Laker Nation News

Deciding on what to do after high school graduation can be an overwhelming process. Lake Land College is scheduling high school visits to help students know more about transitioning from high school to a college or university.

“Meeting with higher education professionals is a very valuable experience for students making the difficult but important decision about college and college life,” Admissions Representative Pam Hartke said. “We hope to answer the students’ questions and ease any anxiety they may have about this time in their lives.”

Hartke, along with Admissions Representative Olivia Mintun, meet with high school students throughout the college’s district in the fall and spring semesters.

The dates, time and locations of the area high school visits are as follows:

School                                                                        Date                Time

Ramsey High School                                                  Feb. 19            11:12-11:42 a.m. (lunch)

Brownstown High School                                           Feb. 25            1:05 p.m.

Shelbyville High School                                              Feb. 25            2:30 p.m.

Effingham High School                                               March 5           12:45-1:08 p.m.

St. Anthony High School                                            March 5           11:38 a.m.-12:03 p.m.

St. Elmo Jr./Sr. High School (sophomores)               March 6           11-11:45 a.m.

Neoga Jr./Sr. High School                                         March 16         9:40 a.m.

Oakland High School                                                 March 17         10:30 a.m.

Pana High School                                                       March 17         10:38 a.m.-12:52 p.m.

Teutopolis High School                                              March 18         10:15 a.m.

Aspire Alternative School                                           March 19         1:30-2:15 p.m.

Charleston High School                                             March 24         8:30 a.m.

Marshall High School                                                 March 24         2:42-3:06 p.m.

South Central High School                                         March 25         2:40-3:05 p.m.

North Clay High School                                             March 26         10 a.m.

Beecher City High School                                          March 26         Lunch

Altamont High School                                                March 26         2:20 p.m.

Newton Community High School                              March 26         8:10 a.m.

Dieterich Jr./Sr. High School                                      March 31         9:57 a.m.

Paris High School                                                       April 1             9 a.m.

Okaw Valley High School                                           April 1             10:30 a.m.

Mattoon High School                                                 April 2             9:15 a.m.

Casey-Westfield High School                                     April 2             11:30 a.m.

Shiloh High School                                                     April 6             10:30 a.m.

New Approach-Alternative High School                    April 7             9:15-10 a.m.

Cumberland Community High School                       April 7             Lunch

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond High School     April 7             2:27 p.m.

Stewardson-Strasburg High School                           April 9             Lunch

Kansas Community High School                                April 14           9 a.m.

Cowden Herrick High School                                     April 14           Lunch

For more information about Lake Land College, visit lakelandcollege.edu.

February is the month to celebrate assessment at Lake Land College. Students and staff members are encouraged to participate in this year’s activities to learn about the importance of assessment.

According to Lisa Madlem, director of academic support and assessment, the assessment process at Lake Land is essential in order to make informed decisions that ultimately improve the teaching-learning process.

“Assessment seems fairly straightforward, but in reality, it is an involved process that systematically measures student performance in order to improve the quality of educational programs, courses and the institution overall,” Madlem said. “Essentially, assessment is what students should know, value or be able to do upon the completion of a course, program or interaction with a department.”

Lake Land College uses institution-wide measures and program and course-specific measures to assess student outcomes. Learner outcomes have been established for each of the college’s associate degree and certificate programs, as well as all courses and departments at the college.

During Assessment Week, Feb. 3-7, Madlem will set up a student booth in the Luther Student Center with assessment information and prizes for students. On Feb. 4, Madlem will also have a student booth set up at the Kluthe Center in Effingham. Additionally, a quiz will be available for students to complete and earn a chance to win a $10 Subway gift card and a grand prize $50 gas gift card.

“Overall, the college is actively assessing course, programs and institutional departments,” Madlem said. “Each component of assessment is working toward assessing the student experience and we are continuously learning from the assessment process in order to make necessary changes and plans of action to ensure that every student at Lake Land College is provided with a continuous learning environment.”

Assessment is an important step in developing Lake Land College’s programs to best suit its students and their growing skills in order to prepare them to enter the workforce or transfer to a four-year university. It is thanks to a previous DACUM (developing a curriculum) assessment that the Agriculture Division has focused on integrating more precision agriculture information leading from a recommendation from the Lake Land College Agriculture Advisory Council. In addition, the Allied Health Division recently celebrated efforts for the new Medical Assistant Program (MAP). In its first year, Medical Assistant Program students received a 100% pass rate on the first attempt on their certification exam. In addition to passing the certification exam, all MAP students passed 142 skills on their skill check off assessment.

For more information about assessment at Lake Land College, contact Madlem at 217-234-5088 or lmadlem@lakelandcollege.edu or visit lakelandcollege.edu/assessment/.

Does the cold and snowy weather have you singing the blues? It’s time to change your tune by joining the choir! Preparation for the spring season of the Lake Land College Community Choir begins on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Rehearsals are held on Tuesday nights in the Lake Land College Theater from 7-9:30 p.m.

