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January 2012 Board Report

Construction of Illinois Valley Community College’s Peter Miller Community Technology Center will begin Jan. 30 with completion targeted for December 2013, President Jerry Corcoran announced Tuesday at the monthly board meeting.

“Phase I has a deadline of 690 days which includes site work such as landscaping,” said Corcoran. “Work in the upper gym on the massage therapy lab has begun and if all goes well that project will wrap up this summer.”

The nearly 80,000-square-foot CTC will be home to nine career programs and student services such as admissions, financial aid, counseling, career services and Project Success as well as Continuing Education and Adult Education. The building will wrap around the existing Cultural Centre and provide a new front door to the campus.

In other business, the board approved:

  • The appointment of Bonnie Campbell as interim director of nursing for the spring semester. Campbell, who formerly held the director’s position, replaces Dr. Kathryn Kott. Kott plans to return to clinical practice.
  • Placing the computer information systems Associate of Applied Science degree program on inactive status effective May 16. From fiscal 2006 to 2011, only four students earned the CIS degree. “This recommendation is based on unsustainable enrollments in the program,” said Corcoran.
  • Lowering the contingency for the Capital Development Board slope maintenance project from 10 percent to five percent. The project, estimated at $108,630, is being completed to prepare for construction of the Peter Miller CTC. “This is just one small part of an overall erosion protection plan that is being implemented with the assistance of our engineers,” said Corcoran.
  • An intergovernmental agreement with the City of Ottawa regarding a TIF. “Because the TIF District is located within our district, there could have been some negative impact on our real estate tax base were it not for this agreement,” said Corcoran, explaining that each year Ottawa will pay IVCC 3 percent of the real estate increment or EAV increase created by the development.
  • An intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Green Economy Network. IGEN funding has allowed IVCC to purchase equipment for its renewable energy program and in 2011 hosted a farmer’s market and green expo. IGEN’s mission is to strengthen Illinois community colleges’ ability to promote energy education and sustainable practices.

The board learned:

  • Campus Care, Illinois Valley Community Hospital’s on-campus clinic, will open the week of Feb. 20 in C-105B near the cafeteria and will be staffed by a nurse practitioner. The clinic will be open 12 hours per week initially and patients will pay $57 per visit.
  • Jeannette Frahm has been hired as the first coordinator of IVCC’s Ottawa Center. Frahm, the center’s former acting coordinator, has a master’s of management from the University of Phoenix and a bachelor’s of fine arts from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
  • A total of 334 fall 2011 graduates earned 375 degrees and certificates compared to 288 graduates earning 319 degrees and certificates in fall 2010.
  • Chemistry instructor Matt Johll has been named 2011 Outstanding Educator/Researcher by the Engineering, Mathematics, and Science Alumni Chapter of the University of Wisconsin, Platteville.  Dr. Johll was nominated for his book publishing works including, “Investigating Chemistry, A Forensic Science Approach,” a text used in introductory chemistry courses at a number of colleges including IVCC.
  • Criminal justice program coordinator Rebecca Donna graduated recently from the Law Enforcement Academy and is now an Illinois police officer.
  • Geology instructor Mike Phillips was recently elected recording secretary of the Illinois Community College Faculty Association. Phillips has served on the executive board since 2008.
  • IVCC will participate in the national FEMA earthquake drill at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7.
  • IVCC’s Foundation will host its eighth annual Irish Night featuring the 50s and 60s rock and roll band The Silhouettes at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 10 at Celebrations 150 in Utica.
  • The annual employee recognition event will be Friday, April 20 at Celebrations.
  • The fifth annual IVCC-LPO Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 28 in LP’s Mattheissen Auditorium.
  • On Saturday, May 19 in the gym, the Nurse Pinning will be at 11 a.m. followed by the 46th annual commencement at 2:30 p.m. Dr. Rose Marie Lynch will deliver the keynote for the first Saturday commencement. GED Commencement is also in the gym at 7 p.m. Monday, May 21.