History of Lake Land College
Data Book
- Salute
- About Lake Land College
- Evolution of the District
- District Population
- District Enrollment
- Evolution of the Campus
- I-9 Tuition and Fees
- Operating Budgets
1960-1969
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JULY 1, 1965– Idea of a junior college is first discussed: At a regular meeting of the Eastern Illinois Area of Special Education (EIASE) – an organization formed in 1961 that was comprised of 33 local school districts’ superintendents- the idea of a junior college was first discussed. |
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JULY 15, 1965– The Public Junior College Act passed by the Illinois General Assembly: Recognizing the need for affordable higher education, occupational and technical training, and adult retraining opportunities, this key legislation is passed in Illinois. |
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SEPT. 23, 1965– Clem Phipps named chairman of the Eastern Illinois Area Junior College Steering Committee: A local businessman and University of Illinois graduate, Clem Phipps believed that junior colleges were the single most important thing to happen to education in a decade. As chairman, Phipps identified counties interested in being part of the Lake Land College district, a possible location of the campus, and rallying public support for the school.
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| JAN. 12, 1966– Eastern Illinois Area Junior College Steering Committee presents results of a public opinion survey and produces a resolution to create a junior college in the district: The resounding support for the idea of a junior college in the area compelled Virgil H. Judge and others to begin immediately drafting a formal resolution to bring a school to the area. |
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SEPT. 24, 1966– Referendum vote creating Lake Land College district passes: Residents in thirteen school districts approved the creation of a junior college in the East Central Illinois area. Video – Referendum vote creating Lake Land College district passes |
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NOV. 22, 1966– First Board of Trustees members elected to office: The seven candidates elected were Arthur Culumber (Tower Hill), Floyd Curl (Neoga), Robert Johnston (Shelbyville), Dr. LE McNeil (Toledo), Thomas Nolan (Oakland), Clem Phipps (Mattoon), and Edward Resch (Casey). A week later, at the group’s first meeting, Clemm Phipps and Floyd Curl were elected board chairman and secretary, respectively. |
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JAN. 9, 1967– Virgil H. Judge named college’s first president: Prior to Lake Land College, Judge had been a teacher, principal, and superintendent; president of various professional organizations, including the Illinois Association of County Superintendent of Schools and the Illinois Association of School Administrators and chairman of the EIASE.
Video – Virgil H. Judge is named president of Lake Land College |
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JAN. 16, 1967– First administrators hired at Lake Land College |
| FEB. 1, 1967– College’s first administrators, including staff and service personnel, are hired: Robert Webb, superintendent of the Shelbyville school system, was named Vice President. The Dean of Arts and Sciences was Thomas Deem, and Dale Roberts was named as the college’s Dean of Vocational-Technical Education. |
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| FEB. 2, 1967– Community organizers officially name school: At a meeting at the Eastern Illinois Junior College, the board unanimously named the school “Lake Land College.” | ||||
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APR. 1, 1967– College’s first faculty interviewed and hired: Lake Land College hired a total of 24 full-time faculty members to instruct the first students at the college. The first ever faculty faced many unique challenges and opportunities, including the creation of course outlines, selecting and securing textbooks, and the purchase of necessary equipment.
Video – College’s first faculty interviewed and hired
MAY 1, 1967– Richard Nichols of Cumberland High School is the first student to enroll at Lake Land College: With his Cumberland High School guidance counselor on hand, Nichols accepted in writing President Judge’s invitation to enroll at Lake Land. Nichols, like so many of the students who enrolled those first few years, was a vocational student seeking an Associate’s in Applied Sciences. |
| JUNE 30, 1967– President’s First Annual Report released: Documenting the school’s first-year achievements and outlining ten important long/short range goals were a few of the important sections in President Judge’s report. It also summarized the legislation that made the formation of junior colleges in the state possible, as well as the possibility of other communities being annexed into the LLC district. Video – President’s First Annual Report |
| AUG. 28, 1967– College’s Christian Center creates school’s first controversy: After the board formally announced college support for a College Christian Center—in the form of chairs, tables, and other equipment when necessary—some residents and newspaper outlets were concerned that the move was possibly unconstitutional, violating the separation of church and state. Described as a “blunder” by the Decatur-Herald and Review, the administration and members of the Board assured citizens that no tax money would be spent on the project, and that students and local churches interested in supporting the center would be required to raise funds to pay for it. Phipps stated that it was not officially. |
| SEPT. 3, 1967– Parent-student assembly occurs at Mattoon’s National Guard Armory: This convocation served as Lake Land College’s first official college event and President Virgil H. Judge unveiled the athletic teams’ name, the “Lakers,” as well as the school’s colors. The board of trustees and the upcoming bond referendum was also presented. |
SEPT. 6, 1967– Lake Land College opens its doors to the first class of students: Classes begin in short-term buildings and 629 students are enrolled for classes in Lake Land College’s first semester.                 Video – Classes begin |
OCT. 1, 1967– First Student newspaper published: Originally named “Lake Land Press,” Lake Land College’s first newspaper publication included a President’s Column, a story about the school’s first-ever social event, and information for young men concerned with the draft. Steve Daughtry served as the Press’ editor and Joan Raymer and Clifton DeBates served as advisors.        Video – First student newspaper published |
OCT. 10, 1967– Location for permanent campus announced: The Lake Land College Board chose to place Lake Land’s campus three miles south of Mattoon after considering a total of eleven locations.                   Video – Location for permanent campus |
| NOV. 12, 1967– Formal dedication of Lake Land College takes place: In the Mattoon Armory, representatives from Eastern Illinois University, the University of Illinois, and the State of Illinois’ Vocational and Rehabilitation Department congratulated the administration, faculty, and staff on their work at bringing a college to the area. Robert Johnston was the master of ceremonies, while the formal dedications were given by Board Chairman Clem Phipps and President Virgil Judge. |
NOV. 28, 1967– Lake Land College basketball team plays their first game: The first-ever Lake Land College sporting event was played at the Central Junior High School gym in Mattoon. The first game was a victory- HOORAY!- and the Lakers won 86-58 against Chanute AFB. Head Coach Jim Dudley, who also served as the school’s first Athletic Director, led the team to a 20-1 record during the first season, including an undefeated streak of 20 games and a game with a nearly 100-point margin of victory.                       Video – Former basketball coach Jim Dudley |
| DEC. 2, 1967– District voters approve building referendum: Knowing that the provisions of the Community College Act required a junior college district generate 25% of the funds needed to pay for constructing permanent buildings, the board asked voters to approve a $3,910,000 bond issue. This figure reflected the college’s master plan, produced by two different architectural firms: John Shaver and Company from Salina, Kansas, and Philips, Swager, and Associates of Peoria, Illinois. Using projection figures to 1987, the firms’ plan determined 312,500 gross square feet would be required to adequately serve the educational needs of current and future Lake Land students. Video – Building referendum approved |
MAR. 28, 1968– North Central Association grants Correspondent Status on the school: After earning Class I junior college status by the state in July 1967 and receiving approval from the Office of the Superintendent in August of the same year, faculty, staff, and administrators initiated the important accreditation process. Key to securing state and federal funds for construction and classroom equipment, as well as satisfying standards at the six directional universities in the state, the Correspondent Status was imperative to beginning the four-year process towards full accreditation.           Video – Correspondent status granted |
AUG. 18, 1968– First Commencement held at Mattoon’s First Baptist Church: Seventy-nine graduates, mostly in the practical nursing and associate of science areas, earned the first degrees bestowed by the college. Illinois Senator Paul Simon gave the commencement address, followed by a reception for graduates and their families immediately after the ceremony.                         |
MAR. 23, 1969– Ground-breaking for First Phase of the Campus Master Plan: The ground-breaking ceremony formally marked the beginning of construction on four campus buildings: the Northwest and Northeast classrooms, the library, and the power house.                         |
APR. 1, 1969- First Lake Land College baseball game played: Although the team lost a close game by the score of 3-2 to the Lynxes of Lincoln, it is important because of the “firsts” it included: the first base hit by a Laker (a single by right fielder Kerry Atwood from Decatur); the first strikeout by a Laker pitcher (Warren Schmidgall from Armington); and the first game coached by eventual hall-of-famer Gene Creek. The team won its second contest of the season 7-6, and finished the season a respectable 15-13.         Video – Coach Gene Creek |
1970-1979
APR. 13, 1970– Tenure policy adopted by the LLC Board.: The policy governing tenure followed a year of committee work that examined how best to evaluate student performance. Using supervisory-, self-, and student-evaluations, the approach emphasized the value of reflection on teaching methods as a way to improve students retention of information.  Video – Tenure policy adopted |
