The traditional school calendar year may be over, but that does not mean Knox College students, staff, and faculty are taking a break. Here are ways members of the Knox community are keeping busy this summer.

Summer Immersion

This summer, students can partake in a domestic experience, exploring Chicago for Chicago Term: Life, Work, and Culture in the Second City.

Associate Professors Thomas Bell and Andy Civettini will lead the students on a three-and-a-half-week experience of life, work, and culture in Chicago. This is the second consecutive summer Bell and Civettini have taken students to the Windy City.

Students will participate in a 12-day internship to learn what it is like living and working in one of the world’s largest cities. Along with the internships, students learn about Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods, history, and culture, as well as participate in various activities and events in the city. Knox alumni are also part of the collaboration, offering internships, tours, and connections in the city.

“The internships are all over the place, immersion is the goal,” Civettini said. “Chicago is a really rich, multicultural city. The neighborhoods have character and there’s a flavor in each neighborhood. There’s also the museums, the cultural centers, the historical sites, we want our students to experience that along with the internships and the soft skills they’ll learn that are so valuable.”

Summer Courses

Knox College is offering a seven-week summer term, dividing it into two 3.5-week sessions. The first session runs from June 11 to July 9, while the second goes from July 10 to August 2. Students can also enroll in an independent study or internship course.

Some of the courses offered are: ANSO 102: Introduction to Anthropology; BUS 242: Business Computing; and STAT 202: Introductory Statistics.

Summer Research Projects 

During the Summer Collaborative Research Projects, a group of students engage in a short-term research project guided by a faculty member focused on a particular topic that is proposed and submitted to the Richter Fund Board. Students generally apply for the summer program in the winter term and enroll in a spring term course that prepares the group for the summer class. 

These projects are multi-week, in-person experiences, and most are held on-campus. Most projects are suitable for students with no experience with research or research topics; others have a few minimal requirements. The projects are non-credited work, but students do receive a stipend for their work. The program tends to be a gateway to larger, more one-on-one research interaction projects between students and faculty.

During the Winter Collaborative Research Projects in December 2024, students did projects on Museum Mineralogy, New Super Computer Network Topologies, Sport for National Interest and  National Identity, and American Torah: Hebrew Bible in the Midwest.

The Knox Summer Scholars program recruits 12-20 students with a wide range of academic and career aspirations. Students pursue individual projects and together identify connections across disciplinary boundaries, emphasizing an understanding of how to create constructive dialogue across those boundaries. 

The Summer Scholars is a more research-intensive project for students looking for a more in-depth experience. Students partner closely with a faculty mentor over the course of the summer.

This summer program began Friday, May 30 with a reading panel, setting the expectations for students, while also offering ground-floor guidance on the research projects. There will be a one-week seminar with Lisa Harris, director of the Vovis Center for Research and Advanced Study. After that, the students do their nine-week research project. The Summer Scholars sets students toward entry into the Knox Honors Program, which closely mirrors a traditional grad school thesis experience.

College 4 Kids and Athletic Camps

The Knox College for Kids summer enrichment program will be held on campus this summer from July 7 to July 18. 

Current and retired College faculty, PK-12 educators, and community members act as instructors. Knox College students serve as Fellows, welcoming campers and escorting participants to and from classes and around campus.

The two-week summer enrichment program provides learning opportunities for youth (entering grades 1-8) that may not be available in their typical schooling contexts and provides opportunities for instructors to teach to their passions. 

Knox College is offering athletic camps in soccer and basketball for interested athletes. 

The Knox summer soccer camp is July 7 and 8 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Campers will practice and play at Jorge Prats Field located on campus, and Knox women's soccer coach Annie Gerdes will be the lead instructor during each session. Assistance will be provided by the women’s and men's assistant coaches and players.

The Knox summer basketball camp is July 9 and 10 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Campers will practice and play in Memorial Gymnasium and T. Fleming Fieldhouse, located on campus. Knox men's basketball coach Corey Harvey will be the lead instructor during each session. Assistance will be provided by the men's assistant coaches and players.

JUMP Medical Immersion

Every year, the Gerald and Carol Vovis Center for Research and Advanced Study sends a small group of pre-health students to the JUMP Medical Immersion Program at University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria’s (UICOMP). This fully funded, two week “medical boot camp” gives students interested in the health professions an opportunity to experience the work that healthcare professionals engage in on an everyday basis, from interacting with patients, conducting physical exams, and diagnosing illness, to problem-solving and critical thinking within a team. 

Six selected Knox students will train and learn diagnosis techniques with robotic and cadaver patients . The students will also shadow medical professionals and learn how to work in a hospital and ambulatory setting. The opportunity gives students the feel of med school and the day-to-day life in a hospital.

BONUS: Fall Immersive Courses

During the fall and winter terms, Knox is also offering a pair of international immersive experiences, as students can learn and explore the history and cultures of Taiwan or Peru. 

Students will learn the background, history, and culture of the countries they are visiting, while also brainstorming project ideas on campus. Companion courses that are prerequisites for the trips are offered during the fall.

During the break after the fall term, students visit the country they studied, applying their newfound knowledge and conducting research for their project.

Dr. Weihong Du, associate professor and chair of the Asian studies program, and Michael Eric Penn, journalist in residence, are leading the Taiwan immersive course, while Professor and Director of Latin American Studies Julio Noriega is leading the Peru experience.