All singers age 18 and older are welcome to participate and no audition is required. The choir includes college students as well as area residents, forming a group of approximately 45 mixed voices.

Choir members may earn one hour of college credit for singing in the choir. Interested singers can complete a registration form at the first rehearsal or register online for MUS-104-11565. However, registration for college credit is not required and participation in the choir is free for those who do not register.

This season the choir will look back to the 1970s, singing “Lean on Me,” in an arrangement that includes the inspirational hymn, “We Shall Overcome,” along with “Everything Is Beautiful,” “What the World Needs Now” and “He Ain’t Heavy (He’s My Brother).”

Another set will be a musical journey across the U.S., including “Big Easy on My Mind,” “New York, New York,” “Walking in Memphis,” and concluding with Johnny Cash’s hit “I’ve Been Everywhere.”

“The choir presents a unique opportunity for area residents. Singers from many different walks of life come together to make new friends, improve their skills, and most of all, to share in the joy of making music,” Nancy Caldwell, director of the choir and Lake Land College music instructor, said.

Caldwell added that singers will enjoy the variety of musical styles featured in the spring program, and noted that the community choir has brought many residents to the Lake Land campus for the first time.

“The college welcomes members of the community to campus to explore all the many opportunities offered for education and personal growth,” Caldwell said.

The season will conclude with a concert on Sunday, March 29 at 3 p.m. in the Theater.

For more information, contact Caldwell at 217-821-6469.

The Lake Land College Agriculture Division is hosting an open house on Friday, March 6 from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. High school juniors and seniors are invited to learn more about the agriculture programs available at Lake Land College and enjoy lunch with current students and faculty.

The event will open with registration and a welcome session in the West Building, Farm Credit Services room. Breakout sessions will occur from 9:40-11:30 a.m. which will cover each agriculture major offered at Lake Land and agriculture career opportunities. Campus tours and a session covering the admissions enrollment process will also be provided. The event will end with a question and answer session over lunch with current agriculture division students and faculty.

“We encourage all students who have an interest in exploring career and transfer opportunities to join us at our Agriculture Open House,” Ryan Orrick, division chair agriculture/agriculture instructor, said. “Students will receive specific information about which majors will put them on a path to careers in agronomy, animal care and production, precision technology, diesel mechanic and John Deere technician, green house management, as well as information about successfully transferring to universities across Illinois and the United States.”

To get to the West Building, take Entrance 1 from Route 45, make a right turn after the curve onto Podestá Drive, continue around campus, turn right onto North Progress Parkway and park in Lot C. For easy access to the Farm Credit Services room, enter through the north entrance at the side of the building.

RSVP to the open house by contacting Orrick at sorrick@lakelandcollege.edu or 217-234-5208.

Lake Land College is proud to announce that more than 180 students graduated with degrees and certificates after completion of the 2019 fall semester. The graduates are organized by home town.

Students interested in exploring the beauty of Spanish art, history, food and language are encouraged to attend the Short-Term Study Abroad to Spain Info Session on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 4 p.m. in the Northwest Building, room 105.

The 10-day study abroad adventure will be from June 15 to June 24, with two days allocated for travel-time to and from Spain. Beginning in the cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, Barcelona, the tour group will travel through the country to the central capital of Madrid, stopping at landmarks in Seville and ending at Costa del Sol.

The study abroad opportunity is available through the Humanities and Communication Division and is open to all students. Basic knowledge of the Spanish language is encouraged, but not a requirement.

Trip fees include round-trip airfare, transportation, sightseeing tours and site visits, hotel accommodations with private bathrooms, breakfast and dinner daily, full-time multi-lingual tour director and a travel protection plan through Travel Protection Plan Plus. For more specific trip details, visit http://www.explorica.com/reynolds09891.

For more information about the upcoming info session, contact Casey Reynolds, Spanish/English instructor, at 217-234-5319 or creynolds50492@lakelandcollege.edu.

Lake Land College is offering a 50-hour Pharmacy Technician course on Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning March 24, from 6-9:30 p.m. The course will prepare students to work as a pharmacy technician in a retail or other pharmacy setting and to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s PTCB exam.

Through classroom lecture and hands-on labs, students will review dosage calculations, drug classifications, the “top 200 drugs”, I.V. flow rates, sterile compounding, dose conversions, aseptic technique, the handling of sterile products, total parenteral nutrition (TPN), dispensing of prescriptions, inventory control and billing and reimbursement.

Class will be held at Lake Land College, 5001 Lake Land Blvd, Mattoon, Illinois, in Northeast, room 113. The cost is $1,399. Textbooks are included.

Register for the course at lakelandcollege.edu/learn. For more information, contact Jackie Wake, professional development support, at 217-234-5087 or email jwake@lakelandcollege.edu.