SEPT. 23, 1970– Lake Land College Foundation is organized: After receiving a certificate of incorporation from Illinois’s Secretary of State, 40 people from across the district met to elect foundation officers and establish an active organization. Mrs. James Honnold was elected the Foundation’s first president and the cabinet consisted of Tim Helton, Dean of Business Affairs, and Dr. Webb.      |
MAR. 11, 1971– Ribbon cutting ceremony for Phase I: There were nearly 100 people at the official opening of the permanent campus to students. The circular buildings, which Board Chairman Clem Phipps described as “an innovation in educational institutions,” would soon welcome over 350 individuals and groups excited to tour the new campus, most notably the Learning Resource Center.         |
MAR. 25, 1971– Lake Land College Alumni Association organized: The Alumni Association’s main objectives included maintaining connections to the faculty, staff, and administration after graduation. Lake Land College was one of the first community colleges in the state of Illinois to have an Alumni Association and the first president was Bob Logsdon of Mattoon.       |
SEPT. 12, 1971– Phase I building dedication in Virgil H. Judge’s honor: On a warm Sunday afternoon, almost 2,000 people attended a ceremony officially opening the college’s library. The Virgil H. Judge Learning Resource Center was named in honor of the then current president, who was instrumental in bringing a community college to the area. Those attending the event toured the new building, listened to a planned program by community leaders, and met members of the Lake Land College staff.   |
SEPT. 1, 1972– Virgil H. Judge formally retires and Dr. Robert Webb is named President-elect: After five years as Lake Land College’s first president, Virgil H. Judge retires. Judge’s leadership had been instrumental in the creation of the school and its focus on vocational education. At the time of appointment, Dr. Webb made it a priority to develop challenging academic programs, a master building plan, and careful preparation for an upcoming accreditation visit.  |
MAR. 30, 1973– College granted full accreditation status: In a decision that was described as “landmark” by college publications, the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools granted Lake Land College full accreditation status. Dr. Webb credited all members of the college for assisting the approval.           Video – Granted full accreditation status |
APR. 9, 1973– Lake Land College declares “Perry Hines Day” at the school: Perry Hines was Lake Land College’s first basketball player ever to be named to the NJCAA’s All-American team. Hines held numerous records at Lake Land College, including the all-time scoring title of 1,534 points. Dr. Webb declared April 9 as “Perry Hines” day and presented a plaque to Hines during a ceremony at a regularly scheduled Board of Trustees meeting.     Video – Perry Hines Day |
MAY 1, 1973– Nature trail being developed: Spearheaded by faculty members Denny Gathman and Dr. Donald Garren, a nature trail that surrounds the college is being planned. It begins with a plaque listing the names of people who donated resources, money, or time to the trail, which has various markers where visitors can stop to read about the different native trees and vegetation. Although never built, “a small rustic amphitheatre” was planned for the trail that faculty from all disciplines could use for their classes.                 |
SEPT. 10, 1973– John Turner named first student trustee to the Lake Land College Board of Trustees: A Marshall, Illinois native, Turner won an election that included eight other candidates. Turner was also a member of the Student Senate and Ecology Club, as well as President of the Pre-Professional Club.   |
APR. 19, 1974– Clem Phipps retires from LLC Board: A special program was held in Phipps’ honor, which included speeches from President Webb and former President Judge, the ICCTA’s Executive Secretary L.H. Horton, Jr., and President of the LLCFA. After serving on the Board since its inception—most notably as a member of the EIASE’s steering committee—Phipps decided to step down. Phipps, who had been Chairman of the Board for five years, said that his service to LLC had “been the most interesting and rewarding experience” of his life.                           |
SEPT. 7, 1974– Phase II building dedication: The dedication for the Phase II building began with the playing of the National Anthem, was highlighted by a keynote address by Illinois Governor Daniel Walker, and concluded with a benediction by Father W. Spriggs. The college officially opened three new buildings including the Health and Activity Center (aka, the Field House), the Vocational Technical Building, and the Northwest Classroom Building.                             |
MAR. 18, 1975– Lake Land College men’s basketball team wins first-ever Illinois state title: In a win over Belleville junior college at the State Regional tournament, the Lakers secured their first state title. The Lakers finished the season with an impressive 30-3 record.                   Video – Basketball team wins 1st ever Illinois state title |
APR. 12, 1975– Mary Hill Dobbs, first woman Board Member, is elected to first term: A longtime resident of Cumberland County, social worker, and graduate of Eastern Illinois University, Dobbs was an outspoken and well-respected member of the Board. She served as Chairperson of the school’s Board and of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association.         Video – Mary Hills Dobbs was elected the first female board member |
July 1, 1976-Leland Glazebrook named to first term on Board of Trustees (July 1, 1976): A Sullivan resident who was known in the area for his ties to education (he first served on the school board for the Fisher School system) and his farm radio programs (first with WLBH and eventually the Illinois Corn-Soybean Network, which he helped organize), Glazebrook would eventually serve on the LLC Board for over three decades. In that time, he has served as its Secretary and Chairman, as well as received countless awards at the state level. |
| JULY 26, 1976– Leland Glazebrook named to first term on Board of Trustees: Glazebrook was a Sullivan resident who was known in the area for his ties to education and his farm radio programs. Glazebrook would eventually serve on the Lake Land College Board for over three decades. and in that time, he served as its Secretary and Chairman. |
| SEPT. 8, 1976– Twenty-five thousandth student enrolls at Lake Land College: An Effingham High School graduate with a medical technology major, Julie Barton became Lake Land College’s 25,000th student to enroll at the school. President Dr. Webb presented her with a plaque while she was in the registration line. The college enrolled 3,980 students this semester with the most notable increase of classes in the vocational-technical programs. |
SEPT. 28, 1976– Two college referendum proposals turned down by voters: By a nearly 2 to 1 margin, voters in the district defeated two propositions meant to increase funds for classroom construction and vocational-technical equipment among other things. The reasons for the bond issue and tax increases were based on inflation and a 16% drop in funding from the state, according to then Board of Trustees chairman Thomas Donnell from Mattoon.                           |
NOV. 13, 1977– New college center dedication: Lake Land College adds 28,000 square feet to Lake Land College’s campus. The new College Center included a theater, cafeteria, student union, and offices for administrators.                                      |
DEC. 4, 1977– Virgil H. Judge, LLC’s first president, died: A few months after the 10th anniversary of the college’s opening, its first president died unexpectedly. Judge’s educational career spanned nearly five decades. Condolences and tributes came from numerous sources: The Journal Gazette, for instance, praised him for guiding “the college through [its] difficult formative years,” while Board of Trustee member Bob Johnston believed “[h]is hand on the helm of the ship of Lake Land College meant strength and courage to us all . . .”       |
SEPT. 7, 1978– Honors program established at Lake Land College: The new program, supervised by chemistry instructor Joe Hanley, initially accepted about 20 students. The college worked strategically to set aside scholarship opportunities for future honors students who were in the top ten percent of their graduating class or earned a certain score on the ACT test as well. |
DEC. 15, 1979– Referendum passes: A special election called by the Board of Trustees resulted in a 15.5 cent tax rate that went into the school’s general educational fund. The election came after a recommendation was made by a Board-appointed task force made up of faculty, administrators, students, and staff. The college was facing a financial crisis, a major concern that had been earlier outlined by a North Central Association report, which stated that “current and projected incomes of the college” were “endangered unless additional income is uncovered.” The referendum passed with 4,339 “yes” votes and only 1,255 “no” votes.                       |
1980-1989
JAN. 14, 1980– Lake Land College Center for Business and Industry is established through funding from the college and local businesses.                      |
DEC. 12, 1980– Dunker Duck, Lake Land College’s unofficial mascot, makes his debut: At the beginning of that year’s Laker Classic Basketball Tournament, Dunker Duck (a.k.a. Tim Zahrn, a Civil Engineering student), sprang from a cardboard box adorned with Christmas decorations at half court, thus introducing the College’s new mascot to fans. Dunker Duck, who was voted on by students in a survey organized by cheerleader sponsor Melinda Gill, beat out a “Popeye-like” sailor, and was designed by an art student who donated his illustrations to the school. The “dunk” part of his name was coined by Wally Taylor, Division Chairperson of the English Department, since all the players on the men’s team were able to easily dunk the ball during games. During the season, Dunker Duck was used in a variety of ways, including as a goodwill ambassador who visited local schools and nursing homes. The name behind the costume was a secret throughout the entire basketball season, however, until that year’s annual athletic banquet, when his true identity was unveiled.       |
NOV. 29, 1981– Founders’ Day celebrates the college’s 15 years of service.            |
NOV. 18, 1982– The Laker men’s basketball team welcomes a new coach, Wayne Lockett, who became affectionately known as “Digger.” Lockett served the longest term of any coach before him.                       |
MAY 23, 1983– LLC tennis team places 11th at NJCAA Men’s National Tennis Tournament: The team’s average GPA was 3.65, and many of the student’s course work was in the sciences.              |
