Faculty Assembly
2025-03-13 16:00 - 17:30, 2025-04-17 16:00 - 17:30 (America/Chicago)

Midterm grade rosters are due
2025-03-17

Spring Break
2025-03-17 - 2025-03-21
Academic Holiday: Administrative Offices Open; Academic
Offices Closed; No Classes Held

Center for Teaching & Learning: Book Read
2025-03-24 14:30 - 15:30
The Methodist University and Blackburn College Centers for Teaching and Learning are co-hosts of an on-campus reading group centered around the book, Called Beyond Our Selves: Vocation and the Common Good.
Participants from both Colleges will receive the book in December 2024 and will complete book read during the Spring 2025 semester.
This is open to all faculty, staff, and administration on campus. The book group will be made up of 10 members from Methodist University and 10 members from Blackburn College, there are currently 7 remaining books for Blackburn.
The first meeting will be with Blackburn College members only, in that time we will cover the introduction and format for the combined meetings. This meeting will occur Monday, February 3rd at 12:00pm (details to come). The next two meetings will be virtual with Methodist University, March 3rd (covering part 1 & 2 of the book) at 2:30pm and March 24th (covering part 3 & 4 of the book) at 2:30pm. Links to the meetings will be sent to all participants in advance of the meetings.
This book is written from an educational perspective, but it speaks to the work that is being done across the Blackburn Campus. We welcome anyone that is interested!

Last day to drop a class with a “W” grade
2025-03-28

Early registration begins for the Fall 2025 semester
2025-03-31

The Beauty Salon (Humanities Salon)
2025-04-03 18:00 - 19:30 | Jaenke Alumni Center, 700 College Avenue, Carlinville, IL, 62626, United States
Join us for the final salon of the year: The Beauty Salon. What does beauty mean to you? What under-appreciated things in the world do you find beautiful? While we won’t be able to fix your hair for you at this beauty salon, every kind of beauty from landscape photography to nail art is welcome. Beautiful and tasty refreshments will be served! Bring us all your beauties!

The Humanities Salon is open to all students, faculty, and staff who want to:
● read their own creative work;
● perform a short musical, theatrical, dance, or any stage act;
● share and discuss an original work of art;
● share any work of art of any medium that you simply love;
● listen and be part of the creative community at Blackburn.
We hope to see you there!

The works of David Graham
2025-04-04 16:00 - 18:00 | Sharon K. Sandfort Art Gallery – Visual Arts Center
Opening Reception April 4, 2025
Sharon K. Sandfort Gallery in the Visual Arts CenterWe will have a reception to celebrate the opening of an exhibit of the paintings of Artist David Graham.
The reception will be at the Sharon K Sandfort Gallery in the Visual Arts Building and will take place from 4 to 6. The Artist will be in attendance to answer any questions that you might have regarding his vision and technique. Come enjoy the art and stay for the theater!

Spring Musical: Once
2025-04-04 19:00, 2025-04-05 19:00, 2025-04-06 14:00 - 17:00 | Bothwell Auditorium at Blackburn College, 700 College Avenue, Carlinville, IL, 62626, United States
Blackburn proudly presents “Once” as this year’s spring musical. Performances will take place on Friday, April 4, and Saturday, April 5, at 7:00 pm, with a matinee on Sunday, April 6, at 2:00 pm.
A heartfelt story of love and music, “Once” follows two singer-songwriters who meet on the streets of Dublin and collaborate, recording an album together. The production will feature a live, integrated band comprised of student musicians. Visiting Professor of Theatre Adam Flores will direct, with musical direction by Dr. Joseph Welch.
General Admission: $10
Free Admission: Blackburn students, staff, and faculty
For more information, please contact us at Theater@blackburn.edu.

Taste of Blackburn
2025-04-09 17:30 - 19:00 | Demuzio Center Blackburn College, 700 College Ave., Carlinville, Illinois, 62626
BSU Presents Taste of Blackburn
Come taste and enjoy — Fast Street Food Festival!
April 9
DCC – 5:30 – 7 pm
Contact Tyler Westmoreland or Adalynn LaMarsh for more information.

