College of Lake County approves FY19 budget
The College of Lake County (CLC) Board of Trustees June 26 approved a balanced $107.6 million operating budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, which begins July 1. The action was taken following a public hearing as well as a display of the budget online and at multiple Lake County locations in June.
The budget prioritizes enrollment growth and services to students toward improved student success outcomes, noted CLC President Lori Suddick, Ed.D. Investment priorities include resources to improve the student experience for CLC Online and for students with disabilities. Another priority is promoting innovative learning through projects such as the Baxter Innovation Lab, an area allowing students and community members to design and fabricate prototypes with the latest software, tools and equipment.
According to Dr. Suddick, the proposed FY19 budget represents a 2.5 percent increase over FY18. The budget assumes a 1.8 percent enrollment decline, a 20 percent reduction in state revenue and a local property tax increase of 2.6 percent. Additionally, CLC implemented cost-efficiency efforts throughout the college, including changes to health insurance and plan designs, to achieve a balanced budget.
Planning CLC's 50th anniversary celebration
The board discussed an update on plans to celebrate the college's 50th anniversary in 2019. A 25-member committee, consisting of faculty, staff, alumni and students, has begun planning. CLC's proposed timeline calls for a multi-faceted celebration to begin in May, at CLC's 50th commencement, and continue until May 2020. The timetable is designed to include the launch of CLC's new strategic plan in August 2019 and a planned groundbreaking for the Lakeshore Campus expansion and renovation in December 2019.
Living Lab Trail approved
The board approved the name Living Lab Trail for an educational footpath on the Grayslake Campus. The trail, combining interior hallways and an existing outdoor path, will highlight environmentally sustainable technologies such as the campus apiary (managed beehives)
and geothermal heating and cooling. The trail signage also will feature wellness messages, including promotion of the Grayslake Campus' Fitness Center to faculty, staff, students and the community. The name Living Lab Trail was chosen to recognize the collaboration between CLC's health and wellness values, said David Husemoller, sustainability manager. Additionally, the name is designed to promote the trail as an attraction for current students, faculty/staff, community members and prospective students. About 30 new educational signs are scheduled to be installed in the 2018-19 academic year. The CLC administration expects the new trail to support college curricula, student group activities, area school field trips and Lake County eco-tourism.
FY 19 resource allocation management plan
The board approved submitting the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Resource Allocation Management Plan to the Illinois Community College Board. In the plan, the board requests state support for the following projects: a classroom building at the Southlake Campus; infrastructure repair and replacement at all campuses; and a 150,000 square foot Center for Health and Wellness Promotion. Additionally, the plan requests state support for repair and replacement of renewable energy projects, including solar panels as well as pumps for the Grayslake Campus' geothermal heating and cooling system.