NOV. 14, 1983– Dr. Robert Webb informs BOT of his intent to retire: After 12 years as LLC’s 2nd president, Dr. Webb announced his resignation to not only take advantage of the school system’s early retirement program, but also pursue other personal and professional interests, including a run as the Democratic nominee for State Representative in the 106th District. August 31, 1984 was his official date of resignation, but he planned to leave before that by using accumulated sick leave and vacation days, as well as making a smoother transition for the incoming president, who was yet to be named. Before coming to Lake Land, Dr. Webb was superintendent of Shelbyville schools, during which time he served on various citizens committees during the College’s formative years. Presiding over the Illinois community college with the lowest operating tax budget despite successful/unsuccessful referendums attempts, Dr. Webb focused on increasing student enrollment and identifying public services and State grant opportunities.                  |
JULY 1, 1984– David Schultz becomes Lake Land College’s 3rd President. Before coming to Lake Land College, Schultz had served as the vice president at Lincoln Land College, the assistant to the president at Muskegan Community College (Michigan), and a high ranking administrator for both Central Michigan University and Michigan State.         |
AUG. 27, 1984– College changes from quarters to semesters: This improved transferability to four-year universities for students, and streamlined financial aid distribution.       |
SEPT. 15, 1984– Consolidated Communications’s holds the 1st Special Olympics Family Festival (SOFF) on College grounds: More than 225 Special Olympians joined over 750 volunteers on this day.  |
NOV. 15, 1984– Partners in Adult Literacy (PAL) program begins: Lake Land College worked with Mattoon Area Adult Education Center on the new academic initiative.    |
NOV. 5, 1985– Tax referendums fail: Citing “one of the lowest total operating rates” in Illinois—LLC ranked 30th out of 39 community colleges—a decreased tax revenue base, and a tax rate that had remained the same since 1979, school officials aggressively sought voter approval for a 12 cent tax increase. The College’s attempt to generate money for its Education Fund and its Operations, Building and Maintenance Fund failed badly: The education fund referendum failed by a vote of 15,358 “against” the increase and 5,137 for it, while the building fund referendum lost with a vote of 15,920 “against” and 4,303 “for.” The College insisted the increases were necessary to prevent limiting enrollment to certain programs, the continued use of obsolete technologies, and the deterioration of outdated buildings.                                          |
AUG. 22, 1986– New College Fitness Center opens: Described as a “super-circuit physical fitness center,” the Field House’s newest edition included two “aerobicycles” and more than 20 pieces of Universal cross-training equipment.        |
SEPT. 22, 1986– Lake Land College Faculty Association and Lake Land College Secretarial Association go on strike: For the first time in the school’s history, a work stoppage occurred at Lake Land, effecting about 3,400 students. On campus classes were cancelled; classes taught by adjuncts at extension centers continued, although efforts by the LLCFA to persuade part-timers to honor the picket lines generally worked. Faculty asserted that the College’s increased student enrollment, as well as its rank of 32 out of the 39 community colleges in the state regarding salaries, required due compensation. The administration’s chief negotiator, Goble Jessup, however, countered that earlier offers (e.g., July) were in line with projected salary increases made by the Board. Contracts for both Associations were ratified on October 23rd, a joint decision made by both unions as a sign of solidarity.                                                            |
MAY 17, 1987– Lake Land College celebrates 20th Anniversary. Hooray!                                 |
JUNE 30, 1987– David Schultz’s nearly three-year term as president officially comes to an end: Announced earlier that year at a Board of Trustees meeting—July 13, 1987—President Schultz said the chance to take advantage of the State’s early retirement program was an important factor in his decision to resign, as was his sense that it was “time for a change” for both Lake Land and himself. During his tenure, the College enjoyed consecutive years of student enrollment growth, a reduction in its deficit, and new, innovative marketing approaches. Bill Rich, Vice President of Academic Services, served as the College’s interim president after Schultz’s departure.      |
OCT 13, 1987– New “No Smoking” Policy Takes Effect: Although the policy—which would allow smoking in designated locations in all campus buildings but prevent it in bathrooms and classrooms—would take some time to fully implement, it was still an attempt by the College to reflect a growing national trend. The decision to implement the change was based on the recommendation of a 14-person task force assigned to investigate the issue and then report its findings to the Board; the committee’s chairperson was Mike Nauta, a full-time instructor from the Social Science Division. |
JULY 1, 1988– Dr. Robert K. Luther is named Lake Land College’s 4th President: Dr. Luther left a long-lasting legacy at Lake Land College that students will feel for decades to come.                    |
JULY 11, 1988– Child Care Lab groundbreaking: Although it was designed to offer students real world experiences in their study of choice—similar to those afforded students in the dental and cosmetology programs—the Child Care Lab was not fully supported by all BOT members. Leland Glazebrook, the Lab’s most vocal opponent, for example, worried that the program was not self-sustainable. On the other hand, Mary Hill Dobbs believed it was an academic program worth the investment, and felt it could be “cost effective” if enough children were enrolled. Construction cost for the building was estimated to be $138,000; a formal dedication ceremony for the Lab occurred later that year (October 10), with its doors officially opening a week later on October 17th.                         |
JAN. 12, 1989– The new Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program is introduced: The program was coordinated and directed by Marilyn Thompson, and possessed more rigorous admission standards than other college curriculum.    |
FEB. 14, 1989– The Strategic Planning Committee is formed: Although “Master Plans” that examined future issues of concern to the College—like facility, site, and staffing challenges—had been produced since the College’s inception, the Strategic Planning Committee formalized this process by establishing a standing college committee. Designed by Dr. Luther as a means “to move forward in the establishment of priorities for the college,” the committee, ideally, met this mission by hearing ideas and suggestions from all community and college constituents, like the need to reeducate and retrain citizens in the district, which was one of the committee’s first main objectives.  |
APR. 10, 1989– Lake Land College welcomes first men’s basketball coach, Jim Dudley, back to coach the team. Go Lakers!          |
1990-1999
SEPT. 21, 1990– Paris Nursing Education Center opens: The Paris Nursing Center had been in three different buildings at one point, and the new center allowed students to earn their Associates Degree in Nursing in one singular place.                |
APR. 2, 1991– Tax referendum fails: The College asked voters to approve a 17 cent tax rate increase (12.5 cents for the Educational Purposes Fund and 4.5 cents for the Operation and Maintenance of Facilities Purposes Fund). The proposed increase would not have actually increased a person’s tax rate, however, because 18.66 cents of the then current tax levy was set to end in 1991, a fact the College underscored when the issue was raised by concerned voters. The campaign’s unrelenting efforts—which included flyers, mailings, phone banks, newspaper ads, informational speeches, and a “Referendum Review” newsletter paid for by Citizens for Lake Land College Tax Transfer Referendum Committee, all of which were designed by Public Relation’s 100-plus page manual titled Tax Referendum Action Plan—ultimately failed by a 5-3 margin due to a grass roots movement organized only a few weeks before the election.                                                           |
NOV. 5, 1991– Tax referendum fails: The late fall tax referendum that requested a 12.5 cent increase to the College’s Educational Purposes Fund was soundly defeated. Like the tax referendum that was defeated earlier that year in April, a continued dislike for any type of tax increase by people in the LLC district made it clear to school officials that other revenue sources and budget cuts would have to be identified, despite the vocal support of local educators, LLC students, and newspaper editors who favored the increase.                                 |
SEPT. 6, 1992– Lake Land College celebrates 25th Anniversary.                   |
FEB. 16, 1993– John Deere and Lake Land College form a partnership: Lake Land began offering an Ag. Tech. Program meant to prepare graduates to become future John Deere dealership technicians, as well as retrain current dealership employees.                 |
OCT. 26, 1993– Lake Land College Kluthe Center ground-breaking: The Kluthe Center was the school’s first permanent extension center, and the ground-breaking ceremony was an exciting event for the entire Effingham community. The building included ten classrooms, several distance learning labs, and three computer labs.            |
APR. 20, 1994– Illinois Prairie Higher Education Consortium (IPHEC) dedication and ceremony: The creation of the IPHEC was a response to a report completed in 1992 by the Illinois Community College Board’s Task Force on Telecommunication, which examined the need and feasibility of interactive distance learning systems. However, it required the funding and support of many groups, like State officials in Springfield, local K-12 superintendents, community college and four-year university presidents, and area businesses, like Consolidated Communications, which donated $440,000 to the initiative in July of 1993. The idea behind distance learning was simple: accessibility to education for various community constituents. At the dedication ceremony formally unveiling the new network, which took place simultaneously at three other locations (Charleston, Effingham, and Springfield), Dr. Luther, LLC President, served as the Master of Ceremonies, with Ken Beno, TV/Radio Instructor and Distance Learning Coordinator, offering a demonstration to the various honored guests. At the time of the ceremony, LLC was already offering 14 distance learning classes in a variety of disciplines.                             |
