March 2002 Board Meeting Report

A special appropriation from the state of Illinois will allow asbestos abatement in the main building on Illinois Valley Community College’s campus to begin in August, the Board of Trustees learned Wednesday.

Building C is the last of the three original buildings on IVCC’s campus that needed this type of renovation.

Larry Rousey, director of facilities, updated the board on the relocation process that will be necessary to begin the Building C renovation work since Building C is the largest building on IVCC’s campus and houses all of the college’s primary student services.

"We made an effort to keep all of the student services that are vital to the college’s operation in places where they will remain accessible to students," Rousey said. "The relocation plans have been quite a challenge. We are using every possible square inch of the college."

Although construction is not scheduled to begin until Aug. 5, some offices will begin relocating after IVCC’s May 17 graduation and moves will continue throughout the summer.

Admissions and records, financial aid, the cashier’s office and student services will be located in the counseling center during the Building C construction while the Bookstore will move to the upper gym.

Administrative offices, the public information office and the Business Training Center staff will move to the basement of Building D. Human Resources will move to the basement of Building A.

While students will continue to use IVCC’s main entrance doors, those doors will not lead students into the main building. Instead, the doors will lead students to Building E, where counseling and other student services will be located.

During the meeting, the board approved the bid of $461,739 from D.J. Sickley Construction Co. in Peru for Building C renovation relocation work. The construction company will build the annex from the present link area to Building E.

The Building C project will be paid for through a special $6 million appropriation from the state of Illinois, the college’s first special appropriation ever from the General Assembly. Most of the project will be completed by May 2003.

The board also approved a full-time, grant-funded position, a Bridges-to-Success coordinator. The salary for the coordinator and the Bridges to Success program will be funded by a $100,000 grant through the Workforce Investment Act.

Under the proposal, 20 youth, ages 14-18, will spend two hours at IVCC two times per week in an eight-week pilot program. One hour will provide basic skills training through the Academic Enrichment Division and Adult Education while the second hour will be spent in IVCC’s new high tech lab.

"If we can make a difference in the motivation of these students and turn them toward high-wage, high-tech jobs, then that will be a good thing," said Mary Lou Meader, director of continuing education and external learning and coordinator of the grant proposal.

Students also will be connected with business mentors to help them learn about correct behavior in a business environment.

"Our goal is to make these Bridges to Success in life, at work and in school," Meader said. "This won’t be school as they are familiar with it. I know we won’t solve all the problems of troubled teens in eight weeks, but this program will capture their attention and turn them on to high-tech careers."

Once the eight-week pilot program is completed, it will be evaluated and two 16-week programs will be offered in Fall 2002 and Spring 2003.

President Jean Goodnow reported that IVCC’s Dislocated Workers Center, another Workforce Investment Act program, will receive a $500,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The grant will provide the Dislocated Workers Center with an opportunity to seek more creative and innovative training programs for participants. The grant also will allow the center to serve a new group of potential clients: spouses of dislocated workers.

In other business, the board authorized a new two-tiered recognition system for students. Previously, students were named to the dean’s list if they had earned a grade point average of 3.25 to 4.0 in 12 or more semester hours of coursework, excluding non-credit courses, courses taken pass/fail and developmental courses.

Under the new policy, a two-tiered recognition system will be implemented. Students who earn a 3.75 to 4.0 grade point average in 12 or more semester hours, excluding non-credit courses, courses taken pass/fail and developmental courses, will earn President’s Honors.

Students who earn a grade point average of 3.25 to 3.74 in 12 or more semester hours will earn Academic Honors. A part-time honor list for students who take from six to 11 credit hours will remain in place.

In other business, the board:

• Decided to seek bids for the relocation of existing shelving and to purchase additional electrical and mechanical shelving. The additional shelving will allow students to have access to the entire circulating collection of the library during the Building C renovation.
• Accepted low bids totaling $86,489 from D.J. Sickley Construction Co. in Peru for new ceilings in the corridor outside the auditorium and in the link between the Cultural Centre and the main building. Air curtains also will be installed on the link entrance doors during the Building C renovation.
• Approved the appointment of Lori Cinotte as English/journalism instructor for the 2002-03 school year to replace Rose Marie Lynch, who is retiring.
• Approved a contract with Putnam County to provide computer services and support through November 30, 2002.
• Learned that Carol Ostrowski had been hired as the secretary for Student Support Services.