Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Board of Trustees met Oct. 19.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
Minutes of a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges – Frontier Community College, Lincoln Trail College, Olney Central College, Wabash Valley College – Community College District No. 529, Counties of Richland, Clark, Clay, Crawford, Cumberland, Edwards, Hamilton, Jasper, Lawrence, Wabash, Wayne and White, and State of Illinois, held in the Cafeteria, at Lincoln Trail College, , Robinson, Illinois, Tuesday, October 19, 2021.
AGENDA #1 – “Call to Order & Roll Call” – Chairman Gary Carter called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. and directed the Secretary to call the roll.
Roll Call: The Secretary called the roll of members present and the following trustees answered to their names as called and were found to be present:
John D. Brooks, Gary Carter, Brenda K. Culver, Alan Henager, Barbara Shimer, Brady Waldrop. Absent was Sania Borum, student trustee. Trustees absent: Jan Ridgely. There being a quorum present, the Chair declared the Board of Trustees to be in open, public session for the transaction of business.
(Note: In accordance with Board of Trustees Policy No. 100.4, the student trustee shall have an advisory vote, to be recorded in the Board Minutes. The advisory vote may not be counted in declaring a motion to have passed or failed.)
Also present at this meeting, in addition to trustees:
Ryan Gower, Chancellor.
Jay Edgren, President of Frontier Community College.
Zahi Atallah, President of Lincoln Trail College.
Rodney Ranes, President of Olney Central College.
Matt Fowler, President of Wabash Valley College.
Alex Cline, Director of Information & Communications Technology.
Ryan Hawkins, Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer.
Andrea McDowell, Director of Human Resources.
Renee Smith, Board Secretary.
AGENDA #2 – “Disposition of Minutes” – Open meeting minutes as prepared for the regular meeting held Tuesday, September 21, 2021 were presented for disposition.
Board Action to Approve Minutes: Trustee Henager made a motion to approve minutes of the September 21, 2021 meeting as prepared. Trustee Shimer seconded the motion. The Chair asked trustees in favor of the motion to say “Aye” and those opposed to say “No.” The voice vote was taken, and the Chair declared the “Ayes” have it and the motion carried.
AGENDA #3 – “Recognition of Visitors & Guests” –
#3-A. Visitors & Guests: Visitors & guests present were recognized, including college staff members.
#3-B. IECEA Representative: IECC faculty member Andrew King was recognized. AGENDA #4 – “Public Comment” – None
AGENDA #5 – “Reports” –
#5-A. Report from Trustees: Trustee Shimer reported on the high number of her high school alumni who expressed appreciation for the educational benefits they received at Lincoln Trail College.
#5-B. Report from Chancellor: Chancellor Gower reviewed current issues facing the District, including the impact of restrictions on the District by the Covid 19 Pandemic. He also discussed the enrollment management efforts and Andrea Loll reported on enrollment management progress district wide to date and plans yet to be implemented.
#5-C. Report from Presidents: Reports were presented from each of the colleges. #5-D. Report from Cabinet: None.
AGENDA #6 – “Policy First Readings (and Possible Approval)” – The following revised policies were presented for approval:
Policy 100.36 Sex Offender Registration
BOARD OF TRUSTEES – 100
Sex Offender Registration (100.36)
Date Adopted: August 15, 2017
Revised: October 19, 2021 (Pending Board Approval)
IECC is dedicated to ensuring the safety of its students and employees in compliance with federal law, the Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act, and state law, Tthe Illinois Sex Offender Registration Act, 730 ILCS 150/3, which requires students and employees sex offenders or sexual predators to register, within three days, at the College or University in which they attend or are employed. The purpose of this Policy and corresponding procedure is to outline document IECC’s registration requirements for students or employees who are convicted sex offenders or sexual predators, and who are required to register as such, pursuant to these Acts. Due to the presence of minors, IECC has the right to limit access by sex offenders to courses, programs, and areas on campus.
IECC requires convicted students to register as a sex offender/predator in Student Services upon enrollment/admittance to college. Students who neglect to self-identify by the third day of beginning school (or within 3 days of a sexual offense conviction that requires registration) may be subject to immediate expulsion. Any student or Employees who fails to register with Human Resources within three days of employment, or conviction, as required by the Acts, will be subject to dismissal from employment.
The Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act also requires institutions of higher education to issue a statement advising the campus community where to obtain law enforcement agency information provided by a state concerning registered sex offenders. IECC complies by providing a link to this information in the academic catalog and on the iecc.edu website.
Policy 500.8 Student Conduct
STUDENT - 500
Policy on Student Conduct Policy (500.8)
Date Adopted: December 19, 1989
Revised: February 21, 2006
Revised: October 19, 2021 (Pending Board Approval)
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges is committed to the personal growth, integrity, freedom of civility, respect, compassion, health, and safety of its students, employees, and community. To accomplish this commitment, IECC is dedicated to providing an environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and harmful behavior that hinders students, employees, or community members from pursuing IECC education or services. IECC has established the Student Code of Conduct (SCC) to communicate its expectations of students and to ensure a fair process for determining responsibility and appropriate sanctions when a student’s behavior deviates from those expectations. IECC sanctions are independent of other sanctions that may be imposed by other agencies as a result of civil or criminal prosecution.
Students, through the act of registration at Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, obligate themselves to obey all rules and regulations published in the college catalog, program student handbooks, and/or on the website.