OCT. 15, 1994– First group of Student Ambassadors were chosen to serve as official representatives of the college: Student Ambassadors quickly became a meaningful part of Student Services’ effort to recruit and retain students. Student ambassadors were expected to meet standards regarding GPA, interview skills, and written qualifications.     |
AUG. 17 1995– The grand opening of Lake Land College Kluthe Center: An estimated 1,000 students were expected to take classes at the new extension center, and thousands more have utilized the Kluthe Center since that time.               |
| NOV. 18. 1995– Livestock judging team wins national competition: At the North American International Livestock Expo (NAILE) in Louisville, Kentucky, the livestock judging team took home first place for the first time in the organization’s history. Under Jon Althaus, the team set a record for total points earned. |
AUG. 20, 1997– Board accepts around-the-clock Public Safety Department proposal: After hearing a presentation from the director of public safety and facilities planning, Ray Rieck, the Board agreed that hiring a 24-hour, 7-day a week police force was appropriate considering Lake Land was one of the few schools in the state still relying on a part-time, private security force; the college’s continued enrollment growth was also cited as a major reason for the change. The College’s first hires were Randy Ervin and Russell Moore (November 1), officers with a combined 33 years of law enforcement experience. A $300,000 COPS grant, received in 1998, which funded three more full-time public safety officers: Travis Easton, John Hampton, and Chad Smith.     |
APR. 26, 1998– Lake Land Choir performs concert in Luther Student Center Theater: Dr. Nancy Caldwell led the Community Choir in the first concert since 1968. The choir, comprised of students, faculty, staff, and members from the community, performed a variety of music during the first performance and included a special appearance by the Effingham Children’s Chorus.           |
JULY 30, 1998– East Classroom Building ground-breaking ceremony: Overcrowding, continued increase in student enrollment, and need to prepare graduates for jobs were cited as the reasoning behind the first new building in 25 years.                |
MAR. 18, 1999- Dr. William L. Podesta Drive dedication: The road encircling the campus was named in honor of a local citizen who had volunteered a great deal of his time, energy, and resources to Lake Land College throughout his life.                         |
JUNE. 30, 1999- Governor Jim Edgar honored by College: Edgar, who had completed his term earlier that year in January as Illinois’ 38th Governor and who had recently accepted a position with the Institute of Government & Public Affairs at the University of Illinois, was being honored for his support of community colleges in general and Lake Land specifically. After a presentation by Edgar to nearly 100 students about state government and politics, a luncheon followed that included an address by President Luther and a Q and A session between Edgar and invited guests (i.e., local elected officials, LLC Foundation Board of Directors, LLC BOT members, and selected College employees).         |
2000-2009
| OCT 30, 2000- College hires first Master Gardner: Lake Land College hired Curt Devore as the first Master Gardner for the campus and Devore’s work reflected the school’s commitment to the beautification initiative. The campus landscape was shaped as a way to give our students and visitors a welcoming first look and lasting final impression. |
NOV. 5, 2000- East Classroom Building dedicated and opened. Ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opened the one-story building at the front of the campus. The building would be home to the growing nursing program, as well as provide classroom and lab space for art, composition, and science classes.                   |
| 2001– Lake Land College named as the fastest growing community college in Illinois by Illinois Community College Board. |
| 2002– Lake Land College received Illinois Council of Community College Administrator’s Innovation Award for interdisciplinary program combining Ag, GIS, Chemistry, and Civil Engineering Tech. |
| 2003– College received the ICCB Perkins Performance Award for meeting or exceeding core indicators of the Carl Perkins Title III IIC Grant in 2002-the only college and inaugural year, 2003-one of two colleges. |
| 2003– College received the Secondary and Postsecondary Collaboration award from the Illinois State Board of Education recognizing Tech Prep’s exemplary work with high school and college-level students and teachers and is selected by Illinois Community College Board as one of six Illinois Adult Education programs to receive a visit from the Department of Education Federal Review Team. |
| 2004– Awarded the Instructional Technology Council Award for Excellence in Distance Learning Outstanding Technical Support and Service and received the Illinois Online Conference Innovation Award. |
NOV. 19, 2004– Anti-Bias Education Committee releases its Mission Statement: This specialized committee was formed by Krista Burrell, Lake Land College counselor, in order to educate and promote issues of diversity and acceptance to all members of the Lake Land College community. The committee produced strategic plans, prepared celebrations for various cultures and present diversity training programs.       |
| 2005– College received 10 year re-accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission/North Central Association with no recommended commission follow-up or monitor reports, 1995, 2005 and an 8 year re-accreditation from the National League for Nursing with a perfect report including no citations. |
| 2005– Received a zero deficiency audit, the best rating possible, for Public Safety by the Illinois State Police for Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS) compliance B12. |
| 2005– Granted permission by Higher Learning Commission/North Central Association to offer all online degrees and certificates and made a presentation to the AACC board in Washington DC by Mike Rudibaugh relating to using GIS with web based delivery to analyze and display data that is important for community colleges. |
OCT. 4, 2005– East Classroom Building is renamed and rededicated in honor of Burnham E. and Nancy Neal: Burnham Neal donated his business’ corporate office (Neal Tire) in Toledo to the Lake Land College Foundation. His willingness to open up his shop to automotive students after hours as a way for them to get hands on experience on his equipment also spoke to his commitment to the school.             |
OCT. 26, 2005– Southeast Classroom Building renamed and rededicated in honor of Lake Land College’s 2nd President, Dr. Robert Webb: Dr. Webb was recognized for his service to Lake Land College, which included the creation of the Center for Business and Industry, expansion of the district, managing the school’s first set of academic programs, and hiring of Lake Land College’s first faculty members.                          |
| 2006– Recognized all Lake Land College Division Chairs as exemplary leaders and presented an award at the Annual National Chairs conference. |
JUNE 30, 2006– Dr. Robert K. Luther formally retires: Dr. Luther, described by the editorial board of a local newspaper as a “courtly, dedicated, and principled man,” retired after 18 years as LLC’s 4th president. During his nearly two decades as president, the longest tenure of any LLC president, Dr. Luther influenced most, if not all, the decisions that were made during LLC’s time of unprecedented growth and prosperity. A few of the achievements he will be remembered for include: producing operating budgets that were in the black; working closely with officials at the state level to secure funds for the school; overseeing construction and maintenance of many new buildings and landscaping projects; developing relationships with local industries, most noticeably in the creation of the Illinois Employment and Training Center; and supporting the growth and potential of distance learning classes, online courses, and dual credit instruction.      |
JULY 1, 2006– Dr. Bill Thallamer named Lake Land College’s 5th President: Dr. Thallamer brought an energetic, enthusiastic and passionate attitude to Lake Land College after serving as Vice President for Student Services at Odessa College in Texas and the Dean of Student Affairs at Jefferson community College in Alabama.              |
MAY 31, 2007– Dr. Thallemer resigns: The day before, Dr. Thallemer submitted to college representatives a letter of resignation effective May 31, 2007, bringing an end to the shortest term of any previous LLC president. The reason for his departure remains officially unknown, but according to the 30-month contract he and the board of trustees agreed to 11-months earlier, there were four reasons the employment relationship could end: “mutual agreement, discharge for cause, permanent disability, and death.” The agreement between the two sides included a severance package for Dr. Thallemer and a “no sue” clause for the college. Regardless of the reason, Dr. Thallemer’s vocal supporters—including students, staff, faculty members, and members of the community—endorsed him on the several public occasions when his future status was being discussed. After leaving Lake Land College, he became Vice President at Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon in June of 2008.                     |
| 2008– International enrollment reaches largest in Lake Land College history with 91 students from 32 countries. |
| 2008– Ranked in the Top 100 community colleges nationwide awarding the most two year certificates across all disciplines by Department of Education’s National Center for Educational Statistics (2008, 2002) Ranked the Agriculture Business and Production Associate degree program 10th out of the top 50 Ag Programs producing Ag Production and Business Associate by the Department of Education’s National Center for Educational Statistics (2002). |
JAN 1, 2008– Scott Lensink is named Lake Land College’s 6th President: Lensink transitioned into his role as President after serving as Vice President of Academic Services since 2002. Before his administrative duties as a vice president, Lensink taught in the Business Division (1992) where he served, in addition to his teaching duties, as the director of management and business, as well as serving as its Division Chair after the departure of Max Jaeger.          |
| JAN. 8- 2008– New Fitness Center opens: The new Fitness Center was fully-equipped with an aerobics and dance room, areas for stretching, free weight room, and state-of-the-art fitness equipment. The Fitness Center was LLC’s first building to use geothermal technology to heat and cool it, an environmentally-friendly approach that would become the blueprint for future building and renovation projects. |
