February 2022 Board Meeting Report

The Illinois Valley Community College board approved tenure for six instructors Thursday.

Tenure was granted to Nick Fish, Emergency Medical Services (EMS); David Garrison, mathematics; Richard Marko, automotive technology: Amber Robertson, nursing; Tony Sondgeroth, welding; and Stephen Gibson, industrial maintenance.

The Illinois Public Community College Act requires faculty employed for three consecutive years earn tenure. Faculty create a portfolio covering six rigorous components for review by administration.

“Tonight’s candidates come with the unanimous recommendation they be granted tenure,” said Vice President for Academic Affairs Gary Roberts.

In other business, trustees approved:

  • Partnering with LaSalle County and several other taxing districts to negotiate a successor agreement with Exelon on land and facility values for LaSalle County Nuclear Generating Station.
  • Contracting with Moran Technology Consultants of Naperville for nearly $80,000 to complete phase 2 of an IT assessment. Moran will provide a cybersecurity and programmatic review of all IT services. The fee will paid by Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds.
  • Selection of PMA Financial Services of Naperville as IVCC’s investment manager.
  • Fee adjustments to 114 courses including 59 increases, seven new courses and the removal of fees from 48.
  • Designating the fiscal year for July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 and budget calendar.
  • Closed session minutes from Jan. 13.

Trustees also learned:

  • There were 149 fall graduates earning 191 degrees and certificates compared to 161 graduates earning 176 degrees and certificates in fall 2020.
  • A 60-credit Dental Assisting Associate of Applied Science degree has been approved by the Illinois Community College Board.
  • Pay for part-time Truck Driver Training instructors increased from $18 per hour to $25. “We feel the increase is necessary to continue the program’s growth and support higher enrollment and credit hour generation,” said Vice President for Business Services Matt Seaton.
  • Taylor Browder has been hired as human resources generalist. Browder is a recent graduate of Northern Illinois University’s Human Resource Management program.
  • Longtime therapeutic massage instructor Roxanne Cherpeske retired Jan. 31.
  • The National Junior College Athletic Association now allows student athletes to enroll in less than 12 hours their final semester and still remain eligible for tuition waivers.
  • Dr. Holly Novak, a 1974 IVCC graduate formerly of Ottawa, is the college’s nominee for the Illinois Community College Trustees Association Distinguished Alumnus Award. A cardiologist in Springfield and leading IVCC Foundation benefactor, Dr. Novak will keynote the college’s May 14 commencement.
  • The meeting began with a moment of silence for former Streator mayor Jimmie Lansford who died Jan. 15. Lansford was an IVCC trustee for eight years including two terms as chair and in 2016 was the commencement speaker and was inducted into IVCC-LPO Hall of Fame. Board chair Everett Solon said Lansford was “one of the college’s biggest supporters.”
  • The Medical Assistant Pinning Ceremony is at 6 p.m. Friday, March 18 in the Dr. Mary Margaret Weeg Cultural Centre. Up to 17 graduates from 2020 and 2021 could participate.
  • IVCC administrators met recently with representatives of the Ottawa YMCA and University of Illinois Extension regarding opportunities for partnerships once the new Ottawa Y opens in fall 2023. Corcoran noted, “The new ‘Y’ will be literally only a stone’s throw from the IVCC Ottawa Center. It’s exciting to think about what could happen as a result of more exposure to IVCC programs by the YMCA membership base.”
  • The 26th annual employee recognition event is 4-7 p.m. Friday, April 22 at Grand Bear Lodge.
  • Corcoran said a $4.4 million EDA grant was submitted Feb. 8 to construct an ag classroom and lab building. IVCC’s portion would be $885,300.  
  • For community colleges, Gov. JB Pritzker’s 2023 budget includes a 5 percent increase in funding in base operating and equalization grants, a 5 percent increase for adult education and career and technical education (CTE) and more money for MAP grants – even support for students enrolled in short-term credential programs not previously eligible.
  • English instructor Delores Robinson featured electronics and electricity instructor Charles Raimondi in her monthly “Spotlight on Faculty and Students.” A few years ago, Raimondi began organizing enrichment programs for young people to get them interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and founded Dekalb STEM.
  • Despite enrollments “not being where I wish they were,” the ongoing pandemic, a decline in the district population and decreasing high school enrollments, Corcoran remains hopeful. “Always a farmer and optimist at heart, I believe good things lie ahead for IVCC.”