Policy 100.15 Tobacco/Smoke Free Campus
BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 100
Tobacco-free/Smoke-free Campus Policy (100.15)
Date Adopted: December 17, 1996
Revised: October 15, 2013
Revised: September 16, 2014
Revised: June 16, 2015
Revised: July 17, 2018
Revised: October 19, 2021 (Pending Board Approval)
The Board of Trustees of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges recognizes the importance of providing a healthy environment for students, staff, and the general public in compliance with the Illinois Smoke Free Campus Act (Public Act 98-0985). In addition to smoking, the District further extends the prohibition to include tobacco products and the littering of tobacco product remains or any other related tobacco waste product on District property.
As of July 1, 2015, smoking and the use of tobacco products is prohibited on all IECC property, both indoors and outdoors, with the only exception being persons in non-District owned or leased vehicles.
This policy applies to any individual on IECC property, including but not limited to students, faculty, staff, contractors, subcontractors, volunteers, members of the public, business invitees, and visitors to the college. This policy is applicable twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week and will be communicated to all through conspicuous signage. Maps depicting the locations where smoking and tobacco use are prohibited will be posted on the IECC website. Students in violation of this policy shall be subject to the sanctions described in the Student Code of Conduct; all others Persons who purposely violate this policy shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
Definitions
“Smoking” means (1) lighting or burning any type of matter or substance that contains tobacco, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, pipes, beedies, kreteks, water pipes, bongs, and hookahs; (2) lighting or burning of non-tobacco plants or marijuana (including medical marijuana); and (3) using electronic cigarettes, electronic vaporizing devices, personal vaporizers, or electronic nicotine delivery systems, or any electronic inhaler that is meant to simulate and substitute for tobacco smoking.
“Tobacco Products” means all forms of tobacco, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, smokeless tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco, or any other similar tobacco product.
“IECC Property” means any property owned, leased, occupied, operated or otherwise controlled by Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, including but not limited to vehicles, academic and auxiliary buildings, entrances to buildings, classrooms, laboratories, residence halls, elevators, stairwells, restrooms, roofs, meeting rooms, hallways, lobbies, conference facilities, athletic complexes, exterior open spaces, lots, driveways, loading docks, sidewalks, and walkways, and as further set forth on the Tobacco-Free Campus Map for each college.
Policy 500.20 Academic Standing
STUDENT – 500
Academic Requirements Standing Policy (500.20)
Date Adopted: October 20, 1998
Revised: December 13, 2005
Revised: March 15, 2016
Revised: XXXXXXX, 2021 (Pending Board Approval)
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges is committed to the academic success of its students. Academic standards have been established and measures taken to ensure satisfactory progress is being made by students toward their chosen program of study and/or declared objectives. A student’s academic progress is reflected in his/her academic standing, which is determined at the close of each grading period. Procedures describe IECC’s academic standing classifications and the basis for the classifications.
Board Action: Trustee John Brooks made a motion to approve the revised policies of agenda items #6A through #6D and Trustee Barbara Shimer made a motion to second the motion and on a recorded roll call vote ordered by the Chair the following trustees voted yea: John Brooks, Gary Carter, Brenda Culver, Al Henager, Barbara Shimer, Brady Waldrop. Student advisory vote: Absent. Trustees voting nay: None. Trustees absent Jan Ridgely. The motion having received 6 yea votes and 0 nay votes, the Chair declared the motion carried.
AGENDA #7 – “Policy Second Readings” – None.
AGENDA #8 – “Staff Recommendations for Approval” – The following staff recommendations were presented for approval.
#8-A. Memorandum of Understanding WVC Small World and WADI: Chancellor Gower presented an agreement between Illinois Eastern Community Colleges/Wabash Valley College Small World Child Care Center and Wabash Area Development Incorporated ‘s (WADI) Head Start program. The agreement is listed in full in the board agenda.
Board Action: Trustee Al Henager made a motion to approve the Memorandum of Understanding between IECC/WVC and WADI as recommended. Trustee Brady Waldrop seconded the motion and on a recorded roll call vote ordered by the Chair the following trustees voted yea: John Brooks, Gary Carter, Brenda Culver, Al Henager, Barbara Shimer, Brady Waldrop. Student advisory vote: Absent. Trustees voting nay: None. Trustees absent: Jan Ridgely. The motion having received 6 yea votes and 0 nay votes, the Chair declared the motion carried.
#8-B. 403(b) Plan Amendment 2021: CFO Ryan Hawkins informed the Board that employees participating in the 403(b) Plan now have the opportunity to withdraw penalty free funds for expenses related to the birth of a child and the cost of adoption. CFO Hawkins recommended this amendment to the current 403(b) Plan that will allow that qualified withdrawal.
Board Action: Trustee Barbara Shimer made a motion to approve the 403(b) Plan amendment to allow withdrawal of plan funds for expenses related to the birth of a child and adoption. Trustee Brenda Culver seconded the motion and on a recorded roll call vote ordered by the Chair the following trustees voted yea: John Brooks, Gary Carter, Brenda Culver, Al Henager, Barbara Shimer, Brady Waldrop. Student advisory vote: Absent. Trustees voting nay: None. Trustees absent: Jan Ridgely. The motion having received 6 yea votes and 0 nay votes, the Chair declared the motion carried.
#8-C. Resolution Establishing Tax Levy Hearing: CFO Ryan Hawkins reviewed the resolution establishing a tax levy hearing. The Chancellor recommended approval of the following resolution as outlined by CFO Hawkins and to establish a tax levy hearing.
https://www.iecc.edu/board
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