SIC Board Approves Agreements with Carmi and RLC

The Southeastern Illinois College Board of Trustees held a retreat prior to its 6:30 p.m. meeting in the Ella Elizabeth Hise Museum of Regional Art to discuss its self-evaluation and take a tour of the Hearn Outdoor Education Complex’s newest programs and services. At the following meeting, the board approved some intergovernmental agreements, revisions to the risk management plan, and ionizers for HVAC systems, as well as discussing other issues.

The board approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Carmi for use of tax increment financing revenues to help with the preparation of the new Career and Technical Education Complex at Carmi to serve White County even more.

“The relationship SIC has with Carmi and all of White County will be greatly enhanced by this new complex,” said Dr. Jonah Rice, President.

“Vital job training and educational opportunities will grow immensely at this new facility,” said SIC Vice Chairman Dr. Frank Barbre.

The board also approved the intergovernmental agreement with Rend Lake College to strengthen their already strong alliance of services to students. As previously reported, the two colleges already share programs and courses such as history, sociology, math, physics, massage therapy, and agriculture. The new 10-year agreement ensures more formal and regular communications, required meetings including a joint meeting of both boards once a year, and a five-year plan to align academics and services to make future sharing easier.

The board approved revisions to the Risk Management Plan and Program to continue to keep SIC prepared for a multitude of potential risks.

Additionally, the board approved the use of federal safety funds for the purchase of new ionizers for all HVAC systems on campus.

“These devices help kill viruses and bacteria and represent the latest in clean air technology,” said SIC Trustee and local banker Debbie Hughes. “The federal funds allow us to make these upgrades to help keep SIC students and staff safer from all kinds of germs.”

The board also heard updates on the college’s ACEN accreditation. Director Amy Murphy informed the board the program is very strong and the state regulatory test scores are again one of the best in the state.

“We are so proud of our nursing program and the vital need it fills in our local hospitals and nursing homes,” said SIC Trustee David Dennison. “It’s great to hear such good work about this stellar program, one of the best south of I80.”

Dr. Barbre reported on legislative updates from the Illinois Trustees Association and the American Association of Community College Trustees.

“Legislators are working on a number of items that will affect community colleges, and we always desire them to protect local control,” said Barbre.

Dr. Rice updated the board on the new federal matching program for the college’s endowment drive. “The program has begun in earnest and we already have two new falcon society members named this month, one paid in full and the other over the 10-year period. We are so excited.”

Falcon Society members pledge to pay $1,000 per year or $84 per month for 10 years for a total of $10,000. They receive benefits for their giving such as theatre tickets, special parking privileges, discounts on bookstore merchandise, an invitation to a special donor appreciation event, etc. All the donations help fund scholarships and student support.

In personnel, the board approved multiple jobs for the Title III Grant, a shared grant writer position with Rend Lake College, and approved revisions to the CEO’s contract including modest raises. The board also hired Joseph Pond as a full-time truck driving instructor, Erik Wolf as full time assistant to the director of environmental services, Kimberly Hambleton as the full-time administrative assistant to the dean of institutional effectiveness, and approved multiple adjunct instructors for spring.

The next meeting of the board will be Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m. in the Rodney J. Brenner Board Room on the SIC Harrisburg campus. More information about SIC can be found at www.sic.edu.

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