November 2003 Board Meeting Report

Students at Illinois Valley Community College outperformed students at other Illinois community colleges on licensing exams, degree completion, transfer rate and job placement.

That information, contained in reports from the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board, was presented to the IVCC Board of Trustees Wednesday.

"It confirms our reputation for quality education," said Dr. Harriet Custer, IVCC vice president for academic affairs.

The state reports annually review the performance and cost effectiveness of colleges, and, on a rotating basis, review specific degree and certificate programs. Among the IVCC programs reviewed this year, Therapeutic Massage and Business Administration enrollments have grown. The Dental Assisting program, endangered because of low enrollment in recent years, exceeded the minimum enrollment set last spring.

In other business, the board approved a tentative tax levy of 11.3 million, up just under 5 percent from the fiscal 2002 levy of $10.8 million.

The levy is based on an estimated 5 percent increase in the district’s equalized assessed valuation or EAV. Over the past ten years, the district’s EAV has grown an average of only 2.7 percent per year.

"We prepared our levy in proportion to those projections," said Jerry Corcoran, vice president for business services and finance. "We’re delighted with the good news of the EAV. It’s a great sign of growth."

The total tax rate is projected to be .4551 cents, which is 3 percent less than last year’s rate.

"It’s great to see we can lower the rate," Corcoran said.

The board will finalize the levy at its Dec. 17 meeting.

After the board reviewed the college’s financial reports, trustee David Wilcoxsen complimented Corcoran and Controller Cheryl Roelfsema on their preparation of those reports.

The board also:

  • Granted tenure to three faculty members: Jennifer Bubb of Peru is a developmental English, reading and study skills laboratory instructor; Cheryl Hobneck of Tonica and Linda Mudge of Peru are mathematics laboratory instructors.
  • Heard that online registration for spring semester classes is exceeding expectations. College President Dr. Jean Goodnow reported that overall spring enrollment is up 17 percent compared to this time last year.
  • Approved an agreement with nearby community colleges to allow district residents to enroll, at in-district tuition, in programs that are not offered at IVCC. Colleges participating in this agreement include Black Hawk, Carl Sandburg, Highland, Illinois Central, Kishwaukee, Rock Valley, Sauk Valley and Waubonsee. Trustee Kris Paul expressed her endorsement of the agreement: "This is just excellent; it provides access to programs that we could not afford to offer at the college."
  • Approved the purchase of Americans with Disabilities Act compliant furniture for seven departments at the cost of $45,000. The furniture will be used in Admissions and Records, Financial Aid, Jacobs Library, Counseling Center, Foundation/Student Services and Human Resources.
  • Renewed cash farm leases for 2004 with Chris and Roger Ploch (9.6 acres) and Keith Gehm (129.2 acres).
  • Accepted bids of $15,380 from Klaus Companies Inc. of Peoria for five Panasonic LCD projectors and of $3,390 from Tierney Brothers Inc. of Minneapolis, Minn., for two Hitachi LCD projectors.
  • Rejected the one bid received for custodial supplies. The college will revise the specifications and rebid the items.
  • Heard that the college is in discussion with Department of Corrections officials about offering programs at the prison when it reopens in January 2004.
  • Heard that Bradley Hansen resigned from his position as assistant women’s basketball coach.
  • Heard that Lauren Sandberg, IVCC’s Bookstore director, was elected president of the Illinois Association of College Stores.