February 2016 Board Report

The Illinois Valley Community College board Thursday approved a $5 per hour tuition hike and the hiring of an agriculture instructor/program coordinator.

The tuition increase, effective for the summer term, will raise the credit hour fee from $111.60 to $116.60. With the $7.40 per hour universal fee, students will pay $124 per hour and IVCC’s rate remain well below the state average for community colleges.

The 4.2 percent increase is necessary due to anticipated reduced state funding in fiscal 2017 and the fact IVCC has not received approximately $2.5 million in state appropriations this year.

“The state’s financial crisis has had a serious effect on many community colleges where increases of $9 and $10 per credit are being considered,” said IVCC President Jerry Corcoran.

In addition, the board approved fee increases on 49 courses and decreases on four others.

In other business, the board moved to revive the college’s ag program by hiring a full-time program coordinator. Factors contributing to the action include growing interest in ag at district high schools and the University of Illinois Extension for Bureau, La Salle, Marshall and Putnam counties relocating its headquarters to IVCC.

“Our partnership with the Extension provides access to both the U of I’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) and a vast community agriculture network reaching every corner of the district,” Corcoran said.

Over the past six months, the college received feedback from a 36-member, district-wide steering committee comprised of professionals in ag finance, ag business, farmers, Farm Bureau leaders, Extension educators and small farm/organic produce growers.

“The common theme expressed by committee members was the need to hire an extraordinary individual to build our program,” said Corcoran. “We are seeking an individual with the academic credentials, vision and passion to champion this initiative.”

With more than 600 district high school students involved in agriculture/FFA programs, high school agriculture instructors also played key roles, Corcoran said.

Among specific programs IVCC is considering are:

Precision Agriculture (analyzing data gathered via GPS, GIS, drones and soil testing to make farming as efficient and productive as possible);
Agriculture Business; and,
Small Farm Operations (fresh vegetables, fruits and meats for regional restaurants, stores and markets).

Once the instructor is on board and a curriculum established, it is expected most new ag courses will be available in 2017. However, the college will immediately focus on providing students interested in bachelor’s degrees a seamless transfer to ag programs at U of I, ISU, WIU and SIU.

Extension County Director Jill Guynn said, “We are excited about IVCC’s commitment to provide agriculture education for district residents. The Extension will continue to partner with IVCC and provide research-based agricultural and related educational support to meet needs and goals.”

Program coordinator for the Extension, former 40-year ag instructor and steering committee member Daryle Wragge said, “We have a tremendous ag community behind us. The Extension will partner with IVCC to build a strong, viable and progressive ag program for our young people. We have a long way to go but this is an excellent start.”

Corcoran, who grew up on a family farm and continues to live there today, has high aspirations for the program.

“A significant portion of the college’s tax base is in farmland and our pledge to taxpayers is to build a first class program that will make everyone proud to be affiliated with IVCC and our ag partners,” he said.

The board also approved:

The $476,200 bid of Vanguard Contractors of Pekin for the renovation of lecture hall D225. Bids for the project’s asbestos abatement will be presented at the March meeting.
The retirement of Sue Isermann, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of Workforce Development and Ottawa Center Administrator, effective July 31. Isermann, who began her IVCC career 35 years ago as a part-time instructor at Sheridan Correctional Center, said, “I have truly enjoyed and appreciated every challenge and opportunity the college has given me.”
The retirement of choral music/theatre instructor Norm Engstrom effective June 16 after 15 years. “Norm has filled so many roles at IVCC he has become an ‘embedded musical presence,’” said Corcoran.
Designating the fiscal year for July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017 and the budget calendar.

The board learned:

Accounts receivable specialist/cashier Renee Corpus resigned Jan. 13, academic support technologist Betsy Sobin resigned Jan. 29 not her supervisor Heather Crawley and front desk G4S receptionist Stephanie Culver will resign effective Feb. 19 not Feb. 15.

The Feb. 5 Academic Challenge at IVCC attracted 260 students from 12 high schools.

A 5-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 8 open house will provide students and parents an opportunity to learn about IVCC programs, tour labs and talk with instructors. Admissions, financial aid, counseling, Project Success, tutoring, the Learning Commons and career services will also be represented.

The annual International Festival, 6 p.m. Thursday, March 10 in the gym, will feature 21 booths manned by 4-H leaders and is the result of IVCC’s partnership with the Extension.

More than 1,100 eighth and ninth grade students from 18 schools are expected to attend the annual Career Expo at IVCC Friday, March 18. The event is the result of a partnership between the Illinois Valley Building Trades Council, IVCC and Starved Rock Associates for Career and Technical Education.