ' s Simon School of Business ' s MBA program ; in 2007 the Peace Corps launched a new program at Knox , establishing the Peace Corps Preparatory Program , the first of its kind in the country ; Chinese language instruction , Asian Studies , Environmental Studies , and Film Studies were all added ; and new abroad studies programs have been created : the Japan Term , and Knox in New York . Knox is also known for its Green Oaks term , an interdisciplinary program at the Green Oaks Biological Field Station , during which students and faculty spend an entire term conducting research and creative projects and participating in courses in biology , anthropology - sociology , and English , as well as workshops in outdoor skills , first aid , and photography . Knox also promotes top - notch undergraduate research , annually awarding students more than $ 250 , 000 in grants to support research and creative projects . Among the programs are the Ford Foundation Research Fellows Program , which funds the scientific , scholarly , and creative projects of 20 students each year , and the summer research program at Knox ' s Lincoln Studies Center . More than 10 percent of Knox students receive support for independent research and study from the Richter Memorial Foundation Program and the Pew Research Fellowships , which offers Knox students support for off - campus research in science and mathematics . In addition , the Rockefeller Brothers Fund supports student research in ecology and environmental studies and the AAAS / Merck Grant funds interdisciplinary scientific research . Knox has many distinctive academic programs . The Honors Program is a year - long , in - depth independent research program in which one in seven seniors participates . It culminates in a major thesis or creative portfolio that is presented to and defended before an honors committee that includes Knox faculty and a specialist from outside the college . In 2007 , the Andrew W . Mellon Foundation awarded Knox a $ 228 , 750 grant to create a new Center for Research and Advanced Studies , which " will coordinate Knox ' s numerous existing programs that support advanced work in the natural and social sciences , humanities , and creative and performing arts . " Almost 50 percent of Knox students take advantage of the opportunities for off - campus learning , studying theatre in London , history in Barcelona , French immersion in Besançon , mathematics in Hungary , social development in Tanzania , language and culture in Japan , political science in Washington , D . C . , and a host of other subjects in Africa , Asia , Europe , Latin America and the United States Faculty . The Knox College faculty is made up of 120 professors , 97 percent of whom hold a Ph . D . or equivalent degree . The student - faculty ratio is 12 : 1 , while the average class size is 17 . Prominent faculty members include noted author Robert Hellenga , psychologist of materialistic values Tim Kasser , Middle East expert Robert Seibert , Evolutionary Psychologist Frank McAndrew , noted expert on 20th century American art and director of The National Center for Midwest Art and Design Gregory Gilbert , former Supreme Court Fellow Lane Sunderland , educational psychologist / gifted education & literacy specialist Stephen T . Schroth , heterodox economist Steven Cohn and co - chairs of the Knox - based Lincoln Studies Center : Rodney Davis and Douglas L . Wilson . In the 2009 – 2010 academic year , " The Chronicle of Higher Education " ranked Knox as one of the top producers of Fulbright scholar Awards for U . S . Scholars : with two recipients , Knox tied for second among bachelor degree level institutions . Lincoln Studies Center . The Lincoln Studies Center was established in 1998 by Rodney Davis and Douglas L . Wilson , who serve as joint co - chairs . The center deals with issues relating to the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln by fostering new research , publishing monographs , hosting annual lectures and occasional symposia . Students are often employed as assistants in the various projects conducted at the center . In August 2009 , Knox was awarded an $ 850 , 000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities " We the People " initiative , " a grant that will provide the base of a permanent endowment for the Center . " Admission . According to The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching , Knox is considered to be a more selective institution , with a lower rate of transfer - in students . For the school year commencing in 2011 , more than 3 , 200 students applied , 1 , 600 were admitted and 460 chose to enroll . Of the class commencing in September 2011 , 43 percent of students were in the top tenth of their class , 79 percent in the top quarter . The ACT composite Mid - 50 percent Range was 26 – 30 , the SAT Mid - 50 percent Range 1190 – 1380 . Student body . 