Marlow returns to classroom, steps down from board
Board member Rick Marlow has stepped down from his seat effective Jan. 6 in order to return to the classroom on an adjunct basis. With time as a student, employee and board member combined, Marlow has been involved with Rend Lake College for more than 30 years. He retired in 2006 from a position as a full-time architecture professor. He ran for the board and was elected to an unexpired two-year term in 2009, and later was reelected to a six-year term. Marlow said he plans to return to the classroom teaching agriculture as a part-time instructor, and is stepping down from the board in order to do so and avoid any conflict of interest. Board Chair Eric Black read Marlow’s resignation letter to the board, and publicly thanked Marlow for his lengthy service to RLC.
College to seek Career Services Specialist
The board granted permission to create the job description and advertise for a Career Services Specialist. The position is necessary to support the college’s emphasis on student success through improved persistence, retention and completion efforts. This person will assist students with their career and curriculum pathways, and also will help the Institutional Research Department with reporting and data collection.
Holder becomes Academic Advisor
Tommy Holder was appointed an Academic Advisor effective Jan. 16. As part of the action, the job description also was revised. The position previously was held by Tony Etnier, who also held duties as a baseball coach. Holder currently serves as associate head basketball coach. These duties are now included in the job description. Holder currently works as a part-time recruiter and advisor for RLC. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and an Associate in Science Degree from RLC.
Choate receives appointment as Health Studies Success Coordinator
Marli Choate was appointed Health Studies Support Coordinator effective Jan. 11. She holds a Master of Health Science Degree with a specialization in mental health from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, as well as two degrees from Eastern Illinois University, a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies.
Salesberry joins Nursing ranks
The board ratified the appointment of Lynn Salesberry as a temporary full-time Nursing Instructor effective Jan. 6. The move was made due to the resignation of Nicole Haney. Salesberry has more than 25 years of clinical experience and most recently served as a registered nurse at Heartland Regional Medical Center. She is scheduled to complete her Master’s Degree in Nursing Education from South University in March.
Waldman transfers to coordinator position
The board granted permission to create the position and approve the job description for the Coordinator of the Rend Lake College MarketPlace, and transferred Whitney Waldman to that position from her previous position of Administrative Assistant for the RLC MarketPlace, effective Jan. 16. The action better suits the needs and duties for the MarketPlace. Waldman holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and has the skills needed to be successful in the position.
Nursing’s Haney moving on
The board accepted with regret the resignation of Nicole Haney, Nursing Associate Professor, effective Jan. 13. She had been with RLC full-time since August 2011. “Thank you very much for the opportunities for professional and personal development that you have provided me for more than five years,” Haney wrote in her resignation letter. “I will miss the amazing colleagues I have been fortunate to know at Rend Lake College.”
In other business, the board …
·Approved revisions to board policy and procedure concerning the Board of Trustees Code of Ethics (second reading); identification and disposal of obsolete equipment, materials and supplies (second reading); and inventory records for capital assets (second reading).
·Approved board policy and procedure concerning the Employee Code of Ethics (second reading), sexual offender / sexual predator registration for employment applicants and employees (second reading), sexual offender / sexual predator registration for students (second reading), administration of Narcan (first reading), administration of epinephrine (first reading), and conduct and appearance (first reading).
·Ratified payment of college expenses, including travel reimbursements, as presented.
·Authorized the destruction of closed session tapes after they have been held for 18 months, in accordance with and as provided by the Illinois Open Meetings Act. The board also voted not to release closed session minutes from the January 2015 through June 2015 meetings.
·Approved revisions to the job description for Coordinator of Special Projects.
·Granted an additional two weeks of unpaid leave of absence to the testing and placement specialist.
·Approved a resolution to adopt the Perry County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Mark your calendars …
·Thespian Comedy Improv, 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, RLC Theatre.
·WYSE Competition, Wednesday, Feb. 8, Waugh Gymnasium.
·Visiting Artist Series: Mixed Media by Najjar Abdul-Musawwir, Jan. 27-April 21, RLC Theatre Lobby.
·Spoken Word Open Mic, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30, King City Books, Mt. Vernon.
·RLC Basketball Homecoming Games vs. Southeastern Illinois College, Wednesday, Feb. 15. Women’s game at 5:30 p.m., men’s game at 7:30 p.m., Waugh Gymnasium.
·Career Fairs for seventh and eighth grades, Fridays, March 3 and 10, RLC Campus.
·SIU Student Filmmakers, noon Wednesday, March 22, RLC Theatre.
·Kickstart Your Journey for high school freshmen and sophomores, Thursday-Friday, March 23-24, RLC Campus.
·Spring Musical: The Wizard of Oz, 7 p.m. April 6-8, 2 p.m. April 9, RLC Theatre.
· Job Search Party, 3-6 p.m. Thursday, April 13, Holiday Inn / Doubletree Inn, Mt. Vernon.
