Collinsville has been chosen as the first extension site of Lindenwood University-Belleville.

Collinsville water tower / Photo by Roger Starkey

Classes will begin this fall in the 15,000 square-foot space at 1101 Easport Plaza Drive, the university said in a press release. Volkert, Inc. recently moved into the same building, which was occupied until March by Sanford Brown Business College.

Lindenwood will have seven classrooms, a science lab, student computer lab, lounge area and faculty/staff office space. The school will initially offer evening graduate classes in education and professional counseling in its Collinsville location, before expanding the offerings in the coming years. The school will sign a five-year lease.

LU-Belleville estimates about 100 students will attend classes in Collinsville this fall, with 500 anticipated in five years, Collinsville Economic Development Director Erika Kennett said. The site is expected to employ the equivalent of 15 full-time workers, including adjunct professors, support staff and a site manager, Kennett said.

The Belleville campus of Lindenwood University, based in St. Charles, Mo., first offered courses in 2003. The following year the school began offering several bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.

Daytime classes were first offered at LU-Belleville in 2009 and in 2011 it was granted full campus status. Classroom space at the Belleville campus has been at a premium, Cindy Manjounes, associate dean of academics at Lindenwood Belleville indicated in the release.

The Collinsville location makes Lindenwood accessible to more Madison County residents, Kennett said.

Kennet said LU-Belleville has invested $20 million in the Belleville community in the past 10 years.

“We would be thrilled to help them experience that same level of growth here,” Kennett said.