LLC Gets National Recognition

Lake Land College has received recognition in national publications in recent weeks.

College President Josh Bullock told the Board of Trustees at this month's meeting that the Agriculture Division was featured in World News Report this month and was ranked 12th in the nation for conferring degrees in Agriculture by Community College Week. That publication ranked Lake Land 40th in one-year certificates conferred, 31st for multi-disciplinary degrees conferred, and ninth for sales, merchandising and related marketing operations degrees conferred.

The Board heard from Vice President for Student Services Tina Stovall that 10th day enrollment figures indicate a headcount of 5,243 students and fulltime equivalents of 3,238.4. Stovall said the headcount is down 6.3% compared to Fall 2014, and the FTE is down 3.7% compared to Fall 2014. However, Stovall indicated enrollment of students who are new to the college increased by 130, or 12% from Fall 2014 to 2015.

Bullock told trustees that as of the meeting, the State was current on Fiscal Year 2015 payments owed the college, but would be behind by $3.9 million based on projected Fiscal Year 2016 funding levels. He also reported on a meeting with representatives of Kaifeng University in the Henan Province of China. The parties discussed potential collaborative partnerships.

In action items, Lake Land trutees voted to continue the Foundation tax levy, and approved the coming fiscal year's levy expenditures and risk management plan. The Board renewed a lease agreement with Mayhood Properties of Effingham through July 31, 2016 for space in the Lincolnland Building for use with the Basic Nursing Assistant Program in Effingham, and got a report on completion of repointing the exterior masonry of Webb Hall, Northeast Building, Northwest Building, and the Field House.

The Board approved the purchase of two vehicles for just under $36,000 for use in recruitment, approved a three-year Building Automation System service agreement for just over $38,000 annually, and approved a contract for $70,000 for wayfinding design services to assist in navigating the Mattoon campus.