FEB. 27, 2008– 1st Energy Innovation Conference takes place: The two-day conference was popular with many different groups and included an awards ceremony, public workshops, energy fair, and concurrent sessions.                       |
| 2009– Lake Land College named among the top 100 associate degree and certificate producing colleges in the country by Community College Week. First time in history of college that Lake Land College appeared in four separate lists: 89th place for 2 year certificates for all disciplines, 16th place for top 50 associate degree for multi/interdisciplinary studies, 11th place for top 50 associate degrees for agriculture, ag operations and related sciences, and 23rd place for top 50 associate degree for general sales, merchandising and related marketing operations. |
SEPT. 21, 2009– Open House celebrates the opening of the Western Region Center Addition in Pana: The addition added 75% more space to the pre-existing extension center, and was home to adult learning classes, nursing classes, and vocational courses.     |
SEPT. 30, 2009– West Building Open House: Lake Land College formally opens the doors to the West Building that would become the permanent home for agriculture, cosmetology and technology programs.      |
2010-2019
| 2010- Lake Land College Livestock team had most successful year in college history with 3rd place finish at Houston Stock Show. |
| 2010- Lake Land College student publication Navigator News staff took home six awards at the Spring 2010 Illinois Community College Journalism Association Conference in Elgin and was awarded 4th place in Overall Excellence in the 2 year category at the Associate Collegiate Press national Convention. |
| 2010– Leland Glazebrook was honored by the Illinois Community College Trustees Association with posthumous honorary membership; which is the ICCTA’s highest award. |
| 2010– Lake Land College with its GeoTech partners won a special achievement in GIS (SAG) award at ESRI International GIS Conference in San Diego. |
| 2010– Lake Land College was awarded an Outstanding Service Award by the Army National Guard. |
| 2010– The sophomore Radio-TV Broadcasting majors won 3rd place for the weekly sports show “Laker Live” at the annual Illinois Broadcasters Association Student Silver Dome Awards. |
MAR. 14, 2010– Leland Glazebrook passes away: Born April 21, 1921, Glazebrook—a member of the Board of Trustees for 34 years, the longest tenure of any member in LLC’s history—was present and a part of the most crucial and influential moments in the College’s history, like the growth of educational opportunities for inmates at correctional facilities, strikes, new presidents, tax referendums, shifting revenue sources, the age of distance learning in various forms, the introduction of dozens of new academic programs, and the expansion of agricultural initiatives, to name a few. Despite all these changes, Glazebrook will always be remembered by the administrators and fellow board members he worked closely with as a positive, progressive, approachable and easy-going—yet driven—man who cared deeply for his community and the Lake Land family.                  |
| 2011– Lake Land College ranked 7th among mid-sized colleges in a national survey by the Center for Digital Education based in Sacramento CA for using advanced information technology and also ranked as one of the nations 120 best community colleges by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. |
| 2011– Lake Land College named safest campus in Illinois and 4th safest in the nation. |
| 2012– Lake Land College is again named as one of the nations 120 best community colleges by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program and the Dual Credit Program ranked in top 10 percent in Illinois, according to the Illinois Community College Board. |
| 2013– Dr. Josh Bullock becomes Lake Land College’s 7th President. Dr. Bullock brought more than 20 years of experience in higher education and had most recently he served as the vice president for strategic advancement at Moraine Park Technical College in Fond du Lac, Wis. |
| 2013– New photovoltaics were installed throughout campus as part of the sustainability initiative throughout campus. |
| 2013- Lake Land College launches Career Services Management Software: The new Career Services Management software was implemented to assist students in finding employment as a student and long after they graduate. |
| 2013– Eastern Illinois University opens a service center on Lake Land College campus: In order to assist students with the task of transferring from Lake Land College to a four-year university, Eastern Illinois opens up a service center on campus to make the process more attainable. |
| 2013– Lake Land College volleyball team are regional champions: The Lake Land College Lady Lakers placed second in their division. Go Lakers! |
| 2013– The Net Zero Energy Building (ZEB Hall) opens on campus: ZEB Hall was build to be the most energy efficient building on campus that produces as much energy as it uses. ZEB Hall was to be used as a live laboratory where students could learn about and study the alternative energy systems that work to maintain a carbon neutral building. The building is also home to Human Resources and the Marketing and Public Relations Department. |
| SEPT. 2014– Lake Land College hosted the 30th Annual Special Olympics family festival on campus. |
| 2014– Lake Land College receives state-wide ICCTA Business Partnership Award. |
| 2014– The national online publication CNN Money recognized Lake Land College among the nation’s best 100 community colleges in preparing students for graduation: Lake Land College’s 54 percent success rate also ties the college for 7th place in the state of Illinois. |
| 2014– Lake Land’s Postsecondary Agriculture Student (PAS) organization continued its State and National PAS recognition in 2014 with overall winners in Crops, Horticulture and Sheep teams. |
| 2014– Laker softball team participated in the National Tournament after winning first place in the NJCAA Region 24 Championship. |
| 2014– Interactive Health Solutions presented Lake Land College with the America’s Healthiest Company Award. This was the second year in a row for the College to be honored with this award. |
| 2014– Lake Land College recognized for its innovative uses of technology to achieve first-rate student learning environments by e.Republic’s Center for Digital Education: Lake Land College ranks number seven among mid-sized colleges nationally in the annual Digital Community Colleges Survey conducted by the Center for Digital Education. |
| MAR. 20, 2015– Lake Land College radio station WLKL celebrates its 40th anniversary with a luncheon and open house. |
| 2015– The Medical Coding Specialist Program at Lake Land College has been named number seven in the nation for the top online medical billing and coding certificate programs of 2015 by BestColleges.com. |
| AUG. 2015- Lake Land College introduces new branding on Welcome Day 2015. The branding initiative included a new word mark, a new social logo and a new mascot. |
| DEC. 2015– Lake Land College hosts first “One Stop Community Christmas” on campus in the West Building. |
| 2016– Lake Land was once again recognized in the top ten colleges for technology use in the 2015-16 Digital Community Colleges Survey: The top-ten winning colleges reflect a comprehensive implementation of technology supporting the educational institution’s operations, as well as serving students, faculty and administrators. |
| SEPT. 2016– The newly redesigned Lake Land College website went live! |
| NOV. 2016– The national website Schools.com ranked Lake Land College among the top 10 best community colleges in Illinois: Schools.com named Lake Land sixth in the state. The site highlighted Lake Land’s online class enrollment, affordability, and value of the college’s tuition and fees, including textbook rental. |
| JAN. 2017– Trustee Mike Sullivan has been nominated for the ICCTA Ray Hartstein Trustee Achievement Award: Mr. Sullivan has been a Lake Land College trustee for 30 years–a milestone few college trustees attain. He has served three times as board chairman and has also served on the state-wide ICCTA Legislative Committee for more than 25 years, including two years as chair and one term as ICCTA President. |
| JAN. 2017– Lake Land College is ranked as one of the top 50 associate degree and certificate producers in the nation in Community College Week’s 2016 Top 100 Associate Degree Producers. The college’s Agriculture and Business divisions also rank in the top 20 in the nation, with the Agriculture Division ranking first in the state. Overall, Lake Land College ranks 28th in the nation for one-year certificates. |
| FEB. 3, 2017– Lake Land College welcomed over 400 students from 26 school districts for the Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering competition. |
| MAR. 8, 2017– On March 8, 2017, the Illinois House of Representatives 100th General Assembly adopted House Resolution No. 195 congratulating Lake Land College on its 50th anniversary. |
| MAY 2017– The Lake Land College softball team won the Region 24 championship and won 4th place at the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament. |
| MAY 2017– The 36th annual Johnston Music Festival was held in the Field House: Eighteen junior high and middle schools participated in the festival. This was Dr. Nancy Caldwell 20th year coordinating a successful Johnston Music Festival. |
| SEPT. 2017– Lake Land College celebrated the 50th Anniversary with homecoming events including a concert in the Field House by The Henningsens beginning September 29-Oct.1, 2017. |
| NOV. 2017– Lake Land College has been recognized as one of the top 150 community colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute, making the College eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. |
| MAY 2018– Lake Land College celebrates 50 years of graduates with spring commencement. |
| MAY 2018– Lake Land College announces an eight-year capital construction plan to transform campus locations and enhance students’ experiences and opportunities. |
| AUG. 2018– The Effingham Regional Career Academy, a partnership among Lake Land College, Effingham County schools and the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce, is recognized by Illinois Lieutenant Governor Sanguinetti as one of the Top 20 Shared Service Best Practices in the “Journal of Local Government Shared Service Best Practices.” |
| AUG. 2018- Lake Land College is ranked the fourth best community college in the state of Illinois according to a recent independent study by the financial website WalletHub. The study examined 17 key factors, ranging from cost and finances to educational and career outcomes. The ranking, published August 20, 2018, compares 715 community colleges from across the country, and 40 community colleges in Illinois. |