Visit Lake Land College and find out all the college offers at Laker Visit Day. The upcoming events will be held Friday, Feb. 14 and Friday, March 27 in the Luther Student Center starting at 9 a.m. and will run until noon.

The event is for potential students who are interested in learning more about Lake Land College. Prospective students will tour campus, visit a class, meet current students and talk with faculty. Parents and guardians are welcome to attend and learn more about the college during a parent session.

The event will feature informational sessions by current Lake Land College Student Ambassadors and college staff. Representatives from Admissions & Records, Financial Aid, Counseling Services, Career Services, Student Life and other departments will provide information and be available to answer questions. Students will also meet with faculty members in their academic area of interest.

“Laker Visit Day is a great way for prospective students and parents to talk to faculty and staff about academic options and majors, to talk to current students about their experiences at the college and to learn about various services and opportunities we offer,” Michelle Zumbahlen, coordinator for strategic student communication and initiatives, said.

On Laker Visit Day, attendees will tour campus with Student Ambassadors; comfortable shoes are recommended. To get to the Luther Student Center, take Entrance 1 from Route 45, make a right turn after the curve onto Podestá Drive, continue around campus and park in Lot E. Enter the lobby through the main entrance at the front of the building.

Student Ambassadors will greet guests and help with directions. In case of inclement weather on the day of the event, please check the college’s homepage at lakelandcollege.edu for closures.

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

Lake Land College is working with community leaders to develop a plan to assist employees and families affected by the closing of LSC Communications in Mattoon and Rowe Foundry in Martinsville.

Lake Land College has an official role in the closing as the grant administrator for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the umbrella for the Dislocated Worker Program. The college also is a coordinator for the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act better known as Illinois WARN.

In addition to partnering with the state and local agencies to serve impacted employees, Lake Land College faculty and staff are available to help employees explore education and training programs. Options range from eight-week bootcamp training programs to two-year degree programs offered in face-to-face and online options. The college also offers classes that assist individuals in transitioning back to school and acquiring basic skills in computers and technology.

“Lake Land College is here for the LSC and Rowe employees. We know this is a difficult time and we welcome individuals who are exploring new career paths and training and educational options to contact us,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said.

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will schedule Rapid Response events on-site at Rowe Foundry and LSC Communications. C.E.F.S., Lake Land College, and other state agencies will be a part of the Rapid Response team. During these group meetings, Lake Land College and C.E.F.S. staff will be available to help those interested in retraining or educational opportunities.

Rapid Response is a federal service strategy which coordinates services with an employer and employee representative to maximize efforts and avert a planned layoff and/or minimize disruption for individuals and communities in dislocation events.

During the Rapid Response events, employees will learn of all resources available to meet their needs including unemployment insurance and training support services. Those interested in furthering or updating their work skills may set-up an appointment with a CEFS career planner, who will talk with them about their interests, skills and work history. The career planner will share area employment opportunities and projects and lead them to a plan for further training and education and/or area job openings.

The Dislocated Worker Program can provide funding to LSC employees who are interested in pursuing further education and training. “The goal is to help people secure a new job with a sustainable wage,” Gerry Schlechte, director of workforce investment, said.

In addition to providing services to each employee, WIOA is a resource for area businesses that are interested in hiring dislocated workers who could benefit from on-the-job training (OJT). Through this grant, a percentage of the employee’s salary will be reimbursed to the employer while the new employee is receiving the on-the-job training. To qualify for OJT, an agreement must be in place prior to the first day of employment.

Lake Land College History Instructor David Seiler, Effingham, was recently named Leo Welch Faculty of the Year by the Illinois Community College Faculty Association (ICCFA) at the 2019 ICCFA Teaching and Learning Excellence Conference in East Peoria. Seiler follows Geography/Earth Science Instructor Mike Rudibaugh as the second Lake Land College instructor to receive the award in the past 10 years.

Seiler’s college career has gone as full circle as they come. Beginning his education at Lake Land College, Seiler received an associate degree before transferring to Eastern Illinois University where he received both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in history. He later continued on to receive a doctorate at Indiana State University. After teaching at Effingham High School for several years, Seiler moved on to teach history at Lake Land College.

“I loved having Mr. Seiler as my teacher. He is kind and funny and presents interesting points of view on the subject matter,” said a student nominator.

Apart from teaching both lecture style and online history courses, in his 19 years at Lake Land College, Seiler has served on numerous college committees. Seiler served as vice president to the Lake Land College Faculty Association and served two terms as president. He also served as a member of the association’s executive committee. He is currently the president of the State Universities Annuitants Association (SUAA) chapter at Lake Land College.

“David is a great teacher with a lecture/discussion style. He encouraged class discussion and was open to hearing student opinions on modern day and historical events. He makes the students his focus and is very good at explaining assignment expectations,” said a second student nominator.

ICCFA is a statewide organization that promotes teaching and learning excellence, communication and common interest representation among community college instructors.

For more information about ICCFA and its role in higher education within community colleges, visit www2.iccb.org/iccfa/.