Rend Lake College Board of Trustees -- Feb. 3, 2015, Meeting Highlights

Tuition rate remains flat, revised fees approved
The board approved continuing the in-district tuition rate at $95 per hour, no change over last year. Out-of-state and out-of-country tuition was set at $150 per credit hour, and out-of-district tuition will be set at a later date.
Also approved were revisions to board policy and procedure concerning fees, effective Summer Term 2015. The action was taken in light of the fact that college officials expect to receive decreased amounts of funding from state sources. Among other changes to the fee schedule, the technology fee was increased from $5 to $10 per credit hour, and a facilities fee of $5 per credit hour was implemented.

Courses, curriculum receive approval
The board approved a new Pharmacy Technician occupational certificate curriculum, along with five accompanying courses, and authorized their submission to the Illinois Community College Board for approval. The courses were Pharmacology and Medical Calculations, Pharmacy Technician Practices, Pharmacy Drug Distribution, Pharmacy Community Clinical and Pharmacy Hospital Clinical.
A new course associated with the IT Systems Specialist program, Advanced Security, and a new Work Ethics course in the Business program, received similar approval. A change in the number of credit hours for the Network Security course, from three to four, also was approved.

Southern Illinois Healthcare, area colleges partner for use of simulation, learning lab
Rend Lake College, John A. Logan College, Shawnee Community College and Southeastern Illinois College formed a partnership to use the Southern Illinois Healthcare Simulation and Learning Lab to provide training for students.

SIUC, RLC create Rad Tech articulation agreement
A program articulation agreement for Radiologic Technology was approved between Rend Lake College and Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The agreement will allow students to complete an Associate Degree at RLC and transfer seamlessly to SIUC in good standing upon successful completion of coursework.

In other business, the board ...

• Approved revisions to board policy and procedure concerning criteria for awarding credit (second reading).
• Approved a revision to the job description for the Instructor / Director of the Radiologic Technology program.
• Approved revisions to the organizational chart.
• Approved the notice of election for student trustee.
• Approved submission of the statement of final construction compliance on Protection, Health and Safety projects involving the campus-wide sidewalk replacement, Student Center roof replacement and Art program addition.
• Did not renew the employment contract of a non-tenured Culinary Arts instructor.
• Approved revision to board policy concerning other leaves (first reading) and the tenured / tenure-track faculty and staff seniority list (first reading).
• Approved a side letter to the current agreement between the Rend Lake College Federation of Teachers Local 3708 and the RLC Board of Trustees which addresses changes in the leave policy as well as virtual office hours for online students.

Mark your calendars …

• RLC Homecoming, Wednesday, Feb. 11, Waugh Gymnasium; women's basketball game at 5:30 p.m., men's basketball game at 7:30 p.m.
• Faculty / Staff In-Service, Tuesday, Feb. 17, RLC Theatre.
• Student / Faculty Recital, 7 p.m. Thursday, March 5, RLC Theatre.
• RLC Board of Trustees Mini Retreat, noon March 10, 2015, location to be determined.
• Spring Musical: Les Miserables, RLC Theatre. Performances at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, April 9-11, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 12.
• RLC Health & Wellness Fair, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, April 17, RLC Campus.
• Job Fair, 3-6 p.m. Thursday, April 23, Mt. Vernon Holiday Inn.
• Commencement, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, May 16, Waugh Gymnasium.