Highlights from the March 13, 2018 Rend Lake College Board Meeting

Articulation agreement, two MOUs receive approval

The board approved an articulation agreement and ratified two memoranda of understanding designed to ease transfer of Allied Health students to three universities.

• An articulation agreement with Southern Illinois University Carbondale will allow graduates of Rend Lake College’s Radiologic Technology program to transfer to SIUC’s Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology program.
• A memorandum of understanding with Indiana Wesleyan University will allow RLC Associate Degree Nursing graduates to transfer into the post-licensure Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing program at IWU.
• A memorandum of understanding with McKendree University will allow RLC Associate Degree Nursing graduates to transfer into the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing McKendree.

These agreements are intended to smooth the transition for RLC graduates and to maximize the transfer of credits.

President Wilkerson’s contract renewal receives final approval

The board approved renewing the contract of President Terry Wilkerson (second reading). The contract is for a four-year term from June 30, 2018, through June 30, 2022, and per President Wilkerson’s request, represents no increase in salary or benefits.

Featherstone transfers to Coordinator of Data Information Systems

The transfer of James Featherstone from Report Writer to Coordinator of Data Information Systems, effective Feb. 16, was ratified Tuesday. Featherstone has been with RLC full-time since May 2013. The transfer is needed to fill the vacancy left by the departure of Brian Clark.

Two police officers join RLC

The board appointed two new police officers Tuesday. The hires were made in order to ensure adequate levels of security for students and staff.

• Rodney Sweetin, Police Officer, effective March 14. Sweetin has worked part-time for RLC since 2011. He served as a police officer and detective with the Mt. Vernon Police Department from April 1992 through May 2015.
• William Young, Police Officer, effective March 19. Young has been working part-time with the RLC Police Department since November 2017, and also has worked for the Benton, Buckner and Ewing police departments.

Two positions to be filled

The board granted permission to create two positions and their accompanying job descriptions and to advertise to fill them.

• Health Studies Student Success Center / Help Desk Support Technician – This new position is needed to support technology and software in the HSSSC and to provide extended coverage hours for the Information Technology Help Desk. The position is grant-funded, and the hire will be ratified at the April board meeting.
• Student Success Coordinator – This new position is needed to develop, implement and assess student success efforts at RLC and is needed to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Rachel Sveda-Webb. The position will include early alert process and procedure, career testing, working with faculty for academic input, working with the Financial Aid Department to overcome student barriers, and individual student counseling. The position also will represent RLC at various outside events at area high schools, career fairs, college expos and other community events. The hire will be ratified at the April meeting.

Health Info Tech’s Henry moving on

The board ratified acceptance of the resignation of Charlotte Henry, Health Information Technology Program Director, effective May 14, 2018. She has been with RLC full-time since April 2014.

Bids for roof, gutter replacements receive approval

The bid of $111,150 from D7 Roofing of Albers was accepted for replacement of the roof on the Administration Building and for various gutter replacements across campus. The projects will be paid for with Protection, Health and Safety Levy funds.

Accreditation update

The board heard a report on the college’s reaffirmation of accreditation activities. The college is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is due for a comprehensive evaluation visit by the HLC September 24-25, 2018. In addition to continuing work on the Assurance Argument, designed to prove the college meets HLC’s five criteria for accreditation, the board also heard an updated from Kim Wilkerson and Angie Kistner on the federal compliance portion of the accreditation effort. This piece is designed to show the college’s compliance with various regulations, including Title IV compliance, credit-hour compliance and several other matters.

The third-party comment process, also a part of the compliance section, is set to begin this month. This process is designed to provide the college’s constituencies with the opportunity to present their perspectives on the college. Comments must be in writing and can be submitted at www.hlcommission.org/comment, or by mail to Third-Party Comment on Rend Lake College, Higher Learning Commission, 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL  60604-1411. Comments must be submitted at least four weeks ahead of the visit date. RLC has been accredited by HLC since 1969.

The college also is required to deliver a student opinion survey on behalf of HLC, and this will go out to students April 2. The college also is preparing for HLC’s annual conference in April at Chicago.

In other business, the board …

• Ratified payment of college expenses including travel reimbursements.
• Approved revision to college policy and procedure concerning social media (second reading).
• Approved a request to develop five online courses and to authorize their submission to the Illinois Community College Board for action. The courses are Business Data Entry, Office Procedures and Technology, Beginning Microsoft Word, Intermediate Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel.
• Approved revision to the job description for the Coordinator of Network Operations and Security.
• Approved revisions to the alcohol and drug policy (first reading) and authorized signature of an agreement with First Advantage.

Mark your calendars …

• Transition Summit, Tuesday, March 20, RLC campus.
• Advisory Council meetings, 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, Waugh Gymnasium.
• Kickstart Your Journey, Thursday-Friday, March 22-23, RLC campus.
• Spring Musical: The Addams Family, 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, April 5-7, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 8, RLC Theatre.
• ICCTA Southeast Region Trustees Meeting, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 28, Rend Lake College.
• RLC Spring Musical: The Addams Family, RLC Theatre. Performances 7 p.m. nightly Thursday, April 5, through Saturday, April 7; 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, April 8.
• Higher Learning Commission Annual Conference, Thursday-Monday, April 5-9, Hyatt Regency Chicago.
• Job Search Party, 3-6 p.m. Thursday, April 12, Mt. Vernon Hotel and Event Center.
• Trivia Night, Thursday, April 12, The Rec on campus. Doors open at  p.m., trivia begins at 7 p.m.
• Phi Theta Kappa Induction, 2 p.m. Thursday, April 19, RLC Theatre.
• Lake Reception, 5 p.m. Thursday, April 19, King City Books, Mt. Vernon. Lake is RLC’s fine arts publication.
• Children’s Health Fair, Thursday, April 26, The Rec on campus.
• Flummoxed Fairy Tales, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday-Friday, April 26-27, RLC Theatre.
• RLC Music Showcase, 3 p.m. Sunday, April 29, RLC Theatre.
• RLC Spring Concert, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 3, RLC Theatre.
• Annual Board / Faculty Staff Awards, 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, RLC Theatre.
• Radiologic Technology Pinning Ceremony, 1 p.m. Thursday, May 10, RLC Theatre.
• Associate Degree Nursing Pinning Ceremony, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 10, Waugh Gymnasium.

·         RLC Commencement, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, May 12, 2018, Waugh Gymnasium