2016 Report to Our Community

2016 Report to Our Community 1 A Welcome: President’s Message Taking a look back on 2016 in this report, one message is abundantly clear: Rend Lake College is making good things happen for our students, graduates, and community. Last year, RLC found its way to the top of several national rankings, all due to the continued dedication and support for our students. These independent studies looked at our graduates and how the investment of their time and money at RLC works out in the end, effectively highlighting our focus on student success. In the last year, we made room for several new degrees and certificates, and revised six programs to keep our graduates competitive in their growing fields. We also collaborated with local businesses and four-year institutions to offer our graduates new opportunities, even after they’ve walked across our Commencement stage. Terry Wilkerson, President Also notable are the AmeriCorps and Brookwood-Sago grants that will offer more possibilities for our students through community outreach and specialized training. A new team in the RLC Foundation also highlights a focus on student success through scholarships. That’s not the only part of RLC that has undergone a transformation. Many of our buildings on campus have seen recent renovations, including the RLC Foundation Children’s Center, the Rec Center, and Warrior Way. As we move into our 50th year, our faculty, staff, and administration are continuing the hard work started many decades ago, to center our efforts on the next generation of graduates in the workforce. We’re here to serve you, our community, so drop by for a visit, give us a call, or send us an email so we can address your comments, concerns and questions. We look forward to seeing and hearing from you. 2 Rend Lake College Board of Trustees Eric Black Randy Rubenacker John Kabat Rick Marlow Chair Vice Chair Secretary ICCTA Representative Mt. Vernon McLeansboro Scheller Mt. Vernon Dr. David Asbery Randall Crocker Larry Manning Eric Schumm Mt. Vernon Sesser Belle Rive Student Trustee Wayne City 3 Student Head Count 2016 (DUPLICATED) Total Employees Incl. Faculty 2016 Summer ..................................... 3,213 Full Time .................................... 178 Fall ............................................. 6,210 Part Time ................................... 186 Spring ........................................ 4,389 Total ........................................... 364 Total ........................................... 13,812 Faculty Head Count 2016 Credit Hours 2016 Full Time .................................... 61 Summer ..................................... 6,440 Part Time ................................... 82 Fall ............................................. 30,099 Total ........................................... 143 Spring ........................................ 29,073 Total ........................................... 65,612 Degrees Awarded 2016 ........ 567 Certificates Awarded 2016 . 1,651 Full Time Equivalency (FTE) 2016 1,972 Tuition (PER CREDIT HOUR 2016) ........... $110 $95 PLUS $10 PER CREDIT HOUR TECH FEE & $5 PER CREDIT HOUR FACILITIES FEE 4 National Rankings Put RLC on the map In case you haven’t heard, Rend Lake College the national average of 40 percent. Of the top has been steadily moving up the ranks across 10 on SmartAsset’s ranking, RLC placed second the country with several top spots on three in salary-cost ratio at 1.33, meaning graduates different independent studies last year. have a starting salary that is 33 percent higher In January, RLC was ranked on the Aspen than their college costs. Institute’s Top 150 Community Colleges in the nation list, produced every two years, for the fourth time since the ranking began in 2011. The institute bases the ranking on student success rates, including first-year retention, three-year graduation, and credentials awarded. According to the study, RLC’s first- year retention rate of 57.8 measures higher than the average of all community colleges at 52.1. RLC’s 69.2 three-year graduation rate far exceeds the national average of 39.4. The college also outdid the national average of 35.2 In August, RLC found the number one spot in credentials awarded per 100 students at 54.3. on another national ranking, this time by WalletHub, a financial website. RLC came in In July, RLC found itself ranked no. 1 on a study first in Illinois and seventh in the nation. by SmartAsset, a personal finance technology company. WalletHub based the ranking on a dozen key factors ranging from cost and finances to To determine the top community colleges, educational and career outcomes. SmartAsset used a set of metrics to analyze data for four key factors: student-to-faculty ratio, After comparing 821 community colleges, RLC cost of tuition and fees for in-state students, landed in 18th overall for educational outcomes, graduation and transfer rates, and ratio of such as first-year retention and credentials. RLC graduates’ median salaries to cost of attendance. also came in 20th overall in career outcomes, including student-loan default rate and return RLC’s student-to-faculty ratio remains low at 15- on educational investment. to-1. The college’s graduation and transfer rate of 67 percent is also significantly higher than 5 New Beginnings: Degrees and Certificates Two new degrees made their way to RLC’s campus last year to give graduates the skills they need to work in several growing industries. RLC also updated several certificate programs and became the home of a nationally accredited Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic program. A new Robots and Automation certificate was developed as part of an Economic Development Administration grant to train students in the skills and knowledge needed for employment as technicians responsible for the installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of automated equipment. Studio RLC in Mt. Vernon added an Esthetics certificate program for future cosmetologists interested in everything skin-related, from health and nutrients to facial treatments, and much more. In addition to the new programs, six degrees and certificates were also updated for today’s graduates to remain competitive and reliable in the job market. The new Office Systems Technology Specialist degree and Assistant certificate replaced the Administrative Assistant program to include more job responsibilities these employees see daily. Because many office specialists are employed in the medical industry, the new Medical Office Specialist degree and Assistant and Associate certificates were created to provide students with administrative skills and a background in the medical environment. Current and future students in RLC’s Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Paramedic program can now sit for the National Registry of EMTs Paramedic Exam, thanks to new accreditation and updated curriculum. Previously, graduates could sit for the Illinois examination, but now, those students can pursue a paramedic license anywhere in the United States. 6 Community Partnerships and 2+2 Agreements Agreements and local partnerships continue to be a driving force for students and graduates at Rend Lake College. With future plans and goals in mind, 2+2 Articulation Agreements give students a seamless transition to continue their education at a four- year institution. Last year, three agreements were established with Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale for RLC graduates. • Psychology graduates can transfer into SIU Carbondale’s Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program. • Certified Medical Coding and Health Information Technology graduates can transfer into SIU Carbondale’s Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management program. • Early Childhood Education graduates can transfer into SIU Carbondale’s Bachelor of Science program in Early Childhood Education, Child and Family Specialization program. Through a new cohort, the SIU students can take night classes in RLC’s district. Local partnerships offer hands-on experience training for those interested in joining the workforce. Through internships and apprenticeships, students have more options than ever to get a jump start in their industry. • Continental Tire the Americas, LLC teamed up with RLC to offer students in the Industrial Electronics & Maintenance Technician program a unique apprenticeship opportunity in which they work between 16 and 20 hours per week for pay, while gaining experience. Graduates of RLC’s program are then considered for a full- time position at Continental Tire. • Mt. Vernon Iron Works, LLC also partnered up with RLC to provide opportunities for welders. The local company provides internships and work-based training for both students and graduates. 7 Brookwood-Sago and AmeriCorps Grants Rend Lake College received two large grants last year that help give students more opportunities and provide services back to the community. The first of those grants was the AmeriCorps grant, sponsored by the Illinois Department of Public Health. RLC students will continue to volunteer in local communities this year, thanks to the renewal of this grant for approximately $440,000. Specifically, the grant helps students with training and educational awards to both give back to others and continue down the path of higher education. The grant will help with training new AmeriCorps members and provide for educational benefits for those students. This includes a monthly living allowance; funds for training throughout the year; CPR certifications; background checks; fingerprinting; and a four-day,

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