Land Lost, Culture Lost - Film Screening & Discussion
2025-04-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Bothwell Auditorium at Blackburn College, 700 College Avenue, Carlinville, IL, 62626, United States
Join Blackburn College for a screening of the documentary “Land Lost, Culture Lost” on April 10 at 6 PM in Bothwell Auditorium. Co-directed by Blackburn Counselor Daniel Lanctot, the film explores Indigenous land loss and the power of participatory filmmaking in advocacy. A discussion will follow on how storytelling can drive social change and strengthen communities. The screening is free and open to the public.
Read more about the film >

Eberle Speaker Series: Michael Scott Smith, COO Make-A-Wish North Texas
2025-04-10 19:00 - 21:30 | Jaenke Alumni Center, 700 College Avenue, Carlinville, IL, 62626, United States
Blackburn College will host Michael Scott Smith, Chief Operating Officer at Make-A-Wish North Texas. This event, part of the Kathleen J. Eberle Memorial Lecture Series in the Social Sciences, will be held on Thursday, April 10, at 7:00 pm in Jaenke Alumni Center. It is free and open to the public.
As the Chief Operating Officer at Make-A-Wish North Texas, Smith brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to making a difference in the non-profit sector. With over 35 years of professional experience in various roles, Smith’s journey to the COO position at Make-A-Wish North Texas reflects his dedication to utilizing his skills and expertise to create a meaningful impact.
Smith’s career path began in the traditional business world, where he honed his skills in areas such as systems integration, process improvement, and software development. He served diverse companies and clients, including Royal Appliance/Dirt Devil, the U.S. Department of Defense, and Southwest Airlines. During his tenure at EDS and HP, he successfully led large projects and diverse teams, driving tangible business outcomes for clients.
However, Smith’s true passion extends beyond business objectives. He found fulfillment in driving employee and community engagement within the organizations he served, and through volunteering with organizations like Make-A-Wish and Big Brothers Big Sisters. His dedication to innovation, business transformation, strategy development and community engagement reflect his commitment to fostering collaboration to create positive change.
In his current role as COO of Make-A-Wish North Texas, Smith is instrumental in driving the organization’s mission of granting life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses. His leadership, coupled with his passion for community engagement, ensures that Make-A-Wish North Texas continues to make a significant impact in the lives of children and their families.
This event at Blackburn College is funded through the Kathleen J. Eberle Memorial Lecture Series in the Social Sciences, an endowed fund established to bring guest lecturers and speakers to campus who will inspire, engage, and inform students, faculty, and the community in the area of social sciences, with a focus on social justice issues.

Last day of early registration for Fall 2025 semester
2025-04-11

Science Day 2025
2025-04-11 | Mahan Science Building
Blackburn College is thrilled to announce the 36th Annual Science Day is scheduled for Friday, April 11, 2025. One of the College’s most celebrated traditions, Science Day welcomes high school students from across the region to the Blackburn campus for a day of hands-on science, dynamic demonstrations, and scholarship opportunities.
Coordinated entirely by Blackburn science student workers as part of the College’s nationally recognized Work Program, in addition to numerous student, staff and faculty volunteers, Science Day is an event unlike any other. Last year, the event welcomed more than 200 regional students and teachers, awarding scholarships to top participants and their high schools. This year’s event aims to inspire even more students to explore science and discover exciting future career paths.
“Science Day is an amazing experience for all involved,” said senior Alexia Mosby, who is co-coordinating the 2025 event. “My favorite part of planning the event is watching the high school students reap the benefits of our efforts. Blackburn’s Science Day gives high school students an opportunity to learn about science by engaging students with unique demonstrations conducted by Blackburn students and professors. Not only do the visiting high school students benefit, volunteers and workers of Science Day benefit by planning and running the event all on their own, which truly exemplifies Blackburn as a unique student managed work college.”
Science Day starts with a friendly competition in biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology. Awards are given to individual students as well as high schools with top-performing teams in each category. Throughout the day, Blackburn students, staff and faculty will lead engaging activities, including:
Witnessing exciting chemical reactions and even explosions
Exploring animal and reptile care in Blackburn’s Vivarium
Diving into fields like computer science, physics, and psychology fields through hands-on experiments and demonstrations
“Science Day is an amazing experience for the biology workers running it and the high school students who are participating,” said senior Jessica Muckensturm, who is also helping coordinate Science Day this year. “My favorite part of the day is watching all of the high school students get involved in the demos and get excited about the different aspects of science. We will continue working to make Science Day better every year!”
Schools and educators interested in attending are encouraged to contact Mosby and Muckensturm, Science Day coordinators, at biology@blackburn.edu for additional details, including an event schedule and registration forms.

Admitted Student Day
2025-04-12 08:00 - 17:00
Admitted Student Day – Save the date, Apr 12, 2025!
A day to step into the shoes of a Blackburn College student. Our accepted students will be able to participate in a student service project while Beaver Nation’s parents are able to attend several informational panels and ask questions of our community. In addition to the fun activites for the day, students who have submitted their tuition deposit, will be able to be in the first group to register for classes!

Spectrum's Annual Drag Show
2025-04-12 18:30 | Bothwell Auditorium at Blackburn College, 700 College Avenue, Carlinville, IL, 62626, United States
Please join us on Saturday, April 12th at 7:00 PM in Bothwell Auditorium for our Annual Drag Show! Doors open at 6:30 PM, with a cash bar and photo booth available. Tickets are $5 for Blackburn students, faculty, and staff with school IDs. Outside tickets are $10. If you have any questions please email spectrum@blackburn.edu!

