As the American Civil War came to an end, the men, who learned to read and write as part of their training in boot camp, were determined to start a school for other freed Black people when they returned to their homes in Missouri after the war. The soldiers of the 62nd United States Colored Infantry, whose pay averaged $13 a month, came up with $5,000 to establish an educational institution in Jefferson City, Missouri, which they named Lincoln Institute. The 65th Colored Infantry contributed another $1,400 to the school’s endowment. On January 14, 1866, an organization committee formally established Lincoln Institute.

Today, Lincoln serves a diverse student population of nearly 1,800, both residential and non-residential, and offers an array of academic programs, research projects, and public services. The legacy of those long-ago soldiers lives on in the growth of the university and the success of its graduates.

Lincoln has committed to infusing Co-Curricular 4-year plans into FYE through all faculty, specifically through cross-functional collaboration, training for faculty, and increasing connection with alumni and faculty partners. In addition to this initiative, the institution has implemented e-portfolios to capture student co-curricular skill sets over time to assist students in the codification of their skill set to build stronger resumes as they prepare to enter the workforce. To close the loop and create a pathway for students, Lincoln has engaged in strategic partnerships with business and industry partners starting by tapping into their alumni as a resource.