Wellness Program promotes holistic approach to health at CLC and beyond

Since the College of Lake County's Health and Wellness Promotion Program began six years ago, it's been a force for preparing students for careers as wellness and life coaches and personal fitness trainers promoting health and helping prevent illness and injury.

As part of their career preparation, students in the program have had clinical experiences with organizations ranging from the Stanley Cup-winning Blackhawks to health care providers.

Dr. Francis Ardito, department chair of the program, provided an overview of the program to CLC trustees during the board's August meeting held recently night on the Grayslake Campus.

Ardito said that students in the program have been privileged to work with the Blackhawks for the last five years conducting strength and conditioning training campus for the team. Other partnerships have included the Lake County Health Department, Mundelein Park and Recreation District and Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Ardito said.

The Health and Wellness Promotion program offers three associate degree options and three career certificates. Ardito said CLC's program is the only associate degree wellness program in the country accredited by the National Wellness Institute.

Students in the program are getting jobs working for health care providers and other organizations, he said. One recent graduate, Marcelo Vega, recently worked with well-known motivational speaker Tony Robbins.

In addition to offering career preparation for students, CLC's Health and Wellness Promotion program is offering services to improve the health and well-being of CLC employees, Ardito said. Last year, the college began offering massage therapy, health and fitness assessments, wellness and life coaching and personal fitness training to employees.

"Reducing health care costs is one of our goals," Ardito said.

Student Trustee Yasenia Mata of Round Lake presented a report on services offered by the Office for Students with Disabilities. More than 700 students with documented disabilities received accommodation in the last year, she said.

According to OSD data, the department served students with learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, autism, psychiatric, hearing and visual and other concerns. The largest number of accommodations were for students with a learning disability.

Accommodations, Mata said, ranged from additional time in taking tests to sign language interpreting to an array of assistive technology.

Approving an intergovernmental agreement with the Grayslake Fire Protection District, the board set in motion a new option for fire science students to receive real-world training. Under the agreement, a Grayslake Fire Protection District/College of Lake County Fire Academy will be established allowing CLC students to train at fire district facilities located on the Grayslake Campus. After successfully completing the Fire Academy, students will be eligible to take the Basic Operations Firefighter certification exam offered by the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal. CLC will be the only community college in the state to host a Fire Academy that is aligned with the certification requirements of the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal.

The trustees approved new three-year contracts for President Jerry Weber, Provost Richard Haney and Vice President for Administrative Affairs David Agazzi.

"In these contracts we are offering compensation that is comparable to that offered by peer community colleges of our size with experienced leaders, and we are also in full compliance with new legislation pending the governor's signature on severance and contract length," said Board Chairman Dr. William M. Griffin after the meeting.

In addition to renewing the contracts of the president, provost and vice president, the trustees appointed Steven Hoselton as director of Facilities Administration, effective Sept. 14.

Continuing CLC's commitment to sustainability, the board accepted a $140,700 grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency/Lake County Stormwater Management Commission. The grant funds, plus $147,035 contributed by CLC, will be used to construct bioswales in four parking lots to reduce runoff into Willow Lake.

Under contracts, the board approved a change order to a December 2014 contract with Highstreet Technologies of Greenwood Village, Colo., which is working on a project to implement time and labor/absence management software for the Human Resources and Payroll departments. The change order adds $72,300 to the original contract, bringing the contract total to $295,500.

To close out the college's U.S. Department of Labor Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grant, the board extended a March 2012 professional services agreement with Research Triangle Institute for an additional 45 days at a cost of $22,405.

As part of an ongoing effort to update and clarify board policies, the trustees approved revisions to Policy 105, "Duties of the Board of Trustees." Among the duties are establishing tuition rates, hiring the president and establishing institutional budgets. The trustees also approved revisions to Policy 911 on the use of facilities. The revisions limit use of college facilities to not-for-profit organizations and specify that for-profit organizations may not use college space for advertising, promoting or selling goods or services unless sponsored by a college department for the purpose of fundraising. The policy also affirms that the college will establish a free speech area for use by the general public in one or more readily accessible campus areas.

To relocate offices during construction of Sustainable Campus Master Plan components, the board awarded a contract for moving and storage services to Hollander International of Elk Grove Village at a cost of $7.75 per square foot. The estimated one-year cost of the contract is $160,000.