The John Wood Community College Board of Trustees, meeting in Quincy Wednesday evening April 18, did not increase the base tuition rate for the next academic year and heard an update on the College’s Mt. Sterling and Southeast Education Centers.
The current in-district base tuition rate of $142 per credit hour for classroom instruction will remain the same for the 2018-19 academic year. JWCC has held tuition flat two other times in nearly 20 years, in 1999 and 2013.
“Even though John Wood already provides a great educational value, we are making an effort to hold the line on tuition to be as accessible and affordable as possible,” Michael Elbe, JWCC president said.
For the first time in several years, a $3 increase to the institutional student support fee was approved by Trustees. The fee supports student life activities, clubs and organizations, student transportation, JWCC’s Student Activity Center and all athletic programs.
In other business, Diane Vose, JWCC manager of regional centers, gave a special report on the College’s Mt. Sterling and Southeast Education Centers. She shared that both facilities have experienced increased enrollment from Spring 2017 to Spring 2018. The Mt. Sterling Education Center served 47 students last spring who enrolled in 306 credit hours and in the current spring semester 62 students are taking 386 credit hours.
More students are also attending JWCC’s new Southeast Education Center (SEC) that opened two miles north of Pittsfield in August of 2017. This spring 78 students are enrolled in 395 credit hours at the SEC compared to last spring when 58 students took 297 credit hours at the previous location on West Washington Street in Pittsfield.
Both facilities offer residents of their respective regions the opportunity to complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree using a combination of classroom, open learning and online courses. The centers also provide business and industry training, college classes for high school students, on-site registration, academic advising, FAFSA filing, tuition bill payment for JWCC students, college placement testing for JWCC and other universities, career services, GED classes and personal enrichment classes. Additionally, JWCC hosts Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) offices in each center to coordinate volunteer services for Brown and Pike counties. The SEC additionally offers Certified Nursing Assistant and Truck Driver training.
“The value of our regional centers cannot be overstated,” Vose shared. “Our centers provide greater access to affordable education and support services right in residents’ backyards. Communities within the John Wood district have distinct needs for education and training and we work hard to tie those needs to our programs and services.”
The Board also held its annual reorganizational meeting and election of officers.
Trustees voted to elect Larry Fischer of Quincy as chair; Diane Ary of Quincy as vice chair and Jerry Hagmeier of Quincy as secretary. Trustees also voted to have Jim Gay of Rockport, Fischer and Ary to serve as the Board’s executive committee. As chair, Fischer appointed trustees to the following Board committees: Finance and Audit: Andy Sprague of Kinderhook and Bob Rhea of Camp Point; Curriculum: Hagmeier and Don Hess of Quincy. Fischer appointed Hagmeier as the Board’s representative to the Illinois Community College Trustees (ICCTA) Association.
Madeline Davis of Camp Point, Illinois, was selected by JWCC’s student body and took the Oath of Office as the College’s Student Trustee for 2018-19. Trustees recognized outgoing Student Trustee Clayton Thompson of Mendon, Illinois, who served from 2017-18.
In other business, the Board:
Authorized submission of a $228,328 to the Illinois Community College Board to provide instruction and support services for adult learners to obtain knowledge and skills for employment and self-sufficiency.
Authorized submission of a $10,000-$20,000 grant application to the Illinois Board of Higher Education for work-study and internship activities with local businesses.
Accepted a $22,705 proposal from Kiefer Specialty Flooring for carpet tiles to cover the gym floor for special events.
The next regular meeting of the Board will be held Wednesday, May 16, at 7 p.m. at the JWCC campus in Quincy. #041818