October 23, 2019 Planning Committee Meeting

The Planning Committee of the Board of Trustees of Illinois Valley Community College District No. 513 met at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 in the Board Room (C307) at Illinois Valley Community College.

Committee Members Physically Present

Jay K. McCracken, Committee Chair
Everett J. Solon, Board Vice Chair (entered at 4:10 p.m.)
Amy L. Boyles

Committee Members Absent

Committee Members Telephonically Present

Board Members Present

Jane E. Goetz, Board Chair

Others Physically Present

Jerry Corcoran, President
Deborah Anderson, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Cheryl Roelfsema, Vice President for Business Services and Finance
Mark Grzybowski, Vice President for Student Services
Bonnie Campbell, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Matt Suerth, Director of Institutional Research
Tracy Lee, Instructor

The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Mr. McCracken.

PROGRAM REVIEW REPORT

Dr. Deborah Anderson provided highlights of the Community College Program Review Report submitted to the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB).  Dr. Anderson informed that certain programs are reviewed each year and over a course of five years every program is reviewed. The following occupational programs were reviewed in FY 2019:  Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC); Phlebotomy; Accounting; Graphic Design; Machinist and Tool and Die Making; Certified Production Technician (CPT); Computer Numerical Control Operator (CNC); and Welding. Items of note from the reviewed occupational programs include:

• Additional sections for the Phlebotomy program have been added since the last review in order to meet area demand. Employment projections indicate a 25 percent increase over the next ten years. Enrollments and completions are steady in this program.
• Since the last review, Accounting has added two professional certification opportunities for students: Certified Bookkeeper and Fundamental Payroll Certification. Bookkeeping pass rates exceeded 90 percent and Payroll pass rates stand at 100 percent. New internship opportunities are to be explored during the course of the next review cycle.
• The Graphic Design program has been inactivated during this review cycle due to low enrollments and completions.
• The Machinist and Tool and Die Maker program participates in Department of Labor apprenticeships with local employers. Enrollment remains steady and additional faculty support has been hired.
• The Welding program was supported with new equipment during this review cycle, including four virtual welders. Additional sections have been added at satellite locations to meet the demand for this program.

Physical and Life Sciences was the academic area reviewed. .Highlights in these areas include:

• Software and technology have been enhanced in this area since the last review. With few exceptions instruction has moved to a closed lab structure in the Physical and Life Sciences.
• Of students taking courses in the Physical and Life Sciences, 75.6 percent will pass with a grade of “C’ or better.

The cross-disciplinary instructional area reviewed was remedial English language. Highlights from these areas include:

• The closing of the Reading, Writing and Study Skills Lab during this review cycle led to the restructuring of course offerings in developmental English and reading.
• IVCC has begun meeting with feeder high schools to discuss the creation of transitional English courses.

The Student and Academic Support Services area reviewed was Financial Aid.  Noteworthy items include:

• Several personnel changes, including the Director have taken place since the last review. The department will prioritize staff development during the next review cycle.
• The department will move forward with implementing Ellucian’s Financial Aid Self-Service module during the next academic year.

Areas and programs scheduled for review in FY 2020 include: Humanities and Fine Arts, Disability Services, Counseling and Advising, Library, Adult Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, Nursing, including CNA, and Marketing.

Mr. McCracken commended all involved in the well-prepared Program Review Report. The committee members noted that the supporting narratives for all of the reports were most helpful and thanked Dr. Anderson and Mr. Suerth for providing them.

PERSONAL ASSESSMENT OF THE COLLEGE ENVIRONMENT (PACE)

The fall 2018 administration of the PACE Employee Satisfaction Survey continues IVCC’s commitment to consistently measure and improve employee satisfaction levels since 2006. With high response numbers generated across each employee category, the administration, faculty and staff can be confident that the results accurately reflect IVCC’s climate as of fall 2018. Dr. Anderson noted that the PACE results can be looked at through the prism of an employee’s position. Those who lead the College tend to have higher regard for Institutional Structure and Supervisory Relationships. Those who teach tend to have higher regard for Student Focus items. Those who perform support functions, tend to have the highest regard for Teamwork. Results indicate that progress continues to be made on several fronts since the 2015 administration of the survey which include:

• Decisions are made at the appropriate level at IVCC;
• Administrative leadership is focused on meeting the needs of students;
• Information is better shared within the institution; and
• Communication practices experienced a statistically significant improvement while institution-wide policies continue to guide employees’ work performance.

Results indicate the most compelling area in need of continued monitoring is Institutional Structure. Faculty voice their great concern in this Climate Factor, however improvement between the 2015 and 2018 surveys is evident. During a time of budget constraints and declining enrollments, IVCC’s institutional climate is relatively strong, continues to improve, and remains positive as measured by the PACE climate survey results.  

NATIONAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE BENCHMARK PROJECT (NCCBP)

This project has been conducted annually, during the spring term at IVCC since 2007 to gain a better understanding of where IVCC ranks nationally among community colleges on a variety of predetermined benchmarks. State and National participation rates fluctuate from year-to-year which changes IVCC percentile rankings on any given measure. Dr. Anderson informed that in 2019, 20 Illinois community colleges participated, the same as 2018.  The report focuses on selected strengths and opportunities for the College.  The NCCBP considers a Strength as any metric above the 75^th percentile on the national survey and Opportunities for Improvement as any metric below the 25^th percentile. IVCC’s strengths were concentrated in three general areas: academic course completion/persistence rates; institutional finances; and rankings on two national student satisfaction surveys. Over 40 percent of the college’s strengths came from either the Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory or CCSSE findings. Six opportunities were targeted for improvement; an increase of two from last year. Most notably, IVCC’s CCSSE Academic Challenge Benchmark remains on the list. Also IVCC’s CCSSE Active & Collaborative Learning Benchmark appears for the first time. As in previous years IVCC’s Strengths outnumber its Opportunities for Improvement by a three-to-one ratio. In most areas IVCC compares favorably with the national comparison group.

HIGH SCHOOL MARKET PENETRATION RATE

The Institutional Research office tracks IVCC’s high school market penetration rates in six-year intervals. The penetration rate reflects the percent of recent high school graduates that subsequently matriculate to IVCC and shows how well IVCC is promoted to district high school students. The 2018 Enrolled Penetration rate is 29.5 percent, matching the class of 2017’s rate. The six-year average increased to 26.5 percent. This number accounts for high school graduates who enrolled at IVCC during the 2013-2018 academic years. Overall, enrollments as measures by class year and total size at district high schools have stabilized or declined over the past six years; a few high schools are growing modestly in size at least in the interim. Declining high school enrollments are most likely linked to District #513 continuing population decline. For the immediate future, senior class-size enrollments at ten out of seventeen public high schools have increased modestly while seven declined. High school size had no predictive correlation as both large and small schools lost and gained enrollments equally. Of the district graduates that attended community colleges, 82 percent attended IVCC. An additional 13 percent enrolled in community colleges adjacent to or just beyond District #513’s boundary. Fall 2018 was the first year Dual Enrollment exceeded 20 percent of total college enrollment (20.4 percent). The Dual-Credit penetration trend has incrementally increased each fall term since 2014 when it was 16.7 percent. This percent increase was achieved by enrolling 602 unduplicated students in multiple sections covering 22 courses taken at 16 District schools including both public and private institutions. The combined penetration rate for dual-credit students and high school graduates was 49.9 percent.  A 10.5 point increase from fall 2014.  In conclusion the penetration rate acts as a proxy indicating how well IVCC’s educational reach extends into the district it serves. While the overall rate has stabilized at 29.5 percent, the underlying demographic realities will continue to present a challenge to IVCC’s educational mission. Dr. Anderson noted that the results from this report are shared with the high schools.  An additional document was distributed on Dual Credit/PCCS Headcount by School – Unduplicated. The document showed by school the number of unduplicated high school students leaving high school with college credit for FY19. Mr. McCracken suggested sharing this document with the high schools as well.

INTEGRATED POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION DATA SYSTEM (IPEDS)

The IPEDS is a system of survey components that collects data from about 7,000 institutions that provide postsecondary education across the United States.  IPEDS collects institution-level data on student enrollment, graduation rates, student charges, program completions, faculty, staff, and finances. IVCC uses the IPEDS Feedback Report for benchmarking against a group of Illinois peer institutions (9) and for tracking IVCC statistical trends over time.  Dr. Anderson noted that IVCC continues to diversify and the Hispanic/Latino population grew to 15 percent in fall 2017, an increase of six percentage points since fall 2012. This continues a slow but steady upward trend. The total number of degrees and certificates awarded in FY17 increased by 32, for a total of 1,042 graduates, reversing a recent decline. Compared to its peers, IVCC ranked fourth in the total number of degrees/certificates awarded. IVCC’s increase is due solely to its increase in certificates awarded which increased by 82 awards. Dr. Anderson noted that as a result we are looking at more certificates and stackable credentials. The net price of attendance increased 7.1 percent in FY17 yet IVCC ranks eighth among its peers in cost of attendance. The percentage of first-time, full-time students receiving Pell grants decreased from 56 to 51 percent. IVCC now places third in this type of aid. The percentage receiving state/local grants remains at 21 percent for the second year and IVCC now places fifth in this type of aid. Full-time retention rates have fluctuated between 58 and 62 percent and IVCC ranks ninth among its peers. IVCC’s part-time retention rates decreased to its lowest level since 2014 but its rank remains in the middle of the peer group with a median of 45 percent, and ranking IVCC fifth among its peers.  The overall graduation rate of the 2014 cohort (within 150 percent) significantly improved to 30 percent with an improved rank of seven. IVCC last had a 30 percent graduation rate in its fall 2010 cohort. In conclusion IVCC ranks high on several measures and the College should continue to review these important metrics in order to take steps to improve on them as needed.

