Message from the President

Terry Wilkerson portrait 2017 600x805

In 2017, Rend Lake College continued as a positive force for our students, our employees, and in our communities, and we intend to keep that momentum going as we enter this new year.

Last year, RLC celebrated its 50th birthday by highlighting those who have given of their time, energy, imagination, hard work and much more through the last five decades, efforts that have culminated in national rankings and a top spot on the Aspen Institute’s Top 150 Community Colleges.

The state’s tough economy has not impeded our growth. In the last year, we made room for four new certificate programs to keep our students competitive in their growing fields, and collaborated with four-year institutions to offer graduates more opportunities to continue their education.

With the help of four grants, our students, faculty, and staff are continuing to make a difference in local communities through volunteerism, tutoring, and support services. Renewed focus on connecting with our 13 local high schools shows through dual credit courses, College Signing Days, and Warrior Superfan Days.

Also in 2017, the Higher Learning Commission, which accredits RLC, accepted the Quality Initiative Report on our First-Year Experience program and brought us one step closer to reaccreditation. We anticipate a great visit from HLC in September of 2018 for another 10-year accreditation.

After the first full year with a new team, the RLC Foundation has continued to grow and help our students achieve their dreams through scholarships. With nearly $200,000 awarded to our students and more anticipated for next year, it’s more accessible than ever to start your journey at RLC.

As we move into the next 50 years, Rend Lake College will continue to uphold its mission as well as its core values: to be student-focused, authentic, and resourceful. As always, we’re here to serve you. Stop by for a visit, give us a call, or send us an email so we can address your comments, concerns, and questions. We look forward to hearing from you.

Terry Wilkerson
President

President's Contract & Evaluation Instrument

President's Goals & Responsibilities

1. Provide overall leadership and unity of efforts for the total college program
2. Oversee and maintain the financial well-being of the college
3. Assume overall responsibility for establishing and maintaining an adequate public relations program
4. Oversee preparation for Higher Learning Commission review of the college and subsequent accreditation
5. Provide adequate information and opportunity for board development and preparation of supporting materials

We sat down with past and current leaders of Rend Lake College. They talked about their experiences, looking back over 50 years since RLC was established in 1967.

We Are Nationally Accredited

Rend Lake College has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1969. Accreditation is extremely important because it ensures that RLC programs are effective and that we are delivering on our guarantees of educational quality. It also helps us identify things we do well, things upon which we can improve and how to go about making those improvements. Accreditation is critical for participation in many state and federal programs which benefit higher education.

RLC Mission Statement

Mission

The mission statement is the essential purpose of the college from which all college activities originate:

Rend Lake College provides educational opportunities across cultural and economic boundaries to the diverse student population we serve. We are committed to our students’ success in achieving their educational goals and to meeting our community-focused program objectives. With Rend Lake College, student journeys start here.

Value Statement

In serving our students and community, we strive to be student-focused, authentic, and resourceful.

Institutional Outcomes

Rend Lake College has adopted four essential learner outcomes, fundamental learning objectives embedded in every program of study, that all degree-completing students should be able to demonstrate. They are as follows:

Critical Thinking: Demonstrate the ability to think in a self-directed, reflective manner when understanding, evaluating and solving problems.

Problem-Solving: Demonstrate the ability to resolve computational problems.

Oral Communication: Demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively through verbal and non-verbal language.

Written Communication: Demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively through written language.

Who We Are and Who We Serve

Who We Are and Who We Serve

Who We Are

The College history defines the College from the perspective of organization and assets; however, the personnel who operate within the college systems and manage those assets are the primary element for successful education. Rend Lake College believes all employees, regardless of their job description, are part of each student’s education. Administrative, community outreach, student service, and physical plant personnel all support the student learning process. Our instructors are primary points of contact with the Rend Lake College educational experience. These educators are generally organized into five divisions: Allied Health; Applied Science & Technology; Community & Corporate Education; Liberal Arts; and Math & Sciences. Whether in a supporting role or as a direct point of contact, each college employee draws upon professional expertise and academic accomplishment to promote the success of every student.

Who We Serve

Student-centered colleges are best defined by who they serve. An understanding of the distinctiveness of our College’s student population allows us to effectively meet the goals of our programs and succeed in our mission.

Diversity of Culture

Traditionally, Rend Lake College can be characterized as serving a relatively homogenous, rural, small-town culture. This population’s cultural distinctiveness is centered on age and socioeconomic status more than diverse ethnic origin. As global connectivity broadens, so too do Rend Lake College’s program offerings. We continue to serve groups with diverse characteristics, such as:

Age
Disability
Gender
National origin
Race/ethnicity
Religion
Socioeconomic status
Special populations

Diversity of Purpose

Rend Lake College provides general, transfer, and career technical education to both traditional and non-traditional students through the use of reciprocal agreements; regional, state, and national education programs; dual-credit high school classes; and the endorsement of international students to help broaden our base. Rend Lake College offers skill and trade opportunities for students seeking employment and economic mobility. Additionally, Rend Lake College provides professional and personal fulfillment as well as growth through community and corporate education classes.

Often, an individual’s purpose for engaging with the college is a combination of factors such as:

Discovery/Curiosity
Educational Requirements
Enrichment / Hobby
Healthy lifestyle
Life-long learning
New/Enhanced skills
Retraining

Common Outcome

Regardless of the diverse cultural backgrounds, purposes or origins of our constituents, Rend Lake College serves each individual equally with an open admission policy and an opportunity for success. Furthermore, Rend Lake College is united by the shared commitment of students, faculty, staff, and community to meet its institutional, educational, and program objectives.

RLC History

Rend Lake College has been the place “where learning never ends” for many years, serving thousands of in-district residents annually.

The college was founded in 1955 as Mt. Vernon Community College and officially became Rend Lake College when it was organized December 20, 1966, under the Illinois Junior College Act (Illinois Revised Statutes, 1967; Chapter 122, Sections 101-1 to 108-2).

Mt. Vernon Community College initially was approved by an overwhelming 25-to-1 vote and was under the supervision of the local high school board, with boundaries the same as those for High School District No. 201. The purpose of this two-year college was to provide postsecondary educational experiences, primarily university-parallel curricula, for the graduates of Mt. Vernon Township High School. Faculty and facilities were provided by the high school.

We are Award Winning

Administration

Terry Wilkerson
President

Administration Building Room 126
Phone Ext. 1242
President's Contract Documents

President's Goals & Responsibilities

Angie Kistner
VP - Finance & Administration

Administration Building Room 163
Phone Ext: 1221

Lisa Price
VP - Student Services

Administration Building Room 110
Phone Ext: 1205

Lori Ragland
VP - Career Technical Instruction

Administration Building Room 136
Phone Ext: 1367

Smoke-Free Policy

Rend Lake College campuses are smoke-free as of July 1, 2015.
The Illinois Smoke-Free Campus Act, signed in 2014 by former Gov. Pat Quinn, does not allow smoking on any public college or university campus, whether that is indoors, outdoors, or in parking lots. Staff, students, and visitors are prohibited from carrying, smoking, burning, inhaling, or exhaling any kind of cigarette, cigar, e-cigarette, or other smoking equipment. The one exception is for those who wish to smoke inside a privately owned vehicle.

Message from the President

President's Goals & Responsibilities

We Are Nationally Accredited

RLC Mission Statement

Mission

Value Statement

Institutional Outcomes

Who We Are and Who We Serve

RLC History

We are Award Winning

Administration

President's Goals & Responsibilities

Smoke-Free Policy

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