INA, Ill. (March 10, 2020)
Rend Lake College will be seeking bids for "The Hub"
a large renovation and addition project at the Ina Campus Learning Resource Center.
At Tuesday’s RLC Board of Trustees meeting, the board granted permission to advertise for bids to remodel and build an addition on the south side of the LRC. Initial plans show this project will add a 1,935-square-foot addition consisting of six collaborative learning spaces and a new main entrance connecting the LRC to the center of campus. The CTE Success Center and Children’s Library will also undergo renovation.
The preliminary cost estimate for the project is just over $852,000. That funding is being raised through the Rend Lake College Foundation. The anticipated start date for construction is this summer and the board expects to have bids to review at the April meeting.
Tate wins Student Trustee election
The Board learned that Dakota Tate of Bluford is the winner of the 2020 RLC Student Trustee election. Tate, a freshman in the Agriculture program at RLC, will succeed current Student Trustee Remington Henson. Tate will be seated at next month's board meeting.
Interdistrict resource sharing
The board voted to renew its part of the Comprehensive Agreement Regarding the Expansion of Education Resources. Illinois’ 39 community college districts have an agreement (CAREER) where students can take a career-technical program at another college if their sending college does not offer that program. Students residing in the RLC District wishing to attend another college should complete an online Joint Agreement application form, which can be found at www.rlc.edu/student-docs. Individuals residing outside the RLC District wishing to attend Rend Lake College should contact their in-district community college for directions on their application process.
Course/curriculum changes
New courses: Two new cosmetology courses were approved by the board. NovaLash Classic Lash Extensions and Special Topics in Cosmetology were OK’d effective April 1. The board also approved Flux Core Arc Welding, effective July 1.
Course changes: The course titled Work Ethics will be changed to Employability Skills effective Aug. 1. It will remain as 1 credit hour and 1 lecture hour. Additionally, the Computer-Aided Drafting Occupational Certificate program will change from 11 credit hours to 8 credit hours, effective July 1.
New video system
The Board of Trustees approved the purchase of a new video surveillance system, including server and software upgrades, at a cost of $44,000, through Security Alarm of Salem. The server and software upgrades are necessary to support additional and newer cameras. The current servers are outdated.
College approves audit, banking depository services
The Board of Trustees accepted a bid from Kemper CPA Group, LLP for audit services for the next three years. The board received bids from four firms and Kemper CPA Group’s was the lowest bid. The group has an office located in Mt. Vernon.
The board also accepted a bid from Banterra Bank for banking depository services between 2021-2025. RLC received six bids from financial institutions and Banterra Bank’s provided the required services at no cost and the highest interest rate for the college. Banterra Bank has multiple locations in the RLC district including in Mt. Vernon, McLeansboro and Christopher.
Updated animal policy
The board approved revisions to the college’s policy on unauthorized animals to reflect recent changes with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Animals allowed on campus are service animals as defined by the ADA, service animals in training in compliance with Illinois’ service animal access statute, animals for instructional purposes as approved by the college president or his/her designee, and working dogs used by law enforcement. Emotional support animals are not considered service animals and are not permitted on RLC’s campus.
Updated sexual harassment policy
The board approved revisions to the college’s policy on sexual harassment to ensure it is current with recent legislative changes and existing definitions.
Fee changes
The board approved revisions to the college’s fees for the Spring 2020 semester. The changes were made to better reflect the needs of the college.
Business program presentation
Business Associate Professors Mark Jornd and Sarah Bilderbeck presented on updates and improvements to RLC's Business program. The program offers multiple degrees and certificates for prospective students.
Braden hired as programmer/analyst
Cory Braden was approved by the board as a programmer/analyst on a full-time, non-tenure track contract effective March 2. Braden is an RLC computer programming graduate and received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Greenville University. He is currently finishing his Master of Business Administration at Greenville with an anticipated graduation in 2020.
Personnel moves
The board accepted, with regret, the resignation of Erin Shupe as graphic designer for the Marketing and Public Information department, effective Feb. 28.
Mark your calendars
- Kick Start Your Journey will take place 9 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 and Wednesday, March 11 on the Ina Campus.
- Advisory Board Meetings will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 in Waugh Gymnasium.
- The RLC Student Art Show Reception and Awards will be on Thursday, March 19 in the RLC Theatre and Lobby. The reception starts at 6 p.m. with the awards at 7 p.m.
- The Culinary Showcase will be 5-8 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays from March 19 to May 8 in the RLC Private Dining Area.
- Diversity Week will take place March 23-27 at RLC.
- Career Connections will take place 8:45 a.m. - noon Wednesday, March 25 in The REC.
- An Illinois Rural Health Association Forum will be 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26 in the Learning Resource Center.
- Jon Garrett of the Gateway Men’s Chorus will host a master class at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31 in the Learning Resource Center, Room 107.
- The 2020 Spring Musical “Little Women†will take place at 7 p.m. April 3-4 with a Sunday matinee performance at 2 p.m. April 5 in the RLC Theatre.
- The Southeast Region Trustee Meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 7 at Shawnee Community College.
- An art demonstration by Carrie Gibbs is scheduled for noon Wednesday, April 8 in the Learning Resource Center, Room 165.
- The Ag Banquet will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 8 in Waugh Gymnasium.
- The Studio RLC Open House will take place 4:40-6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16 at the RLC MarketPlace in Mt. Vernon.
- A Children’s Health Fair will be 9 a.m.-noon Thursday, April 23 on the RLC Ina Campus.
- The annual RLC Job Search Party will take place 3-6 p.m. Thursday, April 23 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Mt. Vernon.
- Lake Reception will be at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 23 at King City Books in Mt. Vernon.
- The Jefferson County CEO Trade Show will take place 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Mt. Vernon.
- The STARS Banquet will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 30 in Waugh Gymnasium.
Dakota Tate
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