An Educational Community

Learning at IMSA

IMSA emphasizes group learning, team work and student classroom participation because that's how the best decisions and outcomes are achieved. Students enthusiastically respond to the call for excellence evidenced by the many state, national and international academic trophies lining the walls of the academic building.

... as a Community

At IMSA, teachers commit themselves to knowing their students personally and honoring their questions, interests and goals. They help and guide their students in and out of the classroom. Our Mathematics Department's office (above) is a favorite gathering spot for students.

New Science Labs

For the 650 students in our on-campus program, half of all courses are in mathematics and science. We are grateful to the State of Illinois for investing in the renovation of our science labs in 2004. Our co-location of science classrooms, science labs and faculty offices produces an energetic and spontaneous environment for learning, doing and sharing. The vibrant colors of the new science complex reflect the energy and excitement of learning and living at IMSA.

Apprentice Investigators

Our science program is broad, rich and integrated. Above, students conduct an experiment in our greenhouse, which is not only used for our Genetics, Biodiversity, Ecology, and Plants & People courses, but by many IMSA students' independent Inquiry projects as well.

Helix Round

Here's an aerial view of our new science complex. The floor design resembles a DNA double helix. From the science complex balcony, students launch objects for physics experiments. This atrium is a great place for group discussions, presentations and hands-on activities.

In The Classroom

Classes at IMSA, like the History/Social Science course in session above, are places of lively discussion and vibrant activity. Students are asked to question and investigate. Students' curiosity -- and that of their classmates and teachers -- becomes the force that shapes their education. This is inquiry-based learning and it's the core of IMSA's approach to teaching and learning in all academic disciplines. Elsewhere, students might be arguing the meaning of a text in one of our English Department's classes or immersing themselves in another culture through our World Languages department.

Commons

The Commons Area is a favorite spot for informal and formal gatherings and events. On any given day, you might find students playing chess, practicing karate, giving a musical performance or just relaxing.

The Art...

There are plenty of opportunities for students to pursue personal interests beyond the classroom. Among our Fine Arts Department's facilities are practice rooms, a ceramic and art studio and photography darkrooms.

... of Life at IMSA

Artwork, sculptures and murals are an important part of the IMSA campus landscape. Through IMSA's integrated approach to curriculum, students make the connections among mathematics, science, the arts and the humanities. Much of the art is funded through the Illinois Percent for Art Program which requires that half of 1% of all new state construction dollars be allocated for artwork.

In a residential community, the dining hall (above top, with its own mural) is an important part of campus life. It's a place to forge friendships, make plans and catch up on campus news and events. In our Commons (above bottom), IMSA's Jazz Ensemble performs during the holidays.

Grainger Center for Inquiry and Imagination

Students conduct original research through our Mentorship and Inquiry programs. Mentorship connects IMSA students with practicing scientists and scholars throughout Chicagoland at top locations like Brookfield Zoo, University of Chicago, Adler Planetarium, and Loyola University Medical Center. Inquiry enables students to pursue their own interests by working with faculty and staff advisors on campus. Futuristic facilities like our Grainger Center for Imagination and Inquiry provide IMSA students with the resources needed to execute what they imagine.

Information Resource Center (IRC)

Our Information Resource Center is a library of all media. Students and faculty can relax among over 40,000 books (the most per student in Illinois), 120 magazines in print (with many more electronically!), and an extensive video and CD collection. IMSA students even enjoy the privilege of borrowing books via interlibrary loan from many of Illinois' top universities. The IRC also offers a multi-media lab where community members can edit video, work with imaging software and produce web content.

Computing at IMSA

Computer access abounds at IMSA! Our main building has several computer labs (both Mac and PC) open throughout the day and each residential hall offers a lab that is up and running as late as our students. Each student residence hall room allows network access so students can hook up their own computers. IMSA's campus connects to the world at 14Mbit/s via its DS3 uplink.

Instructional Technology Laboratory/Toyota Video Production Laboratory (ITL/TVPL)

The Instructional Technology Laboratory/Toyota Video Production Laboratory is where IMSA students can borrow and use state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment for class or leisure. You may find students in our video production studio participating in a teleconference, recording their own musical performance, or taping interviews of great scientists (Watch for the On-Air light!). Elsewhere, with equipment from the ITL, students might be roving campus capturing footage for their Senior Slideshow or a seasonal sports video that they'll then seam together using the TVPL's digital editing system.

Senior U-Bench

Traditions abound at IMSA. This is known as the Senior U Bench, a gathering spot for soon to become IMSA alums. Sophomores and Juniors look forward to the day when they will be rewarded with rights to this coveted space.

Life Beyond IMSA

IMSA's committed and knowledgeable Career and Academic Counseling (CAC) team members help students develop a personalized learning plan to match their interests and goals. The CAC team members have a strong record of preparing IMSA students for acceptance to the nation's most prestigious universities. Both The Wall Street Journal and Worth Magazine rank IMSA among the top college prep schools in the nation to place its graduates in Ivy League and highly selective colleges and universities. The counselors work closely with students to explore college options that are good fits with their academic, career and personal interests and goals. Each year, nearly 200 college representatives are on campus to share highlights of their programs with interested IMSA students.