January 2004 Board Meeting Report

Illinois Valley Community College moved one step closer to opening its new welding lab when the Board of Trustees approved $103,033 in bids for instructional equipment.

The offering of a welding program on campus is scheduled to begin the second eight weeks of this semester. Currently, welding is offered at extension sites in Streator and La Salle-Peru.

The college sees the potential for welding enrollments to grow quickly.

With contract negotiations with faculty set to begin this spring, the board heard a presentation on "interest based bargaining" from representatives of the faculty union, Local 1810, and from college attorney Jim Zuehl.

Union President Stephen Charry said the college has used interest based bargaining "very successfully" on the last two faculty contracts.

"It has become part of the culture at IVCC," Charry said, adding "it maintains a focus on student learning." Zuehl likened traditional bargaining to "a chess game or battle with opening moves, a middle game and an end game." By contrast, interest based bargaining "is a set of problems to be mutually defined, explored and resolved."

Instead of posturing, the bargaining units "brainstorm" to find high-quality solutions to problems.

Former union president David Bergsieker said in interest based bargaining the two parties work collaboratively toward solutions rather than as adversaries.

"We are looking for ways to find mutual gain and build relationships," Zuehl added.

The board also learned that early childhood education coordinator and instructor Diane Christianson is the 2003-04 winner of the Faculty Excellence Award. Christianson was chosen from among 19 nominees and six finalists.

In other business, the board:

Learned that 98 percent of IVCC students would recommend IVCC to a friend or family member and 86 percent rated the college as excellent or good in a nationwide Community College Survey of Student Engagement. "CCSSE is a very useful resource in our continual efforts to improve the quality of education we offer our students," said President Jean Goodnow. "Understanding where we are now is critical to determining where we should go and how we can get there."

Approved a resolution in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. The resolution states IVCC pledges "our unwavering commitment to providing equal access to higher education."

Approved the reinstatement of Sheridan employees contingent upon the approved contract with the Illinois Department of Corrections. "It’s wonderful we are able to bring back these fine employees," said board member Kris Paul.

Approved Jane Sack’s request for a sabbatical leave for the 2004-05 academic year.

Learned spring semester enrollment is up 5 percent over the same time last year.

Approved changing the August board meeting to Aug. 25.

Approved a contract with Collegis Inc. for a comprehensive assessment of IVCC’s organization and delivery of information technology services at a cost of $58,900 plus travel for five trips. Collegis representatives said the firm would help IVCC improve services, reduce costs and increase revenues.

Authorized the conferring of 223 degrees and certificates for December graduates.