Jeff Hill: Candidate Profile

Back to McHenry Commmunity College School Board 6-year term

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: AlgonquinWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: McHenry Commmunity College School Board 6-year term Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Married to Kim Hill for 18 years with 3 children. Twin 15 year olds (Austin Emily) and a 12 year old (Madelynn)Occupation: Full-time doctoral studentEducation: Bradley University, Bachelor of Science in Business Management Westwood College, M.B.A. Benedictine University, Ed. D. Higher Education and Organizational ChangeCivic involvement: Actively involved with Huntley Youth Sports Association, Huntley Heat United Soccer Club and District 158 school activities and eventsElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers With enrollment up at my many community colleges, it can be challenging to keep pace as far as available classroom/lab space, the number of qualified teachers and available course work options. How would you manage that?The administrators first need to analyze the local employment market to see what professions and skills are in demand. Then they need to effectively analyze the programs being offered and make sure they're aligned with these in demand careers. Programs that will lead to the best student outcomes need to be prioritized and supported while those programs that won't lead to strong graduate outcomes need to be reviewed to see if the college should continue offering them. In summary, the college must use the limited resources available to provide funding and support to the programs that will provide the greatest benefit to the students and residents of McHenry County.Are you currently employed by or retired from a school district, if so, which one? Is any member of your direct family - spouse, child or child-in-law - employed by the school district where you are seeking a school board seat?No, I am not and do not have any family members working in the school district.Is a tax rate increase needed and, if so, how do you justify it?My first reaction is no, but I do not have the necessary information to answer that question. I have attended several board meetings and, based on the information provided, there appears to be adequate funding currently to effectively operate the college. In general, community colleges are designed to provide quality educational options that will benefit the students, the economy and the community. For that privilege, local tax payers provide substantial funding for the college and deserve to make sure their investment is being spent wisely and providing a strong return to the community through educated citizens and a well trained work force for local employers.Community colleges provide many services to a diverse population. Is there a service your college should be providing that it is not, or reaching a segment of the population that it is not?In today's world, postsecondary education is more important than ever before and, overwhelmingly, community colleges serve students who have limited options to higher education. These students may not have had the financial resources or earned the grades needed to attend a 4-year university. In addition, many community college students tend to be slightly older with the responsibilities of trying to earn their education while balancing work and family. The number of these students are growing and it is extremely important that the college is aware of the challenges these students face and provide the necessary resources to help them succeed. To best serve the community, the college first needs to consistently educate the citizens of McHenry county on the importance of education and the outstanding benefits offered by the college. Next, administrators must have strong relationships with local employers to make sure that the programs being offered can lead to meaningful employment for their graduates. Finally, course schedules and resources need to be designed to provide students with the best chance to succeed in school and beyond.What do you think of President Obama's proposal for offering two years of free community college education?I'm a strong proponent of the benefits postsecondary education can provide to students and their communities. However, there is already significant financial aid spent on reducing, or eliminating, students' financial obligation for attending school, yet the graduation rates of community colleges have been extremely low throughout most of their history. Without question, affordability is a critical issue to help students succeed, but it not the only issue. For Obama's plan to work it must also include measures that will ensure that community colleges are providing a quality education and are held accountable for student outcomes. This is a far more complex, and challenging, task than just providing additional funding and will require a collaborative effort among higher education leaders to see significant improvement.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I've lived in McHenry County for ten years and, like most people, believe my property taxes are too high. In addition, as a resident, I've been very impressed with the performance of MCC and believe the college is being run by very dedicated and talented individuals. As a candidate, I believe that my education and experience working in postsecondary education make me uniquely qualified to help guide the college to ensure our tax dollars are being spent wisely while making sure the citizens of McHenry County have access to a top notch education that benefits local employers and our economy.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Indiana Senator Mitch Daniels has done a remarkable job reducing costs and improving student outcomes since he became the President of Purdue University.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?My parents taught me that I can accomplish anything as long as I committed to it and that lesson has helped me achieve my dreams.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have begun working in higher education much earlier in my career since helping students succeed is incredibly inspiring.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Philosophy taught me valuable lessons about articulating your beliefs while also being able to understand where others are coming from which is critical in life.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?You can be and do anything you want in life. Choose what makes you happy and gives you purpose and you'll always be successful.