Southeastern Illinois College Board of Trustees April Meeting

The Southeastern Illinois College Board of Trustees held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 16, in the Rodney J. Brenner Board Room at SIC in Harrisburg. Members present were: Gary Allen, Dr. Frank Barbre, Jim Ellis, Joanna Lane, Richard Morgan, Dr. Pat York, Chuck Hearn, and student trustee, Courtney Bunting of Carmi.

The board heard some good news regarding collegiate teams.  The SIC Shotgun team once again claimed national recognition as the second place team in their division at the national clay target championship in San Antonio.  Also, the SIC archery men won the top three slots at their latest 3D bow hunter invitational in Greenfield, Tenn.

“Our students are thriving in success and our teams and coaches are giving 110 percent,” said Dr. Jonah Rice, SIC president.  “We’re also anxiously awaiting word on how our speech team is faring at their national tournament this week in California.”

In more good news, Southeastern learned it has been awarded a “Bridging the Gap” grant.  The funds will be used to work with high school English and mathematics instructors to continue work on the College to Career Standards.

This grant supports Southeastern’s goal to continue to increase its high state rankings in completion and student success.

Enrollment reports demonstrate strong retention of the spring increase.  This increased enrollment counters the state trend this year.

Officials say part of that increase can be attributed to SIC having one of the lowest tuition rates in the state and region as well as the highest full-time teacher-to-student classroom ratio in the region.

“That ratio is one of the new non-financial indicators by which we are evaluated,” said Dr. Dana Keating, vice president for academic and student affairs.

As the college continues to deal with continuing state revenue loss and the ever-growing problem of grossly delayed state payments, sustainability plans continue.  This month the board of trustees approved the sunset or close of four low enrollment academic programs and one administrative reduction in force.

Officials say continued restructuring efforts based on new and emerging models for cost savings have been researched and have been applied over the years as necessary. 

All departments have been asked to reduce expenses by five percent for the next fiscal year, beginning July 1.

College officials say they continue to practice a conservative fiscal philosophy to maintain quality classroom education and student services.

Events

SIC Art presents a free year-end student art exhibition and reception on April 26 at 6 p.m. in the George T. Dennis Visual & Performing Arts Center Gallery.

SIC Theatre presents Fiddler on the Roof April 26-27 at 7 p.m. and April. 28 at 2 p.m.  Tickets are $6 for students, staff and seniors, $8 general admission. Contact boxoffice@sic.edu or 252-5400, ext. 2486.

Southeastern Illinois College will hold its annual Honors Night on Thursday, May 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the theatre to present student awards and scholarships.

SIC Music Department will hold its annual free Spring Concert on May 5 at 2 p.m. in the theatre.  The Community Chorus, directed by Tim Green, will perform Spirituals – Cries of Faith, Hope and Freedom. 

The pinning ceremony for SIC nursing students will be held at 4 p.m., Friday, May 10 in SIC’s Joseph Deaton Gymnasium prior to graduation. There will be a reception immediately following in the Student Center for family and friends.

Commencement exercises will be held Friday, May 10, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the gym.  The 2013 distinguished alumnus, Dr. Toby Brooks, assistant professor at the Texas Tech University Health Science Center in Lubbock, will be the keynote speaker.  A reception will follow in the Harry L. Crisp Student Center.

Personnel

Brent Maguire of Fairfield was hired by the board as the new grant-funded criminal justice online program developer.

New adjunct faculty approved by the board include Ramona Barger and Danny Fasolo.

The board accepted several resignations:  Barbara Keller, nursing instructor; Robin Russell, full-time Online Practical Nursing instructor; and Carleen Sanderson, part-time clerk for the Mary Jo Oldham Center for Child Study.

The next board meeting will be May 2 at 6 p.m. in the Rodney J. Brenner Board Room at SIC.

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