Susan Czerwinski Aljets

This strategic plan outlines the long-term direction for Lewis and Clark Community College, an achievement-driven institution dedicated to student success and the prosperity of its communities. The plan is structured around four key directions: creating enrollment and retention improvements, investing in program and curriculum development, improving internal and external stakeholder engagement, and investing in data and technology transformation. These directions guide the college's aspirations and commitment to agility and adaptability in achieving its goals.

The meeting featured an audit presentation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, delivered by representatives from Sheffield Boille. The audit resulted in an unmodified (clean) opinion on the financial statements, and unmodified opinions on state adult education grants and enrollment data. The GASB opinion noted no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting. However, the Uniform Guidance (Single Audit) identified four compliance findings related to the Student Financial Aid cluster, including issues with income reporting, verification form sign-offs, rounding methods, and late notification letters. The presentation highlighted a net position increase of $13.8 million, driven by a significant decrease in non-current liabilities due to debt payoff, despite an increase in operating expenses of $2.6 million. A new accounting standard, GASB 101 concerning compensated absences, required restatement of the prior year's beginning fund balance. The meeting also included an update on enrollment efforts focused on retention.

The board meeting included a public comment segment where the Director of Parks and Recreation for the village of Godfrey expressed sincere gratitude to Lewis and Clark Community College for donating, purchasing, prepping, and installing custom play features for the Max E. Hines Memorial Dog Park. The board then held a public hearing regarding the tax levy, which included voting to approve the hearing and subsequently closing the hearing after confirming no public comment was provided on the levy. Key directions updates were presented across four areas (KD1 through KD4). KD1 focused on increasing enrollment and retention, highlighting the success of the "Discover Your Path 2.0" video campaign, including a highly viewed video featuring the board chair, and the successful hosting of the first LC to SIUE transfer day. KD2 reported on curriculum expansion, including piloting aviation courses (avionics and industrial electricity), launching a grant-funded phlebotomy class offered for free, and managing test prep issues due to system disagreements. KD3 focused on improving internal and external stakeholder engagement, noting a significant increase in employee survey participation (up 27%) and strong engagement in the KD Cup competitions where students are currently leading. External engagement included hosting community connect summits and increased alumni association membership (38% increase). KD4 covered advancing technology, noting all IT positions are filled and progress on GBA compliance requirements such as encryption and risk assessment policies. Challenges noted include the high cost associated with an anticipated server upgrade due to a global RAM shortage and the deferral of migrating to a single meeting platform. The adoption of AI tools like Co-pilot was also discussed.

The meeting commenced with roll call and public comment session. Key discussions included an enrollment update for Spring 2026, noting a current 6% decrease in billable credit hours, alongside efforts to boost registration through outreach and high school partnerships. The Athletics report detailed progress in the five-year retool, showing growth in student athletes and significant fundraising success, leading to the establishment of multiple endowments. New club sports were announced, and improvements in athletic promotion via social media and a new website/streaming platform were highlighted. Action items included approval for the purchase of new servers, which was discussed due to current high market prices. The Board also approved the Louiswis and Clark facilities master plan, the Carlinville Sale for the Mccoupen County Community Education Center, the faculty seniority list, and the FY2027 tuition and universal fees. Informational items covered the status of a Dual Credit Grant application and exploration of establishing a 'Finish a Trailblazer' endowment to support students transitioning from dual credit pathways.

The meeting included updates on the Gateway Enterprise Zone, highlighting its role in economic development and the process for creating a new zone. There was also an enrollment update, which included a comparison to the previous spring and strategies for reaching out to potential students. The LC to SIUE pathway event was discussed, which is aimed at encouraging students to complete their degrees at LC and then transfer to SIOE. The TRIO program was also highlighted, including its mission to provide opportunities for first-generation, low to moderate income students to access college.