1 , 420 students were enrolled at Knox in September 2011 . These students come from 48 states and territories and 51 countries . Twenty - five percent of U . S . students are of color ( 7 percent African American , 9 percent Asian American or Pacific Islander , 9 percent Hispanic , 2 percent Native American ) , and 9 percent are international students . Women make up 57 percent of the student body , men 43 percent . Financial aid . Knox says it is " committed to ensuring cost is not a barrier to [ an ] education . " Over the past seven years , the annual increase in the comprehensive fee has ranged from 3 . 3 to 5 . 9 % . A variety of merit - based scholarships ( up to full tuition ) and need - based financial aid packages are offered . As recently as 2012 , both the " Kiplinger ' s Personal Finance " and " U . S . News & World Report " , named Knox a " Best Value " liberal arts college . The comprehensive cost ( tuition , room , board and fees ) of an academic year at Knox was $ 47 , 352 in 2013 – 2014 . U . S . citizens are eligible for a wide array of need - and merit - based scholarships , as well as various federal and private loan programs . There are numerous avenues for on - campus employment during the academic year . Knox College offers scholarships to qualified international students who wish to take full advantage of what the American liberal arts mode of education has to offer . International students are also eligible for on - campus jobs . Student life . Fraternities and sororities . Knox College groups belonging to the sorority ' s Panhellenic Council ( Alpha Sigma Alpha , Delta Delta Delta , Kappa Kappa Gamma , and Pi Beta Phi ) conduct a formal recruitment process during the winter term . Groups belonging to the fraternity ' s Interfraternity Council ( Beta Theta Pi , Phi Gamma Delta , Gentlemen of Quality , Sigma Chi , Sigma Nu and Tau Kappa Epsilon ) conduct a formal intake process during the winter term . Formal recruitment is conducted during winter term to ensure first - year students have a chance to adjust to college life and classes before joining a Greek organization . Traditions . Pumphandle is an annual tradition dating back to 1885 during which new members of the community are welcomed to Knox . On the afternoon before the start of the academic year , all members of the Knox community gather on the south lawn outside Old Main . The President of the college “ leads the welcoming line , shaking each person ' s hand in turn . Everyone shakes the hands of those who have gone before , and the line grows , snaking around the campus . ” Flunk Day is an annual spring carnival that allows students , staff , and faculty to mingle and have fun . Classes are canceled for the day as the student body turns its attention to a joke issue of the student newspaper , live music , inflatable bounce rooms , petting zoos , a mud pit , a paint fight , and a seniors vs faculty softball game . The date of Flunk Day changes every year and is a secret until the entire student body is woken up at around 5am the day of . Flunk Day is of particular significance due to the fact that Knox College does not close for reasons other than Winter Break and Spring Break . This one day , Flunk Day , is a time that students , staff , and faculty can all come together . Student media . Knox ' s radio station is WVKC . It is located on the fourth floor of George Davis Hall , a former science building that now houses the social science and language departments . Its frequency in Galesburg is 90 . 7 . It is ranked # 7 in the nation for " great college radio station " by the " Princeton Review " in their 2011 " Best 368 Colleges " rankings . Athletics . The current Knox College mascot is the " Prairie Fire " , a name it adopted in 1993 due to controversy surrounding the former mascot , the " Old Siwash " . The word " Siwash " is rooted in the language of the Chinook Indians of the Pacific Coast of Canada . It was a derogatory term used by European traders to refer to the local people . The term " Old Siwash " was popularized by George Helgesen Fitch ( Knox Class of 1897 ) in his book " At Good Old Siwash " , and was soon adopted as the school ' s mascot . However , in 1992 a college publication urged the school to reconsider the name given its pejorative and derogatory implications . The " Prairie Fire " refers to the annual spring burning of the prairie lands at Green Oaks . First conducted in the 1950s by Knox professor Paul Shepard , the burn protects prairie grasses from intrusions of woodland scrub and competition with " exotic " species that have been introduced to Illinois from other regions or countries — to the detriment of organisms that have evolved over millions of years in delicate balance with the environment and each other . Knox is a member of the Midwest Conference of the NCAA at the Division III level . The school offers 21 men ' s and women ' s varsity sports , as well as 11 club sports in such things as water polo , fencing , and ultimate frisbee . Recent athletic highlights would include the 2008 Conference Champion baseball team that participated in the NCAA Division III National Tournament , and Jaran Rutledge , a two - time All - American wrestler who placed in the NCAA Division III National Tournament in 2007 ( 3rd ) and 2008 ( 8th ) . Knox College