REND LAKE COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES - December 10, 2019 MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

INA, Ill. (Dec. 10, 2019)
The Rend Lake College Board of Trustees approved the advertisement of bids for new truck driving equipment at Tuesday’s meeting in the Student Center.

The new equipment is estimated at a cost of $188,000. The costs will cover the purchase of a semitractor, a trailer, mobile alignment system (tire balancer, tire changing machine and wheel alignment system), and a parking lot expansion at the RLC Murphy-Wall Pinckneyville campus. The items listed are required for the Delta Regional Authority Grant, which was recently awarded to the college. The items will be awarded through a competitive bid process consistent with both college and DRA policy.

Clean audit received

The Board received an unmodified and clean auditor's report from representatives of Clifton Larson Allen LLP. It is the best opinion the auditor can give the college. RLC is in very good financial shape heading into this fiscal year, commented one auditor.

Culinary Arts spotlight

The Board heard from Culinary Arts Lead Associate Professor Robert Wilson and Associate Professor Jeff Fairbanks who presented about many aspects of the program's success.

New Courses:

The board approved new courses, changes to existing courses and assigned existing courses to a new curriculum. All approvals are effective Jan. 1, 2020.

New courses are: ABEM 1700 (ABE Math Only), ABER 1701 (ABE Reading Language Art Only), ASER 1801 (ASE Reading Language Art Only) and BSB 1703 (Information Technology Basic Skills).

Changes to existing courses are: BSB 1700 (Healthcare Basic Skills) and BSB 1701 (Manufacturing Basic Skills).

Assigned to new curriculum: IST 2231 (Advanced Programmable Controllers) was changed from INEL 0033 to IST 0035; CRJS 1250 (Special Topics in Criminal Justice) was assigned to CRJS 0039 from CRJS 0111.

Personnel moves:

The board appointed Kaila Tyner as Academic Advisor on a full-time, 50-week, tenure track contract effective Dec. 11, 2019. Tyner holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and a Master of Science degree in Education, also from SIUC. Tyner previously worked at SIUC as an academic advisor, athletic academic coordinator and most recently as the assistant athletic director of academics. Her hiring is pending a successful background check.

The board also accepted, with regret, the resignations of Nursing Instructor Misty Hammond and Academic Advisor Jessica Phillips.

In other business:

• The Rend Lake College Board of Trustees approved the meeting schedule for 2020. The board meets in the Student Center at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month except for September, October and November when they will meet on the third Tuesday of the month.   
• The 2020-2021 Rend Lake College Catalog was approved by the board.  
• The board approved travel expense reimbursements and a procedure change regarding the collection of student fees and debts.

Mark your calendars:

• The RLC faculty/staff Holiday Luncheon will take place 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13 in the James “Hummer” Waugh Gymnasium.
• Rend Lake College offices will be closed for the holiday break Dec. 23-Jan. 1.
• Warrior Days Orientation Workshop will take place Jan. 8.
• A Student Success Workshop for faculty will take place Friday, Jan. 10 at Rend Lake College.
• Classes for the Spring Semester begin Jan. 13.
• The ACES 2020 Regionals will take place 8 a.m.- 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5 at Rend Lake College.
• The CTE Dueling Pianos Fundraiser will be Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Scheller Playhouse. A time for the event is to be determined.
• Faculty and staff will have an In-Service day Tuesday, Feb. 18 in the RLC Theater.
• An Illinois Rural Health Association Forum will take place 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26 in the Learning Resource Center.
• A Quarter Auction will take place in the REC on Friday, March 27.