September 2002 Board Meeting Report

Fall enrollment at Illinois Valley Community College is up over 9 percent, President Jean Goodnow told the board of trustees Monday.

Monday’s headcount was 4,206, up 9.25 percent over the same date last year. The number of credit hours being taken by students is also up 6 percent for a total of 34,806 hours. The numbers continue a trend at the college. Record summer enrollment topped 2,200 students, up 16 percent from the previous summer session. Spring semester head count was up nearly 5 percent and credit hours nearly 7 percent.

Enrollment has more than doubled since IVCC was created in the mid-1960s.

"We are very pleased our enrollments remain so strong," said Goodnow, who cited new programs such as graphic arts technology, horticulture and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) for contributing to the increase.

Also notable, Goodnow said, is the 25 percent enrollment increase in the division of Academic Enrichment. The college prep course, Strategies for Success, is being offered in 12 sections this fall compared to five last fall. One of the sections is being offered to seniors at Mendota High School. Math Learning Center classes at Ottawa and Princeton high schools are at maximum enrollment.

In other business, the board approved the 2003 budget following a public hearing. Vice President of Business Services and Finance Frank Papke said the budget was balanced for the eleventh straight year despite an estimated $500,000 loss in total state revenue. To achieve the balanced budget, cuts were required from all departments.

"We’ve not only lost the increase we would normally receive from the state but we’ve been cut an additional $239,000 from last year. That’s a net loss of almost $500,000," Papke said.

The board also:

• Accepted the bid of East Central Communications, Inc., of Rantoul for the printing of the 2003 spring class schedule at an estimated cost of $18,012.
• Approved a three-year lease agreement with Illinois Valley Business Equipment of Peru at an estimated annual cost of $37,886.76. The agreement calls for the leasing, maintenance and supplies for eight photo copy machines at the college, said Pat Reed, director of purchasing.
• Learned the college’s Early Childhood Education program will receive a $10,000 renewal of the "Child Care Means Parents in School" grant. The initiative provides low income students access to affordable, quality child care.
• Approved the fiscal 2002 audit prepared by Clifton Gunderson LLP.
• Approved change order overages for two projects: the Building C relocation and the Building F and Link ceiling replacement.
• Approved the policy changes on the use of campus and network computing resources.
• The board was advised of two grant-funded staff appointments: Barry Sanders as halftime interim chair for the Social Science and Public Service division and halftime admissions specialist for career programs, and A. Bruce Markwalter as facilitator of instructional technology.
• Learned part-time health and wellness instructor Julie Sherbeyn has been hired as assistant volleyball coach. Laurie Polte is the head coach.
• Learned of the resignations of three employees: secretary to the director of purchasing Debra Padilla, admissions and records clerk Mandi Willmer and Project NOA driver Leah Berry.
• Learned the college’s chemistry club received an American Chemical Society Outstanding award for its activities in 2001-02. Of the 950 ACS chapters across the nation, only 31 were recognized as outstanding. In addition, IVCC chemistry instructors Bob Byrne and Jeff Carver received special commendations.