June 2004 Board Meeting Report

The Illinois Valley Community College Board approved proposals for two degree programs and two certificate programs to be offered at Sheridan Correctional Center during its meeting Wednesday night. The proposals will be submitted to the Illinois Community College Board for its approval.

The degree programs will be an Associate in Applied Science in Corrections – Officer/Youth Program and Corrections – Parole Officer Program. These degree programs were created in cooperation with the ICCB and the Illinois Department of Corrections. Students in the program can receive proficiency credit for completion of IDOC Corrections Academy Training. The other courses required for these degrees are already offered as requirements for IVCC’s AAS in Criminal Justice and AAS in Human Services; therefore, adding these degrees will require no start-up costs.

The proposed certificate programs, Basic Substance Abuse Treatment and Advanced Substance Abuse Treatment, will be offered to Sheridan Correctional Center employees and inmates through IVCC’s Human Services program.

The board discussed the college’s tuition. IVCC’s tuition and fees in 2004 is $61.25 a credit hour compared to their seven peer institutions’ average of $60.95 and the statewide average of $63.40. Out of the 39 community college districts in the state of Illinois, IVCC’s tuition and fees remains 3% below the state average, with the majority of students transferring to ISU at $178; NIU at $227.89; and UIUC at $265.53 a credit hour.

In other business, the board selected Basalay, Cary and Alstadt Architects Ltd. as the college’s architect and engineer firm for capital projects and accepted the bid of $360,700 from Vissering Construction Co. of Streator for the renovation of the lower level in D Building and rooms E-214 and E-216. The bid acceptance is contingent upon the ICCB’s approval for using an additional $91,067.45 from the Operation and Maintenance Fund. The six bids received were over the budgeted amount for the project.

When renovations are completed, the Assessment Center will move to E-214 and E-216 to accommodate the needs of the general public by making the center more accessible. The electronics lab will move to lower level in D Building to enhance the program with its closer proximity to the computer networking and drafting labs and related programs. In addition, two computer labs will be created in the vacant space to increase campus-wide access to technology.

In other action, the board:

Approved a new full-time, partially grant-funded position of laboratory instructor in foreign languages.
Accepted the Paxton’s Inc. of Bloomington bid of $21,933 for 156 computer lab chairs at $10,000 under the original estimate.
Accepted bids for audio visual equipment from Valiant of S. Hackensack, N.J., for $6,687.70; Audio Plus of Ottawa, $900; Electronic Supply of La Salle, $8,098; and Klaus Co. of Peoria, $470 at $1,300 under budget.
Accepted the bid of $1,043,700 from Vissering Construction Co. of Streator to connect the third floors of buildings A, B, D and E; the life safety project totals $1,169,667 including architect and engineer fees.
Updated the Resource Allocation Management Program proposals for the Community Instructional Center and the Building C – Classroom/Library Remodeling & Addition projects to submit to the ICCB. Both projects are on the state’s capital list for funding and a 5 percent increase in the projected costs was allowed.
Appointed James A. Swisher as the commercial custodial instructor at Sheridan Correctional Center.
Adopted a resolution establishing a prevailing wage policy.