CLC Fiscal Year 2016 budget placed on public display
On May 19, the CLC Board of Trustees authorized placing a proposed $102.8 million operating budget for Fiscal Year 2016 on public display in the Finance department (Room A107) at the Grayslake campus, starting May 21. The board will hold a public hearing on the budget at 6 p.m. on June 23 in Room A206 at the Grayslake campus. Following the hearing, trustees will vote on the FY 2016 budget.
Dr. William M. Griffin, board chairman, acknowledged the hard work done by the college community to prepare the budget. "We strive to keep the lowest possible cost to the taxpayer while at the same time continuing to offer quality education for students throughout Lake County," he said.
The proposed budget represents a 1.6 percent increase over the FY 2015 budget of $101.2 million. According to David Agazzi, vice president for administrative affairs, the budget is based on a 2.25 percent decline in state funding, modest increases in property taxes and an $8 per credit hour increase in tuition and fees. On the expenditure side, the budget contains a 1.4 percent increase in expenditures, including a 5.5 percent increase in health insurance costs and a 4 percent decrease in non-personnel expenditures.
International student recruitment report
As part of President Jerry Weber's monthly student success update, Dr. Patrick Peyer, dean of enrollment services, updated board members on the college's success in recruiting and retaining international students. During Spring Semester 2015, 119 international students on F-1 VISAs were enrolled, representing 46 different countries.
Dr. Peyer described the Center for International Education's programs and services to international students once they arrive on campus, which include a special orientation, peer mentors, dedicated academic advising, the International Club and personalized support services such as housing assistance and airport pick-up.
"Over the next three or four years, our goal is to become Illinois' leading community college for international student enrollment," Dr. Peyer said. "We would like to further develop '2+2' partnerships and guaranteed admissions with local universities, enhance relationships globally and locally and utilize best practices recommended by the National Association for College Admission Counseling and American International Recruitment Council."
Dr. Peyer introduced three international students, who spoke to the board about their positive experiences at the college. Javier Lara Cartagena of Honduras, an engineering student for the past nine months, also works as a student ambassador in the Center for International Education. "The classes are awesome and there are great professors. CLC is great place for international students," he said at the meeting.
Contracts and grants
The board accepted a competitive grant for $165,000 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to continue funding the college's Illinois Small Business and International Trade Center. The center assists existing businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs and helps businesses expand into international markets. The grant period is Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2015, and CLC is required to provide $124,000 in matching funds.
The board approved a project labor agreement requiring that subcontractors bidding on Guaranteed Maximum Price 1 Master Plan projects to insure there will be no work stoppages. David Agazzi, vice president for administrative affairs, will award and assign four of the 17 trade subcontracts under the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) 1 that were approved at the April 23 board meeting in addition to the remaining 13 trades subcontracts to be presented at the June 2015 trustees meeting.
Human resources
The trustees approved the FY 2016 salary and benefits package for non-bargaining unit classified, specialist, administrative and professional employee groups. Each group will receive a 3.3 percent increase in base salary.
Purchasing
The board approved the following bids:
A bid for $170,338 from E.P. Graphics, Inc. of Berne, Ind., for printing and mailing the 2015-16 fall, spring and summer class marketing and university partner booklets.
A contract for procurement card services with J.P. Morgan Chase of Chicago was approved. There is no cost to the college.
The board approved the following non-biddable purchases:
A contract for $90,000 with Hewlett Packard Company of Houston for toner cartridges.
A contract for $59,939 with Lee Equipment of Indianapolis for a used, reconditioned frame machine for the automotive collision repair program.
A contract for $75,000 with Dynamic Developments, Inc. of Mundelein to design and deliver customized leadership training for a major medical products company in Lake County.
A contract for $38,441 with Blue Streak Learning Company of Elmhurst to develop e-learning modules for a major corporate consulting company.