Kaskaskia College Board approves new short-term certificates, keeps tuition at current rate

By Managing Editor | March 1, 2023 |

The Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees held its monthly meeting on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. Board members included Bill Hawley (Odin), Linda Stover (Centralia), Bryan Holthaus (Carlyle), Louis Kalert (Centralia), Jim Beasley (Centralia), and Alyssa Lurkins (Student Trustee). Board members Laura Wedekemper (Shattuc), and Jeff Brown (Greenville) were absent.

Kaskaskia College has several new short-term certificates available to help individuals who are looking for a quick way to start or change their careers. The KC Board of Trustees approved the short-term certificates in Early Childhood Small Business, Hybrid and Electrical Vehicle Technology, Word Specialist, Excel Specialist, Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning during their regular February meeting.

Microsoft Word and Excel Microcertificates will prepare students to sit for certification examinations in the industry standard Microsoft Office Suite of products. Each microcertificate is designed to enhance employability by allowing the students to enhance their skills and obtain industry certification.
The Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Technology Certificate will allow the college to offer training specific to the emerging field of hybrid and electric vehicles. Electric and hybrid technology is a growing field as automakers are now transitioning to these two fields and a new state law provides incentives for companies build facilities, train workers and create jobs with a goal of putting one million electric vehicles on the road by 2030. This certificate is an extension of KC’s current Automotive Technology degree or it can be taken independent of the degree.
The Early Childhood Small Business Certificate will assist in providing individuals the basic skills needed to confidently and successfully run home daycares. Classes will be held online to make it as easily accessible as possible for those working full-time. The goal of this certificate is to promote competencies in all aspects of providing care and education for young children.
Advanced Heating, Vent, and AC Certificate offers students accelerated training enabling them to complete both the Heating, Vent, and AC Certificate and the Advanced Heating, Vent and AC Certificate in one calendar year. This certificate is in response to the significant industry workforce shortage that is causing students to seek employment rather than completion of their education. As the need for skilled workers has grown, there has been an increase in the number of students leaving the program to gain employment after completion of the one-year Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning certificate.
The Manufacturing Technology Certificate will allow Kaskaskia College to provide entry-level skills training to students enabling them to enter the manufacturing workforce upon completion.

Vice President of Instructional Services Julie Obermark notes the certificates are in response to employer needs to offer training that is more specialized, affordable, and faster to obtain than a more traditional credential, such as a degree or certification. Additional certificates are expected to be announced in the future.

The board also approved a resolution to keep the college’s tuition at its current rates:

In-district tuition rate of $136
Out-of-District tuition rate of $235
Out-of-State and International tuition rate of $395

This is the fifth straight year Kaskaskia College has kept its tuition rate at the same level. The board did approve proposed adjustments to the college’s fee structure increasing the technology fee by five dollars, and creating a $6 student wellness and support fee to replace the student activity and library fee, while eliminating the $10 per credit hour online fee. The fee adjustment is the first the college has implemented since 2016. Vice President of Administrative Services Judy Hemker noted the fee structure is more transparent as the financial commitment for the student does not change based on the modality of the course. This is especially student-friendly when face-to-face sections are not available and the student opts to take an online course. The cost to the student does not change.

In other action Monday evening, the board:

Authorized the college to purchase of a used/reconditioned electric stand-up forklift truck to be used for instructional and training purposes through the college’s Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) grant. The purchase is not to exceed $50,000. The actual purchase will be ratified at a subsequent board meeting.
Approved the purchase of a hybrid electric vehicle trainer from Lucas-Nuelle, Inc. of Williamsburg, VA in the amount of $52,570. Funds for the purchase come from the college’s Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) grant.
Authorized college administration to proceed with the bidding and awarding of a contractor to replace the flooring in the Lifelong Learning Center. During the holiday break, a waterline froze and broke in the Center, causing flooding of a large area of the building and damaging the carpeting. Insurance covered replacing the water-damaged carpet, but in order to maintain consistency in floor covering throughout the building, the college will replace the carpeting in areas not affected by water damage. cess and awarding a contractor with the ratification of the award at a subsequent Board meeting. Based on preliminary estimates the cost isn’t expected to exceed $110,000.
Awarded the base bid for asbestos abatement in the Admissions (AD), Science and Technology (ST), Vocational Annex, Fine Arts (FA) and the Health and Professional Careers Center (HPC) to Great Western Abatement of Jerseyville, Ill., in the amount of $389,826.00. The abatement is part of planned renovations of each building with funds coming from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), Public Health Safety (PHS) and bonds the college refinanced last year.
Approved the creation of a new club. The Standing Ovation Society will be a club centered around public speaking. It is designed to improve communication for both students and faculty within the campus and surrounding communities. The purpose of the Standing Ovation Society is to offer communication advice, listening, suggestions, help, etc. as needed throughout the year by both Kaskaskia College students and community members.

The board also approved a number of personnel items:

Approving restructuring the college’s Online Support Specialist position to a Director of Learning and Innovation to better align support needs for students, faculty and the college as a whole.
Approved the hiring of Mike Christensen of Centralia, Wash., as the college’s new Executive Director of Development at an annual salary of $70,000. Christensen comes to KC with an extensive background in higher education including serving as a Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator for Centralia College and most recently as the Campaign and Major Gifts Officers for South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, Wash.
Approved the hiring of Carli Sanders of Centralia as the new Manufacturing and Work-Based Learning Coordinator at a salary of $57,500.
Approved the hiring of Denise VanFleet of Beloit, Wisc., as Assistant Professor/Program Coordinator of Health Information Technology at a salary of $80,076.
Approved the employment of Mandy Wollin of St. Peter, Illinois as the Nurse Assistant Program Coordinator at a salary of $53,000.
Accepted the resignation of Director of Institutional Effectiveness Lauren Meyers.
Accepted the resignation of the Centralia Correctional Center Commercial Cooking Instructor Kristin Williams.
Accepted the retirement of college Director of Marketing Travis Henson