Laker Nation News

Lake Land College is adding a new feature to the graduation ceremonies this May. In addition to a virtual commencement ceremony, the college will host a parade for all graduates on campus on May 14, 2021.

The Graduate Parade will follow the circle drive of campus. Faculty and staff will line the drive and graduates are encouraged to decorate their vehicles. Graduates are welcome to bring family members to drive in the car with them. Spectators will be limited to Lake Land College employees.

Along the route, graduates will stop in front of the Luther Student Center, where Lake Land College President Dr. Josh Bullock will present the graduate a diploma cover. Families are then welcome to park in LOT F and take a photo on campus grounds.

“We are excited to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates on campus and virtually,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “We know this year’s graduates have much to celebrate and we look forward to our Commencement Day events.”

Graduates and guests will be required to go through the COVID-19 check in station and prove that they have a facemask and have been cleared by completing the COVID-19 Screening Form. Only one car per graduate is permitted.

The Lake Land College Broadcast Communications department is hosting an in-person open house Friday, March 26 from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the college’s student-run FM radio station, WLKL 89.9, The Max Alternative; TV studio and production control room; and view professional audio equipment and state-of-the-art camera and video equipment as well as industry-standard digital editing software.

Registration for the event is now open at lakelandcollege.edu/visit/. Attendance is limited to 20 prospective students and one guest each. Due to the safety protocols surrounding COVID-19, advanced registration is required for this event. Walk-in registrations cannot be accommodated at this time.

“Anyone with an interest in this field is welcome to register,” Speech Communication and Broadcasting Instructor Greg Powers said. “Guests will be introduced to the studios and the opportunities within the field, and they’ll have the opportunity to meet with an admissions representative at the event.”

Students in the Broadcast Communications program can earn an associate degree leading to either immediate employment or transfer to a four-year university. Students can also choose among three certificate programs.

“Lake Land College is one of only a few places where you get started within the first two weeks gaining a sense of comfort behind a microphone and on screen,” Powers said.

Those interested in fulfilling general elective credits can enroll in department classes throughout the year. Opportunities within the curriculum include broadcasting live on WLKL 89.9 The Max Alternative, anchoring a newscast, using equipment in the TV production control room and studio, creating a podcast, recording and listening to an audio spot using professional audio equipment, operating state-of-the-art camera and video equipment and experimenting with industry-standard digital editing software.

For more information on the Broadcast Communications open house or program, contact Greg Powers at gpowers@lakelandcollege.edu or call 217-234-5335.

In accordance with the Lake Land College Return to Campus Plan, all guests will be required to wear a mask that covers both the nose and mouth as well as practice social distancing of six feet or more for the duration of their visit to campus.

The COVID-19 Campus Visit Screening form can be completed the day of or day prior to the campus visit. All guests will be directed to Entrance 2 and will go through the COVID Check-In Station, where they must prove they have a face mask and have completed the COVID-19 Campus Visit Screening Form.

For more information, or to register for the open house, go to lakelandcollege.edu/visit or call 217-234-5377.

As part of its commitment to designing a Fall 2021 around students, the Lake Land College Board of Trustees is expected to keep tuition and fees at the current rates for academic year 2021-2022.

The board will meet Monday, March 8 at 6 p.m. in Webb Hall on the main campus and in accordance with the college’s Return to Campus Plan and Covid-19 safety protocols. The meeting will also be accessible by teleconference (1-866-806-7140, ID 75526).

“Lake Land College is committed to providing an affordable, accessible educational option to our communities. We are diligent in planning to minimize budget increases and are pleased that this diligence has paid off with the opportunity to maintain the current tuition and fee structure,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “If approved, tuition and fees will remain the same, allowing students and families the opportunity to build a plan to pay for college for the next school year.”

In-district tuition for one credit hour will remain at $110.50 effective with the summer term. Fees, including textbook rental, will remain at $32.17 per credit hour. An average student enrolls in 30 credit hours per year, putting tuition, fees and textbook rental for one year at $4,280.10.

The Lake Land College fall schedule, published on Friday, is designed around students with a mix of in-person, virtual and online course options. When building a schedule, students can select the format that best fits their personal preference. Registration for summer and fall opens March 24.

