with other modern buildings on campus as well as the many historic brick buildings. Each new hall is a three-story structure connected by a two-floor glass bridge. The new residence halls tentatively named "New Residence Hall: East" and "New Residence Hall: West" were completed in time for the 2011–2012 academic year. Due to this addition, McKendree University was able to recruit their largest first-year enrollment in 185 years: class of 2017.
== Athletics ==
The McKendree athletic teams are called the Bearcats. The university is a member of NCAA Division II, after completing the transitioning process from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in July 2013. The university competed as an Independent during the 2011–12 academic year (in NCAA D-II play) before becoming a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) for the 2012–13 academic year as a provisional NCAA member.
Prior to joining the NCAA, McKendree was a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) …