Faculty vs Staff Mac & Cheese Cook Off
2025-04-17 17:00 | Demuzio Center Blackburn College, 700 College Ave., Carlinville, Illinois, 62626
A Faculty vs Staff Mac & Cheese Cook Off will occur inside DCC on Thursday, April 17, at 5:00 p.m. The office of Student Life will work to promote this event to students and make sure they know it is going on. If you want to get involved but don’t know how or aren’t the best chef – some examples of what to donate are as follows: Bowls and Cups, Utensils and Forks or Spoons. The winner will receive the golden spoon. Please send all questions and concerns, or even brainstorms, to alia.stewart@blackburn.edu
Please use the following form to sign up for the Blackburn Faculty & Staff Mac & Cheese (Cook-Off) for BC students: https://forms.gle/so2HXAGMCnLGLEEb8

Good Friday Observed
2025-04-18
Administrative and Academic Offices Closed; No Classes Held

Easter Monday Observed
2025-04-21

Last day to withdraw passing from a class
2025-04-25

Honors Night
2025-04-28 18:30 | Bothwell Auditorium at Blackburn College, 700 College Avenue, Carlinville, IL, 62626, United States
Honors Night Ceremony
April 28 at 6:30 pm
Bothwell Auditorium
Faculty, Staff and Students – Please join us!

Student Worker Appreciation Day
2025-04-29
Administrative and Academic
Offices Open; No Classes Held; Founder’s Day celebration

Choir Concert: Schubert’s Mass in G Major
2025-05-04 14:00 | Bothwell Auditorium at Blackburn College, 700 College Avenue, Carlinville, IL, 62626, United States
The season concludes with a significant choral event as Blackburn College’s three choirs—College Choir, Conservatory Choir, and Community Choir—join forces to perform Schubert’s Mass in G Major.
This concert represents the culmination of the Music program’s renewed commitment to fostering community connections. With funding from the Illinois Arts Council, Blackburn launched the Conservatory Choir in the fall, offering high school students from districts without music programs a choral experience. Additionally, the College reintroduced the Community Choir, a reimagined version of the previously established community ensemble that had been inactive since the pandemic. While each choir performed separately last semester, this concert marks the first time all three ensembles will unite for a major work.
Adding to the evening’s significance, Blackburn’s music majors will premiere their original compositions, developed through mentorship with award-winning Nashville songwriter Dr. Kim McLean. Students composed and arranged their works for choir and orchestra, and each will perform as the soloist on their piece—an unparalleled opportunity to gain real-world experience in songwriting and performance.
For additional details, ticket reservations, or inquiries, please contact music@blackburn.edu.

Study Day
2025-05-05
Administrative and Academic Offices Open; No
Classes Held

Education Research Poster Presentations
2025-05-05 17:00 - 18:30 | Woodson Hall
Blackburn College Education majors will be presenting their research projects through a poster presentation on May 5, 2025 at 5:00pm in Woodson A. There will be six presenters spread throughout the room and attendees will be able to walk between the presentations and learn about the students’ research projects. The presentations will close at 6:30pm.

Double Instruction Period - Spring 2025
2025-05-06 - 2025-05-09
DIPS May 2025 (PDF)
May 6 – 9, 2025

If your class meets on . . .
Your final class meeting is
At this time

Monday @ 8:00 a.m.
Thursday, May 8
10:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

Monday @ 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday, May 7
3:00 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.

Monday @ 10:00 a.m.
Friday, May 9
8:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.

Monday @ 11:00 a.m.
Thursday, May 8
8:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.

Monday @ 12:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 6
1:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.

Monday @ 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 7
1:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.

Monday @ 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 6
10:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

Monday @ 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 7
10:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

Tuesday @ 8:00 a.m.
Thursday, May 8
1:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.

Tuesday @ 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, May 7
8:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.

Tuesday @ 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, May 6
8:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.

Tuesday @ 1:00 p.m.
Friday, May 9
10:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

Tuesday @ 2:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 8
3:00 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.

Tuesday Night Classes
Tuesday, May 6
7:00 p.m. – 8:50 p.m.

ALL DOUBLE INSTRUCTION PERIODS ARE SCHEDULED FOR THE REGULAR CLASSROOM.
ALL SENIOR FINAL GRADES ARE DUE BY 9:00 A.M. ON TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2025.
All remaining final grades are due by 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, 2025
ANY CHANGES TO THIS SCHEDULE MUST BE APPROVED BY THE PROVOST.

Course instruction ends
2025-05-09