“Lake Land College continues to be one of the best values to those pursuing higher education. The college’s tuition and fees are about one-quarter of the cost of attending a four-year university and are significantly less than a technical or private college. Our national ranking as one of the best community colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute is a testament to the quality education a student will receive when investing in Lake Land College,” Bullock added.

The college has several resources to help students afford college including financial aid grants and loans to those who qualify, scholarships and a monthly payment plan.

Lake Land College offers degree and certificate programs that prepare students to successfully enter the workforce or transfer to a four-year college upon completion.

New and current Lake Land College students can now take advantage of flexible educational opportunities with an eight-week Mod II class this spring.

Each semester, Lake Land College offers two sessions of eight-week courses known as Mod I and II. Mod II classes begin March 15 and finish May 10 with finals held May 11 through May 14.

“Mod II courses are great for both new and current students,” said Emily Hartke, chair of counseling and judicial affairs advisement.  “If someone is looking to ease into college, these courses are a way to do just that. The Mod II courses are also a good way for current students to pick up needed credits before the end of the semester.”

Mod II classes allow students to complete coursework in less time than a full-semester class. Seats in these classes often fill quickly for this reason, so those interested are urged to sign up as early as possible.

To view available courses, visit lakelandcollge.edu/schedules. Select the Spring 2021 term and select M2 under Schedule Types.

Counselors are available to assist students with Mod II registration. For registration information, contact Counseling Services at counsel@lakelandcollege.edu or 217-234-5232.

Lake Land College will host in-person Preview Open Houses in March and April.

Potential students who are interested in touring campus and learning more about Lake Land College are encouraged to attend. The event also includes a Q&A session and the option to talk to representatives from college departments of interest.

Registration is now open at lakelandcollege.edu/visit/. Attendance is limited to 20 prospective students and one guest each. Due to the safety protocols surrounding COVID-19, advanced registration is required. Walk-in registrations cannot be accommodated at this time.

The Preview Open Houses are scheduled for:

• March 5 at 9 a.m.
• March 19 at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• April 9 at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• April 23 at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

“We are excited to welcome prospective students to campus to experience the great opportunities Lake Land College provides,” Michelle Zumbahlen, coordinator for strategic student communication and initiatives, said.

In accordance with the Lake Land College Return to Campus Plan, all guests will be required to wear a mask that covers both the nose and mouth as well as practice social distancing of six feet or more for the duration of their visit to campus.

The COVID-19 Campus Visit Screening form can be completed the day of or day prior to the campus visit. All guests will be directed to Entrance 2 and will go through the COVID Check-In Station, where they must prove they have a face mask and have completed the COVID-19 Campus Visit Screening Form.

For more information, or to register for Preview Day, go to lakelandcollege.edu/visit or call 217-234-5377.

A phishing scam involving false social media events has targeted Lake Land College social media platforms.

Events claiming to be broadcasts of Lake Land College athletic events have been posted to platforms such as Facebook and Twitter directing viewers to click an attached link. These are not legitimate links to Lake Land College athletic event broadcasts but rather phishing attempts by fraudulent account users.

Any and all Lake Land College athletic events will be publicized via official Lake Land College athletics accounts, including the Facebook pages: Lake Land College Laker Athletics, Lake Land College Volleyball and Lake Land College Basketball and the Twitter accounts: @LakeLandBuzz, @LLCAthletics, @lakelandvb, @LLC_WBaskteball, @LLC_Basketball and @LLC_Baseball.

A link or event posted by pages not listed above or with no affiliation to Lake Land College should be treated as suspicious and reported using the platform’s “Find Help” or “Report” features.

Lake Land College partnered with the online therapy platform BetterMynd to offer students access to online therapy sessions with a diverse network of licensed mental health counselors. Through the partnership, each Lake Land College student can access up to six free online therapy sessions each year on the BetterMynd platform. These live video sessions are private, confidential, and can take place from the convenience of a laptop or smartphone.

“BetterMynd’s mission is to make mental health resources more easily accessible for college students everywhere,” Director of Career Services Tina Moore said. “Counseling is an opportunity to work through challenges and issues in life. With this platform, students have nothing to lose and potentially a lot to gain.”

After the first six free sessions, students have the option to continue with the same therapist by either paying out of pocket or via insurance.

“Fifty percent of college students report having mental health concerns, and 30 percent of those students say it impacts their schooling,” Academic Counselor and Coordinator for Student Accommodations Andy Gaines said. “The great thing about BetterMynd is that it’s easy for the students to log in, connect with a counselor of their choice and get the support that they need.”

