August 2015 Board Report

Following a public hearing Thursday night, the Illinois Valley Community College board approved a 2016 budget with total expenditures of $36.3 million, a 5.7 percent decrease, and total revenues of $33.5 million, a 7.2 percent decrease.

Operating revenues are projected to be over $21.5 million, up $43,112 or .2 percent. The operating budget will be balanced by transferring $536,750 from auxiliary enterprises for IT infrastructure and $70,000 from working cash interest.

Over $1.47 million will be spent to complete a student center and cyber café, final pieces of the building project financed 75 percent with state funding.

In other business, the board approved:

  • The retirement of Jamie Gahm as Director of Continuing Education and Business Services effective Dec. 31 after more than 30 years. Gahm’s supervisor said, “She is one of the most recognized faces of the college across the district. Jamie is respected by our partners in the community and known as a go-to person for making things happen.”
  • The resignation of nursing instructor Jennifer Savoia after five years. Savoia plans to pursue continuing education and teaching opportunities.
  • Restoring the part-time accounting clerk position to full-time.
  • The $247,211 bid of Arthur J. Gallagher with Hanover Insurance for property/casualty insurance – nearly 22 percent less than the college’s current premium – and Forrest Sherer, Inc. for workers’ compensation insurance.
  • The bond proposal from R.J. Galla through Liberty Surety First for three years at $29,743.
  • The proposals of Illinois Valley Community Hospital and St. Margaret’s Health to provide athletic trainer services for the next two years for $5,000 a year for each hospital.
  • The hiring of Interact Communications of Lacrosse, Wis., for $70,500 for enrollment, retention and marketing services. Interact, chosen from among eight firms submitting proposals, has worked solely with two-year colleges for the past 20 years and is led by renowned communication strategist Pam Cox-Otto. Interact’s work will include a district environmental scan, strategic plan, community image/needs assessment, marketing plan, campaign messaging, support for traditional and social media advertising, and analysis of advertising effectiveness. “Interact utilizes proven strategies that move the needle in terms of enrollment growth,” said IVCC President Jerry Corcoran. 

The board also learned:

  • Continuing Education staff served 246 youth campers this summer. “These camps enhance awareness for what our college has to offer and helps young people explore academic and career options,” said Corcoran.
  • IVCC’s Project Success program recently secured a five year funding commitment from the U.S. Department of Education. A total of 1,700 colleges applied for grants but only about 1,000 were funded. “Thanks to our outstanding Project Success staff, our application received a score of 104 out of a possible 106 points – one of the highest scores in the nation,” said Corcoran.
  • Students from IVCC’s Phi Theta Kappa Rho Omega Chapter volunteered for the Easter Seals 5K Run/Walk for Kids as part of Ottawa’s Riverfest and helped the event net $10,000. 
  • Corcoran recognized Ottawa Center coordinator Jeannette Frahm for facilitating a tour for America in Bloom judges July 20 and 21. “Judges were impressed with the center’s landscaping, expertly maintained by a number of volunteers including trustee Jane Goetz and Foundation board director Karen Nussbaum.”
  • Recent Express Registration events in Ottawa and Princeton netted 183 credit hours. “We especially appreciate the hospitality shown us by the staff of the Bureau County Metro Center,” Corcoran noted.
  • A newly formed IVCC/University of Illinois Extension Agriculture Education Development Steering Committee will meet Aug. 24. “29 individuals have agreed to provide feedback on the agriculture education opportunities for IVCC as we look to expand offerings,” said Corcoran.
  • The president concluded his report saying, “One of my goals for the new fiscal year is to design and implement a plan to increase enrollment and I believe partnering with the Extension on the development of a comprehensive mix of agriculture-related courses and entering into an agreement with Interact are two enormous steps forward in achieving that goal.”