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March 2012 Board Report

Fair winter weather has expedited construction on Illinois Valley Community College’s Community Technology Center, President Jerry Corcoran informed board members Tuesday.

Students began using the new entrance between Admissions and Financial Aid Tuesday and drilling on 192 geothermal wells will begin the week of April 3. The Cultural Centre is now closed and work on the new building’s foundation will begin shortly, he said.

“Things are going very well, thanks in part to the wonderful weather we’ve been enjoying so far this spring,” said Corcoran.

The 80,000-square-foot Peter Miller CTC, home to nine career programs and student services, is expected to open in early 2014.

In other business, the board approved closing the Early Childhood Education Center at the end of the spring semester in May. The Center’s east campus location will be demolished this summer as part of the CTC project.

As a result, positions held by interim director and teacher Virginia Pokryfke and temporary part-time teacher Carly DeWig will be eliminated effective May 18.

“Ms. Pokryfke has already secured employment elsewhere and we wish her nothing but the best,” said Corcoran. “She has done a great job for IVCC and I’m very proud of her.”

Ms. DeWig’s temporary position was scheduled to end all along on May 18, Corcoran added.

The action follows a Feb. 21 recommendation to close the center by trustees Larry Huffman and Melissa Olivero, ECE program coordinator Diane Christianson and her Dean, Marianne Dzik (English, mathematics and education).

IVCC will continue to work with La Salle Elementary School District and other nonprofit agencies on La Salle CARES, a project dedicated to creating a community-wide early childhood education center.  

The college opened its day care center for pre-school children in 1976 as a service to mothers and fathers during class times.

In other business, the board was updated on the college’s strategic planning process by Dr. Lori Scroggs, Vice President for Planning and Institutional Effectiveness.

Scroggs said IVCC’s strategic planning is driven, in part, on the board’s goals for the president and college. Scroggs added, “The IT strategic plan, completed on a three-year cycle, and the facilities master plan, completed on a five-year cycle, each contribute to the strategic goals and objectives through annual plans and longer term projects.”

In other action, the board approved:

  • The purchase of $44,167 in instructional supplies for the dental assisting, nursing and CNA programs through Carl Perkins funds. “This equipment will keep IVCC’s programs updated with some of the latest instructional equipment, providing our students and instructors the opportunity to practice industry-standard skills,” said interim Dean of Health Professions Ron Groleau.
  • Naming a portion of the new Peter Miller CTC the William and Dian Taylor Student Development Commons for IVCC alumni Bill and Dian Taylor of Winnetka. The Taylors pledged $100,000 for technological enhancement within the Commons which will be home to student services. The gift is part of a $2.1 million capital campaign for CTC enhancement.
  • $30,875 for asbestos abatement from the ceilings in buildings D and E. Total cost of the ceiling and lighting replacement project is $215,325.
  • The nomination of English and journalism instructor Lori Cinotte of Spring Valley for the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) 2012 Outstanding Faculty Award. IVCC faculty recently named Cinotte the winner of the Stephen Charry Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence.
  • The nomination of early childhood education instructor Tammy Ebner-Landgraf of Mendota for the ICCTA’s 2012 Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Member Award. Landgraf was nominated for the award by Dean Dzik.

The board learned of:

  • The retirements of Richard “Dick” Vicich, a 28-year IT systems administrator of Oglesby, effective June 30, and of Gregory Matteson of Ottawa, a 20-year part-time biology lab instructor.
  • The resignations of research analyst Drew McConville of Ottawa, part-time geography instructor Debby Crouch of Ottawa and 44-year counselor and transfer coordinator Jim Stevenson of Peru. “Resignation with good memories has always been a top goal of mine,” Stevenson said in his letter to the board. “I feel privileged in spending so much of my life as an employee of the college.”
  • Approximately 115 high school students from Streator, Princeton, Seneca and LP’s Area Career Center attended the ECE-sponsored “ECE Experience” March 16. 
  • Dr. Jeff Anderson, Dean of Humanities, Fine Arts and Social Sciences had an essay entitled, “Why community college students need great books,” published in the latest edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education.