The Board of Trustees of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges adopted a resolution providing for the issuance of $4.25 million in funding bonds and working cash fund bonds at the regular meeting, Tuesday, July 20 at Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel.
At the May 18 regular meeting, the board adopted a resolution of intent to issue funding bonds. The board published a notice of public hearing for funding bonds and working cash fund bonds. A public hearing on issuance of the bonds was held at the June 15 regular meeting.
Following adoption of the final resolution Tuesday, it is anticipated that within two weeks the bonds will be sold and the funds will be made available to the district.
The IECC Catalog for 2010-2012 was approved. The catalog includes all courses, programs, degrees and certificates, along with the district policy that applies to operation of the district and its students. The new version of the catalog incorporates changes that have been approved by the Board of Trustees since the last catalog was printed and placed on the IECC website.
Also approved was the academic calendar for fiscal years 2011-2013.
Health and dental insurance for IECC employees will be continued with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, with a 10% overall increase in premiums for the period September 1 to December 31, 2010. The District will absorb the increase and employee rates will not change. New rates will be proposed to begin in January 2011 which will allow the District to go to a calendar year insurance program.
A revised Joint Agreement for Education Cooperation was renewed with John A. Logan College District No. 530. Under the agreement the colleges agree to accept students in certain programs that are not offered by their home district.
An Academic Transfer Partnership was approved between IECC and Western Illinois University. This agreement which will allow place-bound students within the IECC District to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree online from Western Illinois University without being required to relocate. Through this partnership, IECC can market a bachelor completion program to students and WIU can provide additional educational opportunities to students who are unable to attend one of the WIU campuses. Students who have completed the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Arts, or students who have completed the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Arts, or Associate in Science Degree through Illinois Eastern Community Colleges and wish to transfer to Western Illinois University into the Bachelor of Arts in General Studies (BGS) degree program may be admitted to the degree program as long as the minimum required admission standards have been achieved.
A proposal by Clearwave Communications was approved to provide local and long distance telecommunications services throughout the IECC district. The change from Verizon to Clearwave is expected to result in an estimated annual savings of more than $32,000 while maintaining the same services.
Wabash Valley College has submitted curriculum changes in its truck driving program to the ICCB, to comply with new federal government requirements for obtaining a truck driving license. These changes include a curriculum change from offering a series of three courses to a single class called TRK 1201. The federal requirements have also increased the behind the wheel time required of a student from 40 hours to 50 hours. The new requirements also make no distinction between over the road (OTR) and any other type of licensure.
In addition, the cost of operating WVC’s over the road training vehicles has increased and the Board of Trustees approved an increase in fees for behind the wheel driving from the current $45 per driving hour to $50 per driving hour. With the changes from a series of three classes to one class and the increase in the number of hours of driving time required and the fee increases associated with them, the total cost of the fees will increase from the current $1,800 to $2,500 for course completion, effective Fall Semester 2010.
The District is required to prepare a background check on all entering nursing students. The student pays the cost, which is currently $70 and is conducted by Verified Credentials. Verified Credentials is not currently utilizing all data bases and that has caused difficulty within the nursing program. The trustees approved a change to Certified Background which will allow a reduction in the cost to students from the current $70 to $65. Both Verified Credentials and Certified Background use national databases in their searches; however, Certified Background has unlimited county criminal records. This allows for a more comprehensive search at no additional charge to the students.
Currently students in the Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) Program utilize the course syllabi, program description within the catalog, and other handbooks as guidelines for the CNA Program. A Basic Nurse Assistant Training Program Student Handbook for Olney Central College has been prepared and was approved by the Board of Trustees. The Handbook sets forth the mission statement, grading policy, evaluation, course attendance, ethical and legal responsibilities, HIPPA and confidentiality requirements, clinical guidelines, cost of the program, and various forms.
An affiliation agreement was approved with Back to Action Chiropractic Medical Office in Flora for OCC’s Medical Office Assistant Program.
An affiliation agreement was approved with Lawrence Community Health Care in Bridgeport for FCC’s Basic Certified Nurse Assistant Program.
Bids totaling $31,906.43 were accepted from various vendors in several states for janitorial equipment, supplies and office copy paper for the district for fiscal year 2010-2011.
Donald Cruz was employed as Workforce Education Instructor.
Clint Burris was employed as Head Women’s Basketball Coach at OCC.
Kevin Emerick was employed as Head Men’s Basketball Coach at LTC.
Linda Miller was employed as Program Director of Cosmetology at OCC.
John Kendall was employed as temporary Accounting Instructor for the 2010-2011 academic year only.
Four resignations were approved: Alan O’Keefe as Physics Instructor, Jill Stukenberg as English Instructor, Brian Haskins as Director of Learning Skills Center/Adviser at LTC, and Joseph Clodfelter as Information Systems Technician for the Local Workforce Investment Area (LWIA) grant.
The retirement of Carroll Hilliard was accepted as Assistant Dean of Student Services at FCC, effective September 1.
The CEO was granted approval to hire faculty as needed prior to the August Board of Trustees meeting.
The trustees approved the retired faculty adjunct pay rate. This rate applies to individuals who taught full-time at IECC, retired from IECC and who are hired as part-time faculty. In special instances when staff cannot be obtained at the established retired faculty rate for specific classes, the college dean(s) may seek approval from the college president(s) to offer additional compensation not to exceed more than $100 per credit hour or more than $2100 per year. The rates are $480 per equated load hour effective Fall 2010, and $500 per equated load hour effective Fall 2011.
District-wide enrollment is up 1% from one year ago.
All members of the Board of Trustees were present at the July meeting.
Next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held at Frontier Community College, Fairfield, Tuesday, August 17, at 7 p.m.