| AUG. 2018- Lake Land College ranks 20th nationally in WalletHub’s study for educational outcomes. Metrics used when comparing educational outcomes include first-year retention rate, graduation rate, transfer-out rate, credentials (degrees and certificates) awarded per 100 full-time equivalency students, share of full-time faculty, and student-faculty ratio. |
| AUG. 2018- The Allied Health division graduates its first class of the Medical Assisting certificate program in August. Every graduate from the program passes their certification exam. |
| AUG. 2018- The Board and Administration Center opens and the President, Cabinet and their staff move in the week of August 13, 2018. |
| JAN. 2019- The Livestock Team was Reserve Champion at the National Western in Denver, tied for the highest finish ever by a Lake Land team at that contest. Micah Smock from Ohio was High Individual Overall and Jenna Girman from Florida was 10th. |
| FEB. 2019- The Lake Land College Lifelong Learner Award is established and approved. Ms. Annette Lynch of Mattoon is named as the the first recipient. |
| FEB. 2019- The Lake Land College Pacesetter Award is established. Ms. Amanda Tucker is named as the first recipient. |
| FEB. 2019- The Journal Gazette & Times Courier share a fitting tribute to Dr. Tina Stovall’s impactful career at Lake Land College. Dr. Stovall retired February 2019. |
| MAR. 2019- Lake Land College is ranked twelfth in SR Education Groups 2019 Best Online Community Colleges in Illinois. |
| MAY 2019- The Lady Lakers softball team wins the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Region 24 title. |
| July 2019- The organization, Nursing Explorer, ranks Lake Land College’s RN and LPN programs third out of 63 programs in the state of Illinois. https://www.nursingexplorer.com/states/illinois |
| OCT. 2019- Lake Land College was once again recognized by the prestigious Aspen Institute as one of the top 15 percent of community colleges nationwide. |
| NOV. 2019- The Lake Land College Bookstore and the Laker Nest opened their doors within the remodeled Luther Student Center. |
| NOV. 2019- Dr. David Seiler is awarded the Leo Welch Teacher of the Year Award by the Illinois Community College Faculty Association. |
| DEC. 5, 2019- Grand Opening and Re-dedication of the Luther Student Center. |
| DEC. 2019- The online site Real Work Matters names Lake Land’s Medical Billing and Coding program No. 2 in the country. https://www.rwm.org/programs/billing-coding/ |
| DEC. 2019- The online site Real Work Matters lists Lake Land College as the fourth best vocational college in Illinois, with our CAD and Accounting programs in the top 20. https://www.rwm.org/states/illinois-trade-schools/ |
2020-Present
| MARCH – JUNE 2020– Admissions Representatives contacted every senior in our district between March and June to see if they needed help with the intent, registering for classes, sending their transcripts, or anything else. |
| APRIL 2020– Lake Land College Women’s Basketball Head Coach Dave Johnson was awarded NJCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Collegiate Co-Head Coach of the Year. |
| APRIL 2020– President Bullock expressed his sincere appreciation to the entire Lake Land College community for its response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Pandemic Preparedness and Response Task Force began its work on March 5th and through the commitment and student centeredness of our faculty and staff, the College was fully operating in a virtual environment by March 23rd. |
| MAY 2020– As of May 11, 402 students have been awarded emergency CARES Act grants totaling $347,454.48. This represents 24.6% of our eligible students receiving aid thus far. Our appreciation to Paula Carpenter and the financial aid staff for their work in bringing this program to life and assisting our students in need. |
| JUNE 2020– Lake Land College is pleased to announce it will be honoring graduates at the first-ever Lake Land College Virtual Commencement Ceremony on June 18, 2020 at 6 p.m. due to the Covid-19 pandemic. |
| JULY 2020– Return to Campus Plan – ensuring a safe environment for students, faculty, staff and campus visitors due to Covid-19 pandemic. |
| AUGUST 2020– As of August 3, 2020 Lake Land College distributed $823,129.48 in Emergency Financial Aid to 850 students via the CARES Act Funding. The application will be closed until the fall semester begins. |
| AUGUST 2020– Construction is well underway for the new Workforce Development Center on the main campus. We are on target for completion in early 2021. This facility will provide improved access to campus equipment and resources and expand services offered by the Center for Business and Industry. The new building will offer a modern, updated space and new equipment for the Manufacturing Skills Lab and the Commercial Driver’s License Program. It will also provide a home for the Adult Education, Workforce Investment and Opportunity, Pathways Alternative High School and Corrections Education. |
| SEPTEMBER 2020– Congratulations to Molly Yeske and the Medical Assisting Program. For the third year in a row her students had a 100% pass rate on the first attempt at the state test. A perfect 38 of 38 students passed! |
| SEPTEMBER 2020– The Laker Nest Bookstore was one of six college bookstores nationwide highlighted in the 15th annual Store Design Showcase issue of The College Store Magazine. Congratulations to Chris Kramer, Amanda Arena and the entire bookstore staff! |
| OCTOBER 2020– Construction of the beautiful, new Foundation and Alumni Center was completed, with staff moving into the facility in October. This facility offers a versatile, modern meeting space that expands into Alumni Park. |
| OCTOBER 2020– According to data from the National Student Clearinghouse, Lake Land College continues to excel in key areas of student success. As reported in the Strategic Plan Bi-Annual Report released October 2020, the College’s retention rate for first-time, full-time community college students increased by more than 2% and exceeds the national average by 6% when examining data for fall 2014 through fall 2017 cohorts. First-time, full-time degree seekers at Lake Land are completing their degrees at nearly a 2 to 1 ratio when compared to their peers throughout the nation. And, retention and success rates for first-time, part-time Lake Land students increased 16% and 14% respectively. |
| NOVEMBER 2020– The restoration of Neal Hall was complete in November 2020. We restored the impacted areas with polished concrete floors in all sections along with white paint, black trim and all new white ceiling tiles. The entire Neal Hall building will be renovated over the next few years starting as early as this coming summer as part of a stated funded Capital Development Project. |
| FALL 2020– Humanities- Conferences and webinars attended: InstructureCon, the 4th Annual Making Excellent Inclusive Conference at EIU, Turning #MeToo Into Law: Using C190 and National Law Reform to End Gender-Based Violence at Work, and COVID-19: What are the Ethical Issues? I will be attending a Human Rights conference next week, too. On a community note, David and I are supporting 2 domestic abuse families this Christmas by paying for 2 months of rent and heat bills for each family. Students in the Lake Land College Broadcast Communication were recently named winners in the Illinois Broadcasters Association Student Silver Dome Awards. Dylan Smith received 1st place in the Best Radio Longform Journalism Programming category for his entry “COVID-19 and Addiction”. Smith also received 2nd place in that same category for his work titled 2019-2020 Lady Lakers Basketball. Additionally, Smith was awarded 1st place in the category Best Sales Presentation with his entry titled “Tangles Hair Salon”. Smith graduated in the spring with an Associate’s Degree from the Lake Land College Broadcast Communication department and attends Western Illinois University. Chandler Smith, also a 2020 spring graduate, was a finalist in the category of Best Radio Recorded Station Promotion. Library Services- The Library has seen a 211% increase in Cloud Library and Libby ebook checkouts this year! The Library successfully partnered with ISS and the VP for Business Service’s offices to help distribute Chromebooks and Mi-Fi hotspots for students this semester, a project that we hope to see extended into the Spring and even beyond to facilitate technology access for our students. The Library has acquired rights to over 400 additional e-book titles from Oxford University Press, as well as licenses for other online content, that can be used by our faculty to create customizable content for their courses, reducing the reliance on traditional textbooks (benefitting instructors and students, and potentially reducing expenses to the College for purchases of textbooks for the rental library. Social Science Education- The Human Services program is working to provide multiple degree attainment for their students in their seven options. Dr. Dave Seiler will serve as Student Life Coordinator in Spring 2021. M& Science Division– Bambi Jones and Sarah Harley have successfully contacted all district high schools and provided them a pathway to the establishment of Transitional Math. Secured Labster software in order to offer virtual labs during the pandemic. Technology- The Technology Division is assisting with the Solar Car Racing Team. Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association (IAPA) for the 4th year in a row to help out another 3 Civil Engineering Technology students with $2000 scholarships. Which brings the total to $22,000 in scholarship funding has gone to 11 Lake Land College Civil Engineering Technology students in the past 4 years. IAPA plans to award at least 2 more $2000 scholarships to Civil Engineering Technology students in January 2021 marking its 5th year of Scholarships for our program. The division created a canvas template for all Technology Division classes. This will make a similar navigation structure for every technology class making it easier for Technology division students to navigate their Canvas classes. The division worked together for several weeks to create a new technology master schedule that better aligns the divisions classes with student needs and reduce cancellations and low enrollment classes. The division worked together to redo their entire math sequence to better align with the current math skills needed, make it easier for students to change from one degree program to another, and reduce canceled and low enrollment classes. The division also worked together to redo several electronics classes into just 3 core classes to better align with the current industry skills needed, make it easier for students to change from one degree program to another, and reduce canceled and low enrollment classes. Agriculture- The $25,000 GAST (Growing Agri-Science Teacher) Application has been completed and submitted to ISBE to secure $25,000 worth of “”distance learning”” technology equipment to prepare Agriculture Education students for teaching in a virtual environment and to develop their presentation skills. The Livestock Judging Team has posted top ten finishes at the American Royal and the North American International Livestock Exposition Business- Transitioning our courses to an online environment while putting the student’s needs first. This involved redesigning the delivery and assessment of material. In addition, learning, and sometimes teaching oneself, how to use new software involved in producing and recording lectures. This was done while keeping a student first approach and maintaining a professional, positive attitude. Specifically in the Cosmetology area, (both Cosmo and Esthetics) despite restrictions, we have continued to support student learning by creating an intensive lab environment in which students are immersed solely in learning the hands on skills necessary in the field while the theory portion of the material has been taught strictly online. This has given the students the much needed hands on training they require during uncertain times as at any time we could be shut down. Allied Health- Medical Assisting Program: MAP passed their site visit for initial accreditation with ZERO citations. The surveyors recommended full accreditation. This recommendation will go to MEARB and CAAHEP board meetings in March or April and at that time we will know if these accrediting bodies accept the surveyor’s recommendations for full accreditation. In the exit interview the initial accreditors noted Program Director (Molly Yeske) and College Resources as strengths to the program. Nursing: The ACEN initial site visitors have recommended full accreditation for both the Practical Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing Programs. The next step is an additional review by the Evaluation Review Panel in January, and the third and final step will be review by the ACEN Board of Commissioners. A final decision is expected in April. In addition, Nursing was recently awarded a $30,000 grant from the Coles Community Health Program to enhance learning experiences within the simulated lab environment.” |
| FALL 2020- Awarded CARES ACT money to implement a virtual visit through YOUVISIT that should be live by mid December. |
| SPRING & FALL 2020- The Dual Credit Program Access Initiative Update- Through the Enrollment Incentives last year by the College – The Dual Credit Program Access Initiative was designed. The initiative is based around students enrolled in the Free and Reduced Lunch for the National School Lunch Program. The purpose of the initiative is to provide equitable access to dual credit courses to all eligible high school students by allowing high school districts to apply for a waiver of the dual credit fee, which is $18.42/per credit for students who qualify for the free and reduced lunch program. Lake Land College does not charge students directly fees for taking dual credit courses – however, the College does charge a dual credit fee to partner high school districts, which often times, in turn, charge the students. In partnership with the schools, students granted the waiver are confirmed to not be charged the fees. In its first semester, we served a total amount of 164 students. Of this the total credit hours earned were 680.5 credit hours. That is an average of 4.15 credit hours per student. Dual Credit fees that were waived for the schools/students was the amount of $12,534.81. But in regular Lake Land College tuition and fees that is a savings of $97,086.94! And a total savings per student of $591.99. I am very proud of the work the college has done this past year in creating this access program. We hope to follow through to show these students a clear pathway to full time LLC enrollment and graduation. Thank you to all involved! |
| SPRING & FALL 2020- Created instructional how to videos for many issues we see students have and strategically place them throughout the college website. |
| DECEMBER 2020- College Advancement- Over $565,000 was awarded in Foundation scholarships to roughly 450 students for the 2020-2021 academic year. This includes a new one-time $20,000 PATH Scholarship from Ellucian to help students in the pandemic that otherwise were not qualified for other COVID CARES funds. Thanks to the great efforts of the Emergency Funding Committee, an additional 17 students received over $6,600 in assistance for emergency needs including car repairs, utilities, rent and other emergency items. The Foundation Golf Classic was ultimately canceled for 2020 due to the pandemic AND still raised close to $20,000 thanks to generous supporters of the Foundation. College Advancement staff moved into the new Foundation & Alumni Center on October 6th. The new building serves as a central location for College Advancement staff and provides a beautiful gathering space for alumni, donors, faculty, staff, and students. Thanks to great assistance and efforts from our MPR office, the Foundation’s annual meeting and donor reception transitioned to a virtual format in October to thank donors, announce the Foundation’s Philanthropy and Distinguished Alumni Society award recipients, and celebrate the Foundation’s 50th anniversary. The Foundation’s portfolio hit the $11 million mark for the first time this November!” Tutoring and Testing Center- Since returning to campus in August, we have administered: 90 Pearson VUE exams 50 – GED 15 – related to teacher education/administration 25 – others computer certifications of different types, Illinois state fire marshall, pharmacy technician, national food safety professional, strength & conditioning, insurance, etc. 54 MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) tests 39 CCMA (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant) certification exams for completers of our Medical Assistant Program 9 CLEP exams – for LLC, EIU, and other institutions 2 exams for non-LLC students (attending other institutions) Since implementation of remote ACCUPLACER placement testing through Examity in late April, most placement testing continues to be remote. Tutoring Services are available to students through Smartthinking Online Tutoring and from Lake Land Tutors virtually.” The International Studies Coordinator participated in continuing education events including the annual NAFSA Region V conference, The National Education USA Forum, International Educators of Illinois’ International Education Speaker Series. International club was able to elect officers, hold several meetings, and host two virtual game nights. The club also helped facilitate International Student Week by participating in a virtual panel discussion. Participated in two virtual International recruitment fairs, including Sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Europe. Enrolled 4 new international students for Fall 2020 when many colleges and universities were not able to enroll new students). Nine of Heritage Health’s employees were able to utilize a three credit hour tuition waiver and enroll in our BNA class (8 credit hours) running in Pana. 20 students utilized our three credit hour tuition waiver for the fall semester, these students have been out of school for a year or more and are employees from a variety of local businesses. 55 credit hours were waived with the tuition waivers, and 113 hours were signed up for total. MPR- Created a successful multi-faceted campaign in partnership with TRIO SSS to celebrate the national First Gen Week that resulted in 31 new applications. In comparison, during the fall semester, TRIO SSS had 0-3 students apply each week. In partnership with the Admission staff, developed the new self-guided Campus Tour that includes options for students to engage with the college throughout the entire tour. Implemented a successful Mod 2 recruitment campaign that resulted in 27 new students with 125.5 credit hours in courses. Including current students, 82 students in total added a class for 287 hours. Implemented a digital advertising campaign including Pay Per Click and digital ads for the spring semester. In just the first few weeks the ads have generated 80 leads or form submissions; 22 calls and 15,000 clicks and video views. In addition, the website data indicates those who are visiting the site are spending considerable amount of time view the Areas of Study pages and others throughout the site. Saw a 10% increase in subscribers to the college’s YouTube account with more than 12,000 views in the fall semester. Saw a 316% increase in engagement in the college’s Instagram account. Launched a TIKTOK social media account with 15 videos that have a combined 6,625 views. “ Admissions and Records- Promoted classes and opportunities through several radio interviews. Provided promotional materials and goodies for both the adults and children for the ROSC Drive Through resource fair, which targeted 1000 individuals in Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Effingham, and Shelby County. Distributed 1200 flyers during the One Stop Christmas event to share about our Lake Land Programs and opportunities through the Adult Ed program. Processed P/W request for 151 students in the spring term and 41 students in the summer term. Admissions Representatives and MPR created recruitment videos for each recruiter that they share with their schools, prospective students or share on social media. Sent a letter to the parents of dual credit students enrolled in the fall. Sent a letter to all dual credit students that are enrolled in the fall. Wrote letters to every senior in our district encouraging students to visit or join a virtual event. Offered our High School visits in an outdoor or virtual setting to comply with school and IDPH guidelines. |
| DECEMBER 2020- Lake Land College will be hosting a virtual Winter Commencement Ceremony on December 21st to celebrate the accomplishments of our Summer 2020 and Fall 2020 graduates. |