Students must register with their Lake Land College email address to utilize BetterMynd mental health support and counseling services. Registration generates a BetterMynd portal where students can access services and information.  After the initial registration, students will be able to log in to their BetterMynd portal directly from the BetterMynd site.

“We know that 40 percent of those struggling with mental health issues will not reach out to get assistance,” Gaines said. “We hope that making this easily accessible to our students will increase the number of students willing to seek assistance.”

For more information about BetterMynd and the other mental health resources Lake Land College has available, visit lakelandcollege.edu/mental-health-resources/.

The Court Reporting Technology Degree program is a new special admission program at Lake Land College beginning Fall 2021. The introduction of the program follows the increased high demand for court reporting and closed-captioning professionals throughout the nation.

Lake Land College business faculty worked closely with area court reporters to create the degree program, which will train students for careers in the judicial setting as either official or freelance court reporters. The program also provides students with the option to attain a captioning specialization, which prepares students for careers providing captioning for broadcast television and internet programs and working with the deaf or hard-of-hearing population by providing an accurate word-for-word text translation in education, civic and corporate settings.

Lake Land College will be hosting a virtual information session for this program March 17. Instructors for the program will be available to answer questions, and all are welcome to attend. To register, visit lakelandcollege.edu/visit/.

Program application requirements include:

• Admission to Lake Land College
• Completion of an interest survey
• English and grammar exam
• A timed typing exam
• Prospective students with any court reporting coursework or Lake Land College coursework are asked to provide documentation or college transcripts.

Special admission testing will be open March 22 through April 23, 2021 for consideration for the fall semester. Court Reporting is a competitive, special admission program with an availability of 17 incoming students this fall semester.

To get started with the special admission process, those interested must complete a Laker Profile at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/enroll/ and submit an intent to enroll at Lake Land College indicating the Academic Program (major) as “AAS.CRT.TRK”.  By selecting this option, the student will be contacted to complete the Special Admission Testing and Screening Canvas course.

Interested students may begin the program with a typing speed of 40-50 words per minute. Keeping up with the pace of regular speech, the program is designed to train students on a specialized 24-key shorthand keyboard used by court reporters and captioners called a steno machine. Rather than typing out each word, letter for letter, as on a traditional keyboard, stenographers spell out syllables phonetically on a steno machine. This form of specialized shorthand allows court reporters and captioners to capture speech with near complete accuracy.

Students will purchase or rent-to-own a steno machine.

All classes are available online but many will offer a virtual component where students can attend Zoom sessions. If a student cannot acquire the appropriate speed in time, the student can retake the half credit hour lab. Additionally, if a student does not have confident keyboarding skills prior to acceptance into the program, keyboarding skill building courses such as Keyboarding, Advanced Formatting and Processing Information can be taken.

The final semester of the program, students will complete a one-hour internship course where students will be placed in courtrooms or in the deposition setting under supervision of a court reporter.

Upon graduation, students will be prepared to sit for the Illinois Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR) or the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), Registered Skilled Reporter (RSR) and Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) certification exams.

For more information about the special admission Court Reporting Technology Degree program, contact Lisa Earp, business instructor/program coordinator office professionals, at learp@lakelandcollege.edu.

Lake Land College is pleased to guarantee a Presidential Scholarship to all eligible in-district high school graduates who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance. The scholarship covers the full cost of tuition for up to two consecutive academic years.

Students who are in the top 15 percent of students in their senior class or have an ACT composite score of 26 or higher/SAT total score of 1230 or higher are eligible for the Presidential Scholarship.

Qualifying students must also:

• Reside in the Lake Land College district at the time of graduation.
• Graduate from a high school located in the Lake Land College district, or
• Graduate from a high school serving part of the Lake Land College district, including Hume-Shiloh, South Central, Newton, and North Clay high schools.

Interested students should contact their high school guidance counselor to complete and submit the Presidential Scholarship Acceptance form. Homeschooled and private school students in the district who meet the ACT/SAT score requirements should contact Lake Land College directly.

For additional information, visit lakelandcollege.edu/scholarship-opportunities or contact Coordinator for Strategic Student Communication & Initiatives, Michelle Zumbahlen, at 217-234-5230.