February 2024 Board Report

FEBRUARY 12, 2024

The Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees on Thursday set out to purchase simulation equipment for the Early Childhood Education Program and commission artwork commemorating the College’s Centennial this year.

The College is seeking bids to purchase software kits and baby-sized manikins that can be programmed for childcare, child education and parenting lessons. Costs will be covered by the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Grant.

The Board authorized the commission and purchase of a 10-foot by 20-foot mural highlighting the past and future of the College. Purchased using $35,000 from the IVCC Foundation CTC Fund, the art will be installed at the entrance to Building C in the Peter Miller Community Technology Center (CTC).

President Dr. Tracy Morris reported:

  • Red Cross blood drives sponsored by the Red Cross Club and the Student Nurses Association on campus and in Ottawa this month again set campus records.
  • Upcoming activities, including two campus canned food drives, are scheduled this month.
  • A Case IH planter was donated to the ag program and arrived this week.
  • Facility Master Planning continues with planning objectives and ranking of proposed projects.
  • Enrollment updates indicate headcount and credit hours increased compared to Spring 2023

The Board also:

  • Approved tenure for the following faculty: Theresa Molln, Welding instructor; Chrissy Boughton, Nursing instructor; Cathy Lenkaitis, Nursing Laboratory instructor; Samantha Whiteaker, Nursing instructor, and Emily Morgan, Math instructor.
  • Submitted nominations for Illinois Community College Trustees Association awards, including Distinguished Alumnus Award (Dr. John Schibrowsky); Ethical Leadership Award (Fran Brolley); Gigi Campbell Student Trustee Excellence Scholarship (student trustee Elizabeth Boyles), and Pacesetter Award (Martha Hoffman Kerestes).
  • Learned of the appointment of Kaitlyn Hickey as IT Department Help Desk Support Technician, and resignations of IT Programmer/Analyst James Bock and Assessment Center Assistant Rachael Olson, who will remain a part-time instructor.
  • Authorized the return of a grant award that had been intended for a solar array on Building J since plans have changed and that building will undergo a renovation.
  • Authorized the donation or disposal of an obsolete piece of equipment in one of the industrial labs.
  • Authorized updates to board policies.