April 2015 Board Report

Illinois Valley Community College board members Thursday learned of the achievements of a federal TRIO program supporting low-income, first-generation and disabled students.

Serving 160 each year, Project Success works to increase student retention, graduation and transfer rates through peer and professional tutoring, academic advising, career and financial aid counseling and cultural enrichment activities.

Funded through a five-year, $1.4 million grant with the U.S. Department of Education, the program has well exceeded federal requirements.

Last year, Project Success students achieved an 82 percent persistence rate (55 percent is the approved rate); 91 percent were in good academic standing (80 percent is the approved rate); and 69 percent earned an associate’s or certificate and transferred to a four-year institution (40 percent is the approved rate).

“We are very proud of the program’s track record and its ability to help at-risk students succeed,” said IVCC President Jerry Corcoran following a presentation by program coordinator Chris Herman.

Since its founding in 1998, the program has served approximately 2,700 students.

“Our goal is to keep students in school,” said Herman.

In other action, the board approved:

  • Retirement requests of longtime instructors Steve Nett and David Bergseiker. Nett came to IVCC in 1986 as an assistant in the biology lab and assistant men’s basketball coach. He served in those positions until 1991 when he began teaching biology. Bergseiker, an art instructor and former faculty president, began at IVCC 29 years ago. Both retirements are effective May 31.
  • The base bid of TSI Commercial Floor Covering of Champaign for $41,105 for Cultural Centre carpet replacement.
  • A $16,872 contract with Seamless Cellular for installation of larger fiber optic cables to increase bandwidth for classrooms and $55,415 for installation of cabling and access points for Wi-Fi expansion. In a related action, Burwood Group will be paid $104,424 for Wi-Fi access points and associated hardware and software.
  • A tentative 2016 board budget totaling $14,450.
  • The hiring of Wipfli, LLP for auditing services totaling $35,000 this year, $35,750 in 2016 and $36,500 in 2017.
  • An intergovernmental agreement with the City of Ottawa to extend a TIF District 12 more years.
  • Creation or revision of board policies involving animals/pets on campus, parking and traffic control, concealed carry and weapons, medical cannabis, return to work of SURS annuitants and smoking/tobacco use.
  • Opened the meeting by presenting a plaque to out-going student trustee Amy Rogowski of La Salle for outstanding service to the college and board.

The board also learned:

  • Bookstore assistant Susan Ellis resigned effective March 26
  • A pair of recent workforce development workshops at IVCC included the March 23 “Developing Local Talent” featuring Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti and Dr. Laz Lopez, Governor Rauner’s new chair of the ICCB, and a workforce education strategic planning forum. “Blouke Carus, chairman emeritus of Carus Corporation, played an important role regarding what the community college system and our workforce partners can do to address educational and training needs for the next five years,” said Corcoran.
  • The annual Career Expo March 27 attracted approximately 1,000 students. “As always, we thank building trades representatives, Starved Rock Associates for Vocational and Technical Education, and IVCC’s Danielle Stoddard and her team for their fine work,” the president said.
  • On April 6, 16 students were honored for academic achievement at the Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society induction ceremony.
  • A total of 127 were honored at the April 7 Student Academic Awards Banquet in the gym. Dr. Rebecca Donna, winner of the 2015 Stephen Charry Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence, delivered the keynote address.