Illinois Institute of Technology facts for kids
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Former names
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Armour Institute (1890–1940) Lewis Institute (1895–1940) |
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| Motto | Transforming Lives. Inventing the Future. |
| Type | Private research university |
| Established | 1890 (first predecessor) April 23, 1940 (merged school) |
| Accreditation | HLC |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $304 million (2021) |
| President | Raj Echambadi |
| Provost | Jamshid Mohammadi (interim) |
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Academic staff
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659 |
| Students | 6,943 (fall 2022) |
| Undergraduates | 3,125 (fall 2022) |
| Postgraduates | 3,818 (fall 2022) |
| Location |
Chicago, Illinois
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United States
41°50′6″N 87°37′39″W / 41.83500°N 87.62750°W |
| Campus | Large city, 120 acres (48.6 ha) |
| Newspaper | TechNews |
| Colors | Red, gray, and black |
| Nickname | Scarlet Hawks |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division III — NACC |
| Mascot | Talon the Hawk |
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The Illinois Institute of Technology, also known as Illinois Tech or IIT, is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. It was formed in 1940 when two older schools, the Armour Institute and the Lewis Institute, joined together. The university is known for its programs in engineering, architecture, science, design, and business.
Illinois Tech has a special place in the history of modern architecture. Its main campus was designed by the famous architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The university also includes the Institute of Design and the Chicago-Kent College of Law. It is known for its focus on research and hands-on learning.
Contents
History of Illinois Tech
The "Million Dollar Sermon"
The story of Illinois Tech began in 1890 with a Chicago minister named Frank Wakely Gunsaulus. He gave a famous speech that became known as the "Million Dollar Sermon." He said that if he had a million dollars, he would build a school where students could learn practical skills and "learn by doing."
A wealthy businessman named Philip Danforth Armour, Sr. heard the sermon and was inspired. He gave $1 million to start the Armour Institute. The school opened in 1893 and taught subjects like engineering, chemistry, and architecture.
Two Schools Become One
Another school, the Lewis Institute, was started in 1895 on Chicago's west side. It taught liberal arts, science, and engineering to both men and women. In 1940, the Armour Institute and the Lewis Institute decided to merge. This merger created the school we know today as the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Over the years, other schools joined Illinois Tech.
- The Institute of Design, a famous design school, joined in 1949.
- Chicago-Kent College of Law, a law school founded in 1887, became part of the university in 1969.
- The Midwest College of Engineering joined in 1986.
These additions helped Illinois Tech grow into a university that offers a wide variety of subjects for students to study.
Campus and Cool Buildings
Illinois Tech has four campuses in the Chicago area, but the most famous one is the Main Campus, also called the Mies Campus. It is located in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood.
A Famous Architect's Design
The 120-acre Main Campus was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, one of the most important architects of the 20th century. He designed a campus with a lot of open space, using modern materials like steel, concrete, and glass. This was very different from traditional college campuses with old stone buildings.
The campus has 20 of his buildings, which is the largest collection of his work in the world. The American Institute of Architects has called the campus one of the most important works of architecture in the United States.
Notable Buildings
- S. R. Crown Hall: Home to the College of Architecture, this building is famous for its open interior with no columns. Mies van der Rohe considered it one of his best works. It is a National Historic Landmark.
- McCormick Tribune Campus Center: This modern student center was designed by architect Rem Koolhaas. A 530-foot steel tube wraps around the elevated train tracks that run right over the building. The tube helps to quiet the sound of the trains for the students inside.
- State Street Village: This is a student dormitory designed by architect Helmut Jahn. It is made of three separate buildings connected by glass walls that also block noise from the nearby train.
- Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship: Opened in 2018, this is the newest academic building on campus. It was designed by Chicago architect John Ronan.
What You Can Study
Illinois Tech is divided into several colleges and schools, where students can study many different subjects. It is known for being a top university for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
- Engineering: The Armour College of Engineering offers programs like biomedical, chemical, civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering.
- Science: The Lewis College of Science and Letters includes subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, and applied mathematics.
- Computing: The College of Computing focuses on computer science, information technology, and cybersecurity.
- Architecture: The College of Architecture is world-famous and is housed in S. R. Crown Hall.
- Design: The Institute of Design is a well-known graduate school for design.
- Business: The Stuart School of Business offers programs in finance, marketing, and management.
- Law: The Chicago-Kent College of Law is a highly-ranked law school.
Student Life
There is a lot for students to do at Illinois Tech outside of class. There are many student clubs and organizations for different interests.
- Student Government: The Student Government Association (SGA) represents students and helps manage student activities.
- TechNews: This is the student newspaper, which has been running since the 1930s.
- WIIT Radio: The university has its own student-run radio station, WIIT 88.9 FM.
- The Bog: This is a fun spot on campus where students can go bowling, play billiards, or play video games.
- Disc Golf: Illinois Tech has a nine-hole disc golf course that winds around the campus buildings.
The university also has several fraternities and sororities, which are social organizations for students.
Sports at Illinois Tech
The sports teams at Illinois Tech are called the Scarlet Hawks. The school's mascot is Talon the Hawk. The teams compete in NCAA Division III, which means they play against other similar-sized colleges.
Illinois Tech has 19 varsity sports teams.
- Men's sports: baseball, basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.
- Women's sports: basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.
The university also has a non-varsity cricket team that competes against other schools in the Midwest.
Images for kids
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Many buildings on campus, like Machinery Hall, are historic landmarks.
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The Paul V. Galvin Library was designed by architect Walter Netsch in 1962.
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Perlstein Hall is another campus building designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
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The McCormick Tribune Campus Center has a large steel tube that covers the elevated train tracks.
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The main entrance of the Kaplan Institute, the newest academic building on campus.
See also
In Spanish: Instituto de Tecnología de Illinois para niños
