About Us
About RLC
Welcome to Rend Lake College — the perfect place to start your journey.
A Message from the President
Welcome to Rend Lake College — the perfect place to start your journey. As the President of this award-winning school, and a lifelong resident of the district, I'm proud to tell you about many opportunities we have for you right here in your own backyard.
At RLC, we have numerous programs in areas like health, sciences, technology and the arts. These programs are always growing and changing to make sure we're teaching you the things that will help you get great jobs in the future.
We also know that sometimes students need a little extra help. That's why we have worked hard to increase services like tutoring in our Learning Enhancement Center, a special Wellness Room to help keep your mind healthy and focused, timely notifications to help you stay on course academically and many more.
RLC has some really great facilities, like the Event Center, Student Center, Warrior Way, RL Café, Blended coffee shop and the Learning Resource Center. We even have a special Manufacturing Academy under construction right now at our MarketPlace campus in Mt. Vernon, and we'll be building a new Allied Health Center and the Banterra Sports Complex on the Ina campus.
One of the best things about starting your college journey at Rend Lake is that it can save you a lot of money. If you compare us to the average cost at an Illinois public university, you can save up to 80 percent on your first two years of college. Plus, we have small classes, different types of classes to choose from and a long list of services to help our students succeed.
If you're thinking about learning a trade and getting to work right away, we have numerous short-term certificate programs to choose from. We'll teach you the skills you need to get a good job and if you decide later to continue your education, the certificates you earned can be stacked into a degree that transfers.
We know your time is important, so why not spend some of it checking out our campus? Come take a tour of some programs you are interested in, or get the general campus tour, and see all the impressive things we have to offer and meet the folks who get it done.
If you are thinking about Rend Lake College, a great place to get started is on our website at rlc.edu/journey. Fill out a quick form and we'll be in touch.
"Your Journey Starts Here" is more than just a motto for us. It's our promise to you that we'll help you grow and succeed.
I look forward to seeing you on campus.
Sincerely,
Terry Wilkerson, President
Mission Statement
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 are 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.
Mission Statement
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 are 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.
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.
Who We Are
Who We Serve
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
Definition of Equity
Common Outcome
President's Contract Extension
President's Evaluation Instrument
President's Goal & Responsibilities
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.
6. Participate in statewide activities and organizations relative to the college mission.
7. Maintain an active and visual presence in the communities of the district through local events and gatherings.
President's Executive Leadership Team
Lori Ragland
Executive Vice President
Chad Copple
Vice President - Institutional Effectiveness
Cathy DeJarnette
Executive Director - Administrative Services
Henry "Buster" Leeck
Vice President - Academic & Student Services
Kim Wilkerson
Vice President - CTE & Student Support
John Gulley
Vice President - Finance & Auxiliary Services
President's Cabinet
Amy Epplin
Director of Institutional Compliance and Research
Amy Newell
RLC Foundation Assistant Director of Development
Andrea Banach
Dean of Arts & Sciences Division
Bria Robinson
Dean of Allied Health
Donnie Millenbine
Dean of Facilities Management & Campus Operations
Jena Jensik
Dean of Enrollment Services
Kent McKown
Chief Information Officer
Nathan Wheeler
Director of Marketing and Communications
Shari Carpenter
Dean of Applied Science & Technology
Vickie Schulte
Dean of Student Success and Development
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.
It is the policy of Rend Lake College to adhere to, and enforce, the Smoke Free Illinois Act and the Smoke-Free Campus Act. Specifically, no person shall carry, smoke, burn, inhale, or exhale any kind of lighted pipe, cigar, cigarette, e-cigarette or any other lighted smoking equipment. This policy extends to all buildings, grounds, parking lots, and vehicles which are owned and operated by the College. No person may smoke in any vehicle owned by the College.
The College may further designate enclosed areas of a public place or place of employment, including outdoor areas, where smoking is also prohibited.
The College will communicate its policy to all students, staff and visitors by posting at every entrance to buildings, to College grounds, on parking lots, and within vehicles a conspicuous sign clearly stating that smoking is prohibited. In addition, the college will create and post upon its website a smoke-free campus map indicating the locations where smoking is prohibited.
Take the Pledge! Video yourself reading the pledge below and post to our Facebook page or share with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat.
TOBACCO-FREE PLEDGE
Because I know smoking is the #1 cause of preventable death in the United States;
Because I know that smoking kills more people every year than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, fires, drugs, murders, and suicides combined;
Because I know the Tobacco Industry spends over 12.5 billion dollars a year, on advertising to encourage young people to begin a lifelong addiction to smoking before they are old enough to fully understand its long-term health risk;
Because I know 90% of smokers begin before 18 years of age;
Because I know cigarette smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, 69 of which are known to cause cancer;
I AM SAYING NO TO TOBACCO!
I, ________________________, do hereby pledge that I will lead a smoke-free life and pledge not to use tobacco products.
