December 2013 Board Report

Illinois Valley Community College has a new leader of its humanities, fine arts and social sciences division: Brian R. Holloway, formerly of Drury University in Springfield, Mo.

Holloway, who earned his Ph.D. in English literature from the University of Illinois, was the interim assistant vice president of academic affairs for graduate studies at Drury. He also worked formerly as associate vice president for arts and sciences, among other roles at Mountain State University in Beckley, W.V.

The new dean taught at Mountain State, The College of West Virginia in Beckley, Parkland College in Champaign, the University of Illinois and the University of Missouri-Columbia (where he earned his master’s in English literature). Holloway’s Ph.D. dissertation was titled “Temptation in Shakespeare’s Plays.”

A prolific writer, Holloway has authored three books, many academic articles, poems and stories and delivered over 25 academic presentations.

“The breadth of Dr. Holloway‘s work in the humanities and fine arts divisions at varied colleges and universities, in combination with his experience in graduate and continuing studies impressed the selection committee,” said Vice President for Learning and Student Development Lori Scroggs. “We also appreciated his advocacy regarding the role of the humanities, fine arts, and social sciences in preparing today’s students to be thoughtful and insightful citizens.”

In other business, the board approved:

  • Adoption of an $11.2 million tax levy that will result in an estimated total tax rate of .3663, an increase of 3.6 percent over 2012. “This is due to a decrease in EAV and the higher additional tax rate levy,” said Vice President for Business Services and Finance Cheryl Roelfsema. The college anticipates an overall 2.5 percent decline in EAV. The anticipated tax extension is $117,194 higher than 2012 but $126,714 less than 2011. IVCC will submit the levy to county clerks this week.
  • The addition of a security officer near the reception desk inside the main entrance for the Peter Miller Community Technology Center. G4S Secure Solutions will charge the college $18.10 per hour for the contract position.
  • Setting its 2014 meetings at 6 p.m. the second Thursday of the month on Jan. 9, Feb. 13, March 13, April 10, May 8, June 12, July 10, Aug. 14, Sept. 11, Oct. 9, Nov. 13 and Dec. 11.
  • Retaining closed session meeting minutes and destruction of verbatim audiotapes from closed sessions from June 2010 to May 2012.
  • Purchase of Palo Alto Networks’ PA-3020 Firewalls, annual licenses and IT consulting services by Burwood Group for $53,540. “Internet use continues to grow as more faculty utilize streaming video and other online content in their classes,” said IVCC President Jerry Corcoran.

The board learned:

  • Political science instructor Amanda Cook-Fesperman will return from sabbatical to teach this spring.
  • Christine Blaydes, Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) program coordinator since spring 2011, will be recognized in February for having earned tenure.
  • There were change orders of $2,711 for the Cultural Centre stage replacement and $283 for the exterior concrete stairs project.
  • Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas L. Kilbride of Rock Island will keynote IVCC’s 48th annual commencement May 17.
  • Asbestos abatement of east campus buildings 6, 11 and 12 will begin Jan. 13 with demolition scheduled to start Feb. 3.
  • Mennie Machine Company is helping IVCC move lab equipment into the CTC. “This will save the college a substantial amount of money,” said Corcoran. “We are very appreciative of the generous support of Cheryl and Dave Mennie on this project.”
  • LaSalle County Regional Office of Education members recently toured the technology center. In a presentation to ROE superintendents and principals, IVCC Dean of English, Math and Education Marianne Dzik discussed the innovative fast-track math and English programs IVCC is implementing and director of institutional research Amy Smith showed the placement and performance reports IVCC can prepare for each high school when provided student names and birthdates. 
  • Project Success, IVCC’s federally-funded TRiO program, earned a maximum 15 points in a recent assessment of students’ persistence, good academic standing, associate degrees or certificates earned and transfers to four-year institutions. This fall, the program is serving 162 low-income, disabled and first-generation students.