Continuing Education Center expands business course offerings, IVCC Board of Trustees learns

FEBRUARY 23, 2026

Collaboration with communities on small business development efforts and an attractive course lineup for personal and professional development keep enrollment robust at Illinois Valley Community College’s Continuing Education and Business Training Center.

Within three weeks of launching its 2026 spring catalog, more than 400 people had enrolled in Continuing Education courses, IVCC President Dr. Tracy Morris reported to the IVCC Board of Trustees in February. Enrollment overall has increased steadily in the last four years.

To bridge a gap in the region, Continuing Education recently launched an accelerator series for incumbent and aspiring small business entrepreneurs. The class series, developed through collaboration with chambers of commerce and cities, drew a strong turnout for a first-time program.

As small business development efforts continue to expand, the division’s Business Training Center continues to serve area industry by developing and providing training to its workforce.

An array of personal development classes, such as cultural activities, wellness, art, and career and professional skills development reflect the division’s commitment to supplying educational opportunities the area enjoys and needs.

In other action, Greg Whightsil was approved for tenure. Whightsil taught industrial maintenance and electricity for 13 years as an adjunct and has been coordinating the program full-time for three years. He is credited for inspiring students of all abilities and for division collaborations that led to innovations like the Skilled Trades Certificate. He was one of two faculty members approved at the February meeting.

Additional updates in Dr. Morris’s monthly report to the Board included:

  • Spring enrollment continues to be strong. Headcount is up 7.2 percent and credit hours up 2.2 percent compared to Spring 2025.
  • The College has again been awarded for reader-friendly financial reporting. The Popular Annual Financial Reporting (PAFR) award is issued by the Government Finance Officers Association for reports on the basis of reader appeal, understandability, creativity, and distribution.
  • Morris recognized Kealey Rick, an aspiring teacher from Ottawa who was named a Golden Apple Scholar of Illinois, which qualifies Rick for tuition assistance as she pursues a teaching degree at Illinois State University.

In other action, the Board:

  • Authorized increasing tuition and fees by $8 beginning with the summer 2026 semester. The increase from $146 to $154 per credit hour ranks IVCC 6 out of 7 compared to Illinois Community College Board peer community colleges. Costs for dual credit enrollment will remain at the same level and tuition waiver programs remain intact. Additionally, 169 course fees were adjusted.
  • Approved the purchase of 45 computer monitors from Dell at a cost of $27,522 as part of a technology refresh effort.
  • Approved the purchase of a FANUC Robot Trainer from Aidex Educational Systems to be used in robotic welding as part of the new Robotics, Mechatronics and Automation (RMA) certificate program. The total cost of $39,000 will be funded through a $33,000 donation from Constellation Energy to the IVCC Foundation and $6,000 from Continuing Education’s Non-Credit Strategies at Work funds.
  • Nominated three people for the 2026 Illinois Community College Trustees Association Awards: Zulma Guzman of Chicago for the Pacesetter Award, Ray D’Alessio of Georgia for the Distinguished Alumnus Award, and Danica Scoma of Utica for the Prairie State College/Gigi Campbell Student Trustee Excellence Scholarship.
  • Learned of the appointment of Dr. Emma Tuschhoff, Natural Sciences laboratory instructor.