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June 2010 Board Meeting Report

A 50-meter meteorological tower will rise near the Illinois Valley Community College track in late July or August to help the college decide whether to construct a wind turbine to use in the renewable energy curriculum.

President Jerry Corcoran informed board members Thursday he and other college officials met Wednesday with Scott Engstrom of wind energy consultant Amersco to discuss what IVCC can expect over the next year as it “determines the feasibility for purchasing a wind turbine for generating power and preparing students for green jobs in our wind energy technician certificate program.”

This fall, after the tower has collected data for several months, Engstrom will report his findings to the board’s facilities committee and discuss options, Corcoran said.

IVCC won a $30,000 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation last spring to fund the study. It will compliment IVCC’s launch of a renewable wind energy technician program this fall and plans to use geo-thermal heating and cooling for the proposed Community Technology Center.

Also in his report, Corcoran informed the board enrollment at the new Ottawa Center continues to climb. Corcoran said 289 students have registered for 1,808 credit hours, 62 percent of the facility’s capacity.

 

In other business, the board approved:

  • A three-year beverage contract with Pepsi Beverage Company, the $27,589 bid of Midland Paper of Wheeling for multi-purpose paper and the prevailing wage resolution for fiscal 2011.
  • Reopening bidding for Ottawa Center exterior and interior signage with revised specifications. In addition, 45 Dell computers and 38 monitors were approved for the facility for $33,019.
  • Approved a three-year food service contract with Country Catering of Lostant. Country Catering opened 30 years ago and is currently owned by Cindy and Brian Burcar. They            will be open in the cafeteria 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • A total of $10,329 for audio-visual equipment for the biology lab and the $43,939 purchase of 36 Dell computers with monitors and 24 without for room D109A and other smart classroom instructor stations.
  • The $68,294 bid of JB Contracting of La Salle to replace the heating water main between building C and the gym.
  • Continuation of the contract to provide Truck Driver Training at Waubonsee Community College. IVCC has operated the program at the Sugar Grove campus since 2006.
  • The appointment of Dr. Kathryn Kott as director of nursing. Kott, who has her Ph.D. in nursing from Marquette University, replaces Gloria Bouxsein who retired in December.
  • The appointments of instructors Jennifer Savoia, nursing, Adam Oldaker, English and Keith King, biology and the appointments of interim deans Michael Pecherek, Humanities, Fine Arts and Social Sciences and Jim Stevenson, Student Development.
  • Authorized creation of an Associate Vice President for Student Services position to replace the Dean of Student Development position. The AVP will oversee counseling, financial aid, admissions, Project Success and athletics.
  • A change in the RAMP document for additions and renovations to Buildings C and G. Due to the proposed Community Technology Center, the estimated cost of the project has been cut from $13.7 million to $7.9 million with the college’s matching share down to $1.9 million. RAMPs are official requests to the state for capital improvements.
  • Authorization to continue normal operation of the college from July 1 through adoption of the fiscal 2011 budget.

 

The board learned:

  • Karen Gregorich has been hired as admissions and credentials analyst and 26-year safety services officer Bob Walters will retire June 30.
  • There were a total of 519 spring graduates compared to 499 a year earlier.
  • Board secretary David Mallery of Hennepin was recognized at the June 4 Illinois Community College Trustees Association awards banquet in Springfield for attending at least 15 ICCTA seminars during his tenure. In addition, Dan Janka, President of MAG Global, was recognized as IVCC’s nominee for the state distinguished alumnus award, Mary Black as the nominee for the outstanding part-time faculty award and Dr. David Kuester, nominee for the outstanding full-time faculty award.