| FEBRUARY 2021- Counseling Services- The Virtual Transfer Expo was developed in Canvas and held on November 18th. Twenty six transfer representatives attended and were available via Zoom to answer questions for our students. (Bryan Burrell and Joy Kaurin) Emily Hartke, Tina Moore and Andy Gaines have worked on a collaboration between counseling and career services to implement mental health initiatives to provide remote counseling services to students through the BetterMynd service, create agreements with local mental health agencies and to create the school’s first student club (Active Minds) to address the mental health stigma and provide resources for students to provide peer support. The Office of Student Accommodations provided assistance to instructors to make their courses accessible as we quickly transitioned to online courses due to the pandemic. At the request of the National Orientation Director’s Association, Heather Nohren presented a webinar entitled “No Budget? No Problem! How to develop online orientation” to national and international institutions in April. Counseling Services developed a you tube video on how to register using student planning to assist new students with registration in a virtual format. (Morgan Stremming) Counseling Services hosted 825 new student orientation students from May – August over phone and zoom. Andrea Bright incorporated well-being modules throughout fall SFS sections instead of focusing on this topic in a single chapter near the end of the term. Counseling and the Advising Committee developed the first ever virtual Advising Week this semester from 10/12-16/2020. Counseling began exploration of Calendly adoption (with the help of Michelle Zumbahlen) for making appointments and virtual walk-in via zoom. Lisa Leisch and Jane Cox adopted usage of Canvas in order to connect transfer representatives with our students virtually and hosted several virtual visits throughout the fall semester.” IDOC- Lake Land College Corrections Division established the Kudos Award to recognize and celebrate front line employees whose work represents the College’s values: Excellence, Communication, Innovation, Teamship, and Caring. For FY21, Lake Land College Corrections Division (DOC only) was awarded grant money through the Department of Corrections. Career & Technical Education Improvement (CTEI) allocations are $830,000 while Perkins allocations are $246,500. The money is intended for use at all 23 DOC facilities with a large focus on a new greenhouse and curriculum books for all programs. Remainder of funds will focus on equipment upgrades for all programs. During remote work, instructors in the Corrections Division collaborated on the development of course assessments. Assessments are being finalized for the following programs: Custodial Technician, Culinary Arts, Horticulture, Automotive Technology, and Warehousing & Logistics. A total of 129 assessments for 43 courses were agreed upon and will be introduced in the spring semester when in-person instruction resumes. ISS- The team was instrumental in continuing to support remote learning and remote work The team near seamlessly incorporated all the new technology items and software provided by the CARES Acct Funding Successful proximity card rollout to campus Guided Pathways website and program models update Migration to new Etrieve Imaging System Connie Compton was instrumental in providing cell phones and Mi-Fi to parties ASAP to enhance their remote work and learning experience. Physical Plant- The team was on sight daily maintaining and cleaning the campus while setting up the campus per the COVID requirements by separating appropriate furniture, tables and chairs while providing the appropriate sanitization supplies. The team was instrumental in the Neal Hall Fire restoration from beginning to end starting with working the damage from the fire to putting help finalization the restoration. Bookstore and Print Shop Team- Both teams provided continuous services that cannot be done remotely and these services have been provided safely, timely and while overcoming multiple challenges. The Print Shop has been instrumental in helping local schools and the hospital with critical signage that has been above and beyond their normal printing. They have invented new procedures and products to meet customer needs. For example, grad boxes, face shields and specialty marketing/communications pieces. The Laker Nest Bookstore has remained open with in-person retail, micro mart and book services. Shipping course materials took place as well, August had 1411 parcels and September through November 221 parcels. Human Resources Team- Continued college tradition by holding staff development but 100% virtually. Hired and incorporated the new Training & Development Coordinator Chris Uphoff Nees. Accounting Team- Mailed paper bills to students due to COVID and was able to collect $1.1 million in student payments between September 23, 2020 and October 23, 2020. Worked together to ensure we received a 2020 clean audit report. Incorporated two new team member – Katherine Knearem, Payroll Specialist and Janes Morris, Financial Aid Accountant. TRIO DC- TRIO DC went from in-person interactions to completely virtual in just days. Our team was able to put together virtual events and provide our resources virtually in a very short amount of time. Two Google Classrooms were created with several resources available to our students, along with weekly Google Meets sessions. We expanded our social media platform. TRiO Destination College now has Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. We are currently at 65 followers on our Instagram. We started a regular newsletter to help keep our schools updated on what we have been doing and future events. Created an online application to TRIO DC that is linked to the website. Revamped the TRIO DC webpage on the college website. We welcomed 3 new staff and transitioned successfully. We adapted incredibly quickly especially considering the remote working circumstances that all 3 of us new employees had to adapt with, 2 of us with newborns. Our TRIO DC Team put together “”Care Packages”” for our students and delivered to students who we were not able to make contact with prior to moving all services to a virtual format. Assisted MMS staff to make home visits to check on students, help them complete their packets, and return items to them that were left behind at school. Assisted numerous seniors with scholarship applications throughout the 19-20 school year. Many were awarded LLC foundation scholarships. We received notice that one graduate received $1,000 scholarship through collegeboard.org along with a scholarship through the Lake Land Foundation. Student in Class of 2020- Student came back to TRiO DC advisor for help registering for Spring 2021 classes. Students realize the benefits of the TRIO DC program and building lasting relationships. Held Virtual Open House & College Prep Night workshops for seniors. TRIO SSS- Began offering a new virtual job shadowing service with VirtualJobShadow.com. Celebrated our first official National First Generation College Student Day, with a weeklong virtual celebration. Completed our Annual Performance Report, with our students earning a 78% persistence rate and with 93% of students in good academic standing. Completed our first virtual cultural event with a Civil Rights Tour of Birmingham, Alabama. Data Analytics- The Director of Data Analytics, Lisa Cole, launched utilization of a data analytics visualization tool – Tableau. This is an analytical tool that was purchased in FY 2019 to support data analytics. Tableau has the capability to put data in the end users’ hands with a vast filtering capability. Not only does it make the data available to the end user, it is updated nightly so you have the most recent data without making a new request. Tableau reads the operational data store (ODS) which is updated directly from Colleague, but it also has the capability to combine different data sources. The Data Analytics office also has an additional data store information which has been collected from other external resources with the capability to connect to any or all of this data, this make Tableau a very comprehensive reporting tool. 27 Users have been given access to Tableau and have been trained. Everyone that has used Tableau is very pleased with the information and the filtering capabilities that they have available. Some of the information has never been able to be viewed on the same report in the past. 6 New Workbook have been added these contain information for: Enrollment – Daily Enrollment, Kluthe Historical Stats, Historical Graduation Numbers Scheduling – Course Utilization, Planned Sections, What models a course in included in Counseling and Advising – Adviser Clearance Numbers Completion and Persistence – By Course by term Cost Recovery – Expenses vs Income Human Resources – Reporting Tanille Ulm went to WEIU and filmed Early Childhood lessons with Eastern Illinois University Early Childhood program director Michelle Sherwood to enhance our virtual learning environment and really helped keep our students engaged. Also working hard to get the word out about the new Montessori School that is opening in Effingham, already encouraged two teachers to look into it and they were both hired at this school. We have realized significant progress in building a college-wide foundation for our two key focus areas: 1. Implementing Guided Pathways to Success (GPS), while expanding K-12 and university partnerships, to provide a clear pathway to meaningful educational or career outcomes and 2. Implementing data analytics in support of GPS and furthering our commitment to becoming a data-informed institution. College staff reported positive outcomes on 18 strategies in support of these two key focus areas, while simultaneously supporting the three primary College goals: 1. Advance student success, 2. Fulfill evolving and emerging education and training needs, and 3. Commit to quality, access and affordability. |
| FEBRUARY 2021- The Workforce Building is complete and offices have been moved into the space. It is sharp looking and a state of the art facility. |
| MARCH 2021- Our own Student Trustee Lucas Duduit has been selected as a 2021 Coca-Cola Academic Team Gold Scholar and will receive a $1,500 scholarship! Selection as a Coca-Cola Gold Scholar was based on scores the student earned in the All-USA Academic Team competition, for which more than 2,000 applications were received this year. Congratulations Lucas! |
| APRIL 2021- Lake Land College Women’s Basketball won the NJCAA D2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP with head coach Dave Johnson. |
| MAY 2021- Proclamation by the Mayor of the City of Mattoon that May 18 is Lake Land Women’s Basketball Laker Day! |
| NOVEMBER 2021- Lake Land College recognized for the fifth time by The Aspen Institute as one of the top 150 community colleges in the nation. The Aspen Institute honors colleges with outstanding achievement in five critical areas: teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success, and equity for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds. |
| FEBRUARY 2022- Medical Billing and Coding program ranked #1 on Best Accredited Colleges’ list of Best Associate Degrees in Medical Billing and Coding! |
| MARCH 2022- Office Management program ranked among the top 15 associate in Office Management degree programs in the nation by Best Accredited Colleges! |
| MARCH 2022- Lake Land College CAD certification program ranked among the top 30 programs in the nation by Best Accredited Colleges! |
| JUNE 2022- Stone flag sculpture is placed in Podestá Park. |