is part of the sixth - longest college football rivalry in the United States with Monmouth College . The Bronze Turkey trophy , awarded annually to the victor of the football game , was created in 1928 and is the brainchild of Knox football alumnus Bill Collins . The Bronze Turkey was named the fifth " most bizarre college football rivalry trophy " by ESPN . Campus . Knox College has 45 academic and residential buildings on its campus . Knox boasts electron microscopes , a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer , a Celestron telescope , access to the Inter University Consortium for Political & Social Research , the Strong Collection of 18th and 19th century maps and photographs , the Hughes Collection of manuscripts and first editions from Hemingway and his “ Lost Generation ” contemporaries , and a natural prairie reserve , the Green Oaks Field Station . In 2006 , the new E . & L . Andrew Fitness Center was dedicated . The , $ 2 . 4 - million facility features state - of - the - art equipment , and is significantly larger than the former fitness center , Memorial Gymnasium . The centerpiece of the Knox campus is Old Main . Old Main is " the oldest building on its campus , and is the best preserved site of one of the 1858 senatorial debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas . " A National Historic Landmark and part of the National Register of Historic Places . Built in 1928 , the Seymour Library is was ranked 3rd " Best Library " in the nation by the Princeton Review in 2001 . Inside its leaded glass windows and oak paneled reading rooms , the library houses 350 , 000 books and subscribes to more than 14 , 000 periodicals . Its special collections include the Finley Collection of Midwest History , the Strong Collection of 18th - and 19th - century maps and photographs , the Hughes Collection of manuscripts and first editions from Faulkner , Hemingway and his “ Lost Generation ” contemporaries , and an original Diderot Encyclopédie . Famous professor and newspaperman Christopher Morley delivered a three - week - long series of lectures on " Literature as Companionship " at Knox in March and April 1938 . In one of these lectures , entitled " Lonely Fun " , he describes the Standish Alcove in the library as modeled after a " gentleman ' s library , " and praised the opportunities the library offered for solitary leisure . In addition , Knox offers the Kresge Science & Math Library , which houses the scientific and technical collections of the college , and the Center for the Fine Arts Music Library ( CFA ) , which has collections of compact discs , vinyl record albums , printed music scores , and a core reference collection . Four public computer laboratories are accessible to students , with several more departmental labs available and a dedicated language laboratory . The largest , Founders Laboratory , is located in Seymour Hall ( the student union ) , and is open 24 hours a day throughout the school year . Scanning ( including film - scanning and optical character recognition ) is available freely to student users , and printing and copy services are available for a fee . In a move to become more environmentally friendly beginning fall of 2005 recycled - content paper was phased in for use in all college printers , addressing the issues of paper waste . In 2002 , a major curriculum revision entitled " Renewed Knox " was launched . With this revision came the creation of six new academic centers : The Center for Research and Advanced Studies , The Center for Global Studies , The Center for Career and Pre - Professional Development , The Center for Community Service , The Center for Teaching and Learning , and The Center for Intercultural Life . Students established the Knox College Community Garden in 2007 as an independent study project . It continues to be tended by student volunteers , and produces a variety of annual and perennial vegetables and flowers . Recent commencement speakers . Each year since 2005 , Knox has had several well - known commencement speakers , including Barack Obama ( 2005 ) , Stephen Colbert ( 2006 ) , Bill Clinton ( 2007 ) , Madeleine Albright ( 2008 ) , Patrick J . Fitzgerald ( 2009 ) , Christina Tchen ( 2010 ) , Majora Carter ( 2011 ) , and Ed Helms ( 2013 ) . Alumni . Knox College has over 15 , 000 living alumni on all seven continents . The alumni giving rate was equal to 36 . 4 % ( the highest rate among liberal arts colleges in Illinois ) in the 2008 – 2009 giving year , with more than 5 , 500 individuals contributing to the college . According to the 2009 Institutional Self - Study , Knox prepares its graduates well for life after graduation . 80 percent of those wishing to attend medical school were accepted ( the national average was 50 percent ) , while 90 prercent of students who worked with the pre - law advisor were admitted to one or more law schools . Knox is also in the top 3 percent of schools whose graduates attain a Ph . D . In the decade ending in 2009 , 15 Knox alumni have been awarded the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship for foreign study .