Board of Trustees news: Board approves $102.8 million budget for FY 2016

The College of Lake County Board of Trustees approved a balanced operating budget of $102.8 million for Fiscal Year 2016, which begins July 1. The budget represents a 1.6 percent increase over the FY 2015 budget of $101.2 million.

"The college has put together a balanced budget that is fiscally responsible, provides stability in college operations and balances the needs of students and taxpayers," said Board Chairman Dr. William M. Griffin following the meeting.

The budget action was taken following a public hearing held as part of the board's regularly scheduled monthly meeting on June 23.

According to David Agazzi, vice president for administrative affairs, the budget was based on a fiscal picture that includes an $8 per credit hour tuition increase, modest increases in property tax and a 2.25 percent decline in state funding.

On the expenditure side, the budget includes a 5.5 percent increase in health insurance costs and a 4 percent decrease in non-personnel expenditures.

CLC has received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, both from the Government Finance Officers Association.

Presentations on technology, student success

The trustees heard presentations on two topics important to enrollment growth: technology and student success programs.

During a Committee of the Whole meeting held immediately before the regularly scheduled meeting, Scott Rial, educational technology director, reported on integration of technology in instruction.

CLC began offering online courses in 1997 and ranks third among Illinois community colleges in the number of online courses offered. During Spring Semester 2015, 16 percent of enrollment was in online, hybrid or teleweb courses.

Online technology is being used not just to deliver courses but also to reduce students' costs, he said. Faculty are being encouraged to use free, online Open Education Resources to supplement or replace textbooks. Additionally, they have created almost 5,000 instructional support presentations using lecture capture software that are available to students online.

Rial said that future educational technology projects include creating improved mobile access to online courses and creating of an extensive library of online tutorial videos and as well as an iTunes University app.

In a second presentation during the regular board meeting, Karen Hlavin, associate vice president for student development, reported on a variety of student development initiatives completed in the past year. These included implementing a new organizational structure that integrated the Student Development division into the Educational Affairs division, launching a three-year strategic enrollment management plan and introducing a student success program providing coaching and other services for at-risk students. Other initiatives included improving the New-Student Orientation program for entering students by reducing the size of the orientation groups, offering longer advising sessions and including career counseling and financial aid segments in the orientation.

Tuition waiver for student trustee, other resolutions

Following a practice in place at several community colleges, the trustees approved granting a 9-credit-hour tuition waiver to the sitting student trustee for the spring and fall semesters. The student trustee, who casts advisory votes, represents a voice for students on the board. The tuition waiver acknowledges the time commitment made by the student trustee in attending local, state and national meetings and holding office hours on campus, said Board Chairman Dr. William M. Griffin.

Noting recent controversy over ethics practices at a neighboring community college, the trustees also passed a resolution reaffirming their commitment to adhering to Policy 956 on ethics and establishing a procedure for employees and officers of the college to file complaints of violations.

In separate actions, the trustees also passed a resolution committing the college to pay prevailing wage rates on construction projects and a resolution approving an agreement resolving pending tax and assessment disputes relating to the decommissioning of the Zion Power Station.

Resource Allocation Management Plan submitted to state

The board approved submission of the college's FY 2017 Resource Allocation Management Plan (RAMP) document to the Illinois Community College Board. The document sets the college's priorities for requests for state funding for new buildings and capital improvements. Projects included in the list can take a decade or more to receive funding. New projects requested include renovations of the Lakeshore Campus parking garage and the Library at the Grayslake Campus.

Purchasing

Continuing work on the college Master Plan, the trustees ratified $16.46 million in contract awards to 16 Illinois companies for work on constructing a new café addition and renovations on the Grayslake campus.

To keep projects on schedule, the trustees approved awarding the contracts in advance of the June board meeting. The 16 contracts include seven awards to Lake County firms.

In other purchasing actions, the board approved these following awards:

A one-year contract to Mesirow Financial Insurance Services of Chicago to provide employee benefits consultant services at a cost of $82,000.

A contract with Woodward Printing Services of Platteville, Wis., for printing and delivery the Continuing Education class schedules for Fall 2015, Spring 2016 and Summer 2016 at a cost of $53,885.

Human resources

The trustees approved hiring a new English instructor, Esley Stahl, effective Aug. 17.

In addition, Charissa Lynn Butler was hired as chief information officer, effective June 24; and Kevin Grampo was hired as Police Department commander, effective July 20.

Associate Dean Maureen Robinson was appointed interim dean of the Biological and Health Sciences division, effective June 24. Lynn Wiechert, a medical imaging instructor, was appointed interim associate dean, temporarily taking on Robinson's duties. Both will serve until a new dean is found.

Meeting calendar revised

The board approved a revised calendar of meetings for the 2015-16 academic year, with meetings being held on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. on the Grayslake campus unless noted otherwise: July 27, Lakeshore Campus (third Monday); Aug. 25; Sept. 22; Oct. 27, Lakeshore Campus; Nov. 17, 2015 (third Tuesday); Dec. 15 at 5 p.m. (third Tuesday); Jan. 26; Feb. 23; March 15, Southlake Campus; April 26; May 17 (third Tuesday); June 28.