Kaskaskia College and SIU Partner to Offer 4-Year Ag Degrees Locally

New program allows students to earn bachelor's degrees in agriculture without leaving the region.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Kaskaskia College and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale have entered into a new partnership that will allow students to earn four-year degrees in agriculture without having to leave the local area. The program will offer bachelor's degrees in Agribusiness Economics and Agricultural Systems and Education, with some courses taught by SIU professors on the Kaskaskia campus and others delivered online.

Why it matters

This partnership expands access to affordable, high-quality agricultural education in the region, which is important given the current workforce shortage in the agricultural industry. It allows students to earn a prestigious SIU degree while staying local, which can help retain talent in the area.

The details

Under the new program, students can complete an associate's degree in agriculture or agronomy at Kaskaskia College and then seamlessly transfer to earn their bachelor's degree from SIU without having to relocate. SIU professors will travel to Kaskaskia to teach some courses, while others will be delivered online, providing flexibility for students.

  • The partnership was announced and signed on February 25, 2026.
  • The initial bachelor's degree programs in Agribusiness Economics and Agricultural Systems and Education will be offered starting in the Fall 2026 semester.

The players

George Evans

President of Kaskaskia College.

Austin Lane

Chancellor of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Kristina Boone

Dean of SIU's College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences.

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What they’re saying

“It's a great opportunity for our students. For individuals to come to this institution, learn from our faculty and achieve an associate's degree in agriculture or agronomy and transfer to SIU, which is a level one research facility, one of three in the state of Illinois, and not have to leave the region. To attend courses here and earn their transcript under the flagship of SIU, under the tutelage of SIU leaders and faculty. It's the evolution of higher education.”

— George Evans, President, Kaskaskia College (southernillinoisnow.com)

“The program will be seamless. The facilities that are here at Kaskaskia are second to none. When you think about pairing our faculty with the faculty that's here and the amount of intellect and knowledge around agriculture, it's going to be a game changer for our students.”

— Austin Lane, Chancellor, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (southernillinoisnow.com)

“The number one issue in the agricultural industry right now is workforce and the lack of workforce. This is something that's really important for us to be able to do, is develop our workforce in agriculture. This innovative partnership really allows us to do that in an accessible and affordable way that also provides an excellent education.”

— Kristina Boone, Dean, SIU College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences (southernillinoisnow.com)

What’s next

Students interested in learning more or applying for one of the available agricultural bachelor's degree pathways can contact info@kaskaskia.edu.

The takeaway

This partnership between Kaskaskia College and SIU demonstrates how institutions can work together to expand access to affordable, high-quality education and address critical workforce needs in the region. By allowing students to earn an SIU degree without leaving the local area, it can help retain talent and support the growth of the agricultural industry.