SIC Boasts High Staffing Ratios and Better than Average Enrollment

The Southeastern Illinois College Board of Trustees met Tuesday, March 17 to discuss staffing, enrollment trends, and state initiatives.

SIC has one of the highest full-time faculty-to-student ratios in the state, and employs far fewer adjunct faculty than many colleges.

“SIC has always tried to focus on the classroom first and foremost,” said President Dr. Jonah Rice.  “Even in tough times we’ve worked to maintain one of the best faculty-to-student ratios.”

According to Gina Sirach, Dean of Academic Services, the faculty-to-student ratio at SIC is roughly16:1.

General education core courses at SIC are taught by approximately 90 percent full-time instructors.  Many general education core courses have 100 percent full-time coverage.

“We have some really great adjunct instructors, but SIC has a history of trying its best to maintain full-time instruction in the classroom,” said Vice President Dr. Dana Keating.

In terms of administrative staff, SIC has the smallest administrative staff among its cohorts.

The Board also reviewed five-year enrollment trends.  The statewide average drop in enrollment for the past five-years is 13.5, while SIC’s is 9.8.  The college currently has about 2,000 students enrolled.

“It’s a trend that we will continue to monitor, but one that was not wholly unexpected,” said Dean Chad Flannery.  “In comparison, some colleges have lost significantly more, especially in our region.”

The Board also heard from trustee representatives to the state trustee association, Frank Barbre and Jim Ellis, about the recent discussions regarding Illinois community colleges offering bachelor degrees and how limited it would ultimately be.  They shared that any such initiative would involve all higher education stakeholders as invited by the trustee association from a variety of organizations and would be engaged at a much later date.

In other items, the Board amended the April 28 board meeting to May 5 and approved an Early Retirement Incentive for members of the Southeastern Illinois College Education Association, the Laborers’ International Union of North America, and the United Mine Workers of America.

The Board recognized Gary Allen for his many years as a faculty member and as a board member.  Mr. Allen has served Southeastern Illinois College students and constituents of the college district for 43 years. 

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees of Southeastern Illinois College will be May 5 at 6 p.m.

###