Increase In Financial Aid Awards at SCC

Shawnee Community College saw a 50% increase in the number of students receiving financial aid during the summer semester: 678 students received $746,372 in PELL grant funds and 43 students received $9,890 in SEOG funds. Interim Vice President of Student Services Carolyn Kindle shared the news with the board of trustees at the August board meeting. The financial aid office at SCC continues to assist students in obtaining college funding assistance through grants, scholarships, work study, and other types of aid.

SCC President Dr. Larry Peterson has been appointed as chairman of the Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market board. SICCM was organized in 1973 to provide a means of sharing human and material resources in higher education to fast-growing institutions within the consortium. The members of the organization are Shawnee Community College, John A. Logan College, Kaskaskia College, Rend Lake College, Southeastern Illinois College, and Southern Illinois University.

Connie McGinnis, representing SCC faculty, reported that nursing instructors Angie Johnson and Carol Belt recently attended a conference at Rend Lake College. Connie Daily, Denise Griffith, and Carol Belt also attended a workshop at Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah. The Student Academic Assessment Committee has be actively working with non-faculty members to complete the FY2010 cycle.

Vice President of Instructional Services Tim Bellamey reported to the board that 22 area high school students attended the 10th annual Youth Leadership Academy. Students completing the program receive three college credit hours and many return to SCC to complete degrees. American Commercial Lines and several local banks funded this year's Youth Entrepreneurship Camp, with 22 students attending. Bellamey also reported that final exams for the summer semester would conclude this week and the faculty will return to campus on August 16 for the fall in-service. The semester begins Wednesday, August 18.

Interim Vice President of Student Services Carolyn Kindle also reported to the board that SCC Student Counselor Monica Brahler, MSW, LCSW, provided personal counseling to over 500 students throughout the FY10 school year. Kindle concluded her report to the board with information on two additional stops by SMART transportation: one additional stop in Alexander and Pulaski counties. Chief Financial Officer Tiffiney Ryan told the board that the FY11 budget will be presented to the board at the October meeting and that there is no additional information available on state funding.

Student Trustee Shannon Knowles spoke to the board about her participation in the Youth Leadership Academy and told the board that the event provided positive experiences for the participants.

The board:

• Approved the Guarantee Trust Life renewal for basic athletic coverage and the Mutual of Omaha NJCAA endorsed Catastrophe Coverage from Insurance Benefit Service Group, Inc. of Mounds, for the 2010-2011 athletic insurance, effective August 15, 2010.
• Approved the FY2011 cooperative agreement with John A. Logan College.
• Approved the addendum to the original lease agreements with Southern Seven Health Department for Buildings A, B, C, and E for the period of September 1, 2010, until August 31, 2011.
• Approved the addendum to the original lease agreement with Southern Five Regional Planning and Development Commission for Building F for the period of September 1, 2010, until August 31, 2011.
• Ratified the employment of part-time faculty/staff for fall semester 2010.