BOARD POLICY

Revisions to Board Policy 5.1 – Institutional Planning were proposed. Dr. Anderson noted that the updates reflect what we are currently doing with Strategic Planning and changes include adding academic planning with the formal planning processes. The updated Board Policy 5.1 with changes highlighted in red was provided to the committee members for review.

ANNUAL PLANS

The Annual Plans for FY2020 by division and department were reviewed by Dr. Anderson. Each strategic goal/objective had an academic goal/objective and activities listed. Dr. Anderson noted that the annual plans were prepared as part of the activities of the Professional Development Day. Dr. Anderson informed that updates will be going to the November SLPC meeting where we will focus on these plans and also chart for the next academic year. Mr. McCracken expressed appreciation for the report and noted that it was most humbling to see the scope of the work from each of the divisions and departments as presented.

GEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF ENROLLMENT TRENDS

This analysis reviews IVCC’s changing enrollment patterns since fall 2010 while giving insight into future research opportunities. Preliminary results indicate the effectiveness of mapping Illinois Valley enrollment which yields unexpected and insightful findings. District #513 enrollments have declined, contracted and migrated west since fall 2010. Mr. Suerth noted that the twin forces of an expanding economy and a declining rural population are combining to substantially reduce rural enrollments at many rural community colleges and regional universities in Illinois. Increased competition for students has led many community colleges to expand their academic program offerings reducing the need for students traveling out-of-district to attend sought after programs such as nursing, automotive and agriculture. Being better able to isolate geographic enrollment problem areas by employing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques may lead to better solutions that can address the demographic shifts happening in rural populations which in turn adversely affect rural community colleges. Mr. Suerth added that he hoped the Committee enjoyed this additional report and found it useful. Mr. McCracken thanked him for the report which he noted is a fascinating study. Dr. Anderson informed that Mr. Suerth presented the Geographic Analysis of Enrollment Trends at the fall 2019 Illinois Association for Institutional Research (I-AIR) Annual Forum which was held early October at Starved Rock Lodge. Dr. Anderson noted that Mr. Suerth’s report was nominated for best paper at the Forum, with the award still to be announced.

CANNABIS ON THE SYLLABUS IN ILLINOIS COLLEGE CLASSROOMS

A news article from WBEZ Radio entitled Cannabis on the Syllabus in Illinois College Classrooms was shared with the committee. The article covered Oakton Community College’s new Cannabis Dispensary and Patient Care Certificate program which trains students for jobs in medical marijuana dispensaries. The for-credit program is the first of its kind in Illinois. As Illinois gears up to the January 1 date for legalized recreational marijuana, more community colleges are expected to join Oakton in offering classes. Dr. Corcoran shared that he along with Reed Wilson and Jennifer Scheri recently visited Mid-American Growers with the idea of looking at the possibility of new programs that could benefit our district by developing a partnership with Mid-American Growers. Ms. Goetz informed that this industry was a key topic at the recent ICCTA Trustees meeting as there is so much potential for many career areas. Ms. Campbell advised that we are not only looking at agriculture in the cannabis industry but also areas of accounting, marketing, management and health care for credit in the long-term and for programs in Continuing Education for the short-term as well.  Dr. Boyles commented that it is smart to look in this direction as it is an opportunity to provide additional certificate programs. Mr. McCracken added that the prospects in this area are exciting.

OTHER

Dr. Corcoran noted Board Policy 1.21 on Policy Formulation and Adoption that states that “any amendment, repeal or addition to the Board Policy Manual shall stand for reading at two regularly scheduled meetings of the Board.”  Dr. Corcoran proposed adjusting the policy for one reading to occur at the Board Planning Committee followed by a second reading at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board. The Committee was in agreement that this approach and change would be more efficient.

ADJOURNMENT

Mr. McCracken thanked Dr. Corcoran, Dr. Anderson, Mr. Suerth, and the administration and staff for the outstanding information that was presented.  Mr. McCracken requested a motion to adjourn. Motion made by Dr. Boyles and seconded by Mr. Solon to adjourn the meeting.  Motion passed by voice vote. Mr. McCracken declared the meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.