Presidential Search Profile e n gag i n g m i n d s, ch a n g i n g l i ve s, t h ro u g h t h e p owe r o f l e a r n i n g
The Board of Trustees and the Presidential Search Advisory Committee invite nominations and applications for the position of President of Lake Land College. The new president will assume office on July 1, 2013.
5001 Lake Land Boulevard Mattoon, IL 61938
Lake Land College A visitor to the Lake Land campus immediately senses the special nature of the College and employee dedication to its purpose. It is high achieving, entrepreneurial, innovative, and perceived by the community and students as an excellent educational value. Much of its growth and success, its application of current technology, and ability to manage tight finances are based on the “can-do” spirit of the employees. People know each other by name and care for one another and their roles in educating students. While there are some challenges, Lake Land is a caring, friendly, mutually supportive, student-centered college. Lake Land College, a public, comprehensive community college located in East Central Illinois, serves approximately 24,000 students annually. The main campus of 308 acres, including a 160-acre land lab, is located south of Mattoon at I-57 and US 45. The College operates the Kluthe Center for Higher Education and Technology in Effingham, the Western Center in Pana, the Eastern Region Center in Marshall, and 17 other sites. High school graduation cohorts are slowly decreasing; nevertheless, the College is growing, experiencing 152% increase in the last 10 years. Enrollment growth is due to consistently enrolling approximately 39% of high school graduates and to other programs such as the online education program, the Center for Business and Industry, the Dislocated Workers Program, the Corrections Program offered at eighteen sites throughout Illinois, a contract program with the Illinois Department of Transportation, and partnerships with John Deere Company, area hospitals, and other companies. State and local taxes, tuition and fees, and grants support the annual operating budget of 33 million dollars. State support per FTE has been flat for several years; local revenue has remained the same or increased slightly; and tuition increases have been modest. The College manages its finances well. It has the second lowest cost per FTE in the state, and tuition is below the state average. The campus is immaculate; the buildings are well maintained; and the staff and students are supported with current technology and equipment. An active foundation has assets in excess of 6 million dollars and annually raises substantial scholarship money. The College is accredited by North Central and is beginning to prepare for its 10 year visit in 2014. Several individual programs are also accredited, and those with licensure exams for graduates have 99% pass rates. The athletic program supports three women’s and two men’s teams that compete well in their leagues and in regional and national tournaments. Lake Land is recognized as a leader with several programs, faculty, and students receiving state and national awards. The College was selected by the Aspen Institute as one on the nation’s top 120 community colleges, and the campus is the safest in Illinois and the fourth safest in the nation. Students are proud of their College and a recent Noel Levitz survey of students placed student satisfaction far above other colleges nationally. Area employers and transfer institutions are pleased with Lake Land’s graduates. The student body is nearly equally divided by gender. The College’s minority population is 9.3% compared to 5% in the region. An eight-person Board of Trustees, seven elected in the district at-large for six-year terms and one student elected annually by the students, governs the College.
caring
Community College District #517 The College service area or “community” is nearly 4,000 square miles. It is District 517 in the Illinois system of community colleges and includes 31 school systems and all or part of 15 counties. The towns and villages are made up of shaded streets, well maintained homes with congenial, caring neighbors. The clean and neat communities are business friendly and family oriented with a strong work ethic and a low crime rate. Health care and K-12 schools are excellent. Area cost of living is modest with very reasonable housing costs. Small business, light manufacturing, printing, food processing, health care, natural gas and oil are a significant part of the business base; however, the economy is founded in agriculture. The vast majority of the region is abundantly productive farmland. Corn, beans, and livestock are the principal products. Lake Land College and Eastern Illinois University are major employers that provide substantial educational and cultural opportunities in the community. The colleges and school systems are centers for community activities as well as agricultural and business support. Outdoor recreation opportunities include hunting, boating and fishing on Lakes Mattoon, Shelbyville, and Sara, attractive and challenging golf courses, as well as many jogging and bicycling trails. Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis are within a 2 to 3 hour drive. Champaign/Urbana and the University of Illinois are 1 hour north. For more community information, please visit area web sites such as www.mattoonchamber.com, www.charlestonchamber.com, www.effinghamchamber.com and/or www.ecidc.com.
Leadership Opportunities and Challenges
communication
Lake Land College is recognized as an educational leader in Illinois and nationally. It is innovative and entrepreneurial. The College encourages moderate risk-taking to help students succeed, to develop new and expanded educational markets, and to solve fiscal and space problems. Technology is used extensively in academic, support, and administrative systems. The pride in and dedication to the College are built on a strong agricultural Midwestern culture and work ethic. Outstanding academic and support programs, student services, activities, and athletics are taught and directed by a well-qualified and enthusiastic faculty, staff, and administration. Rather than a change agent, Lake Land is seeking a strong, inspirational leader who will embrace the culture of the College: a leader who is caring and able to guide the institution to additional growth and achievement, will champion the student centered culture and encourage employee mutual support, and intends to make the College home for many years.
Leadership Style
The Board, faculty, and staff embrace the congenial, mutually supportive, and entrepreneurial spirit of the College. The vast majority of the employees make their entire career at Lake Land College. They are looking for an outgoing leader who will get to know everyone by name and role and who will frequently be out of the office talking with staff and students on campus. The president must be active in the community and take leadership roles in community and state organizations. The new president must be trustworthy, affable, congenial, entrepreneurial, visible and active on campus and in the community, and one who will lead in encouraging employees to be mutually supportive and to be innovative for student success.
Finances
Managing institutional funding and tight budgets is a big issue at Lake Land College. State support has remained flat for several years except for what is generated by or directly related to enrollment growth. The local community has been supportive, but low agricultural assessments have kept local contributions level. Tuition has risen only slightly because of a desire to keep students’ costs low. The operating budget of 33 million is supported 36% from the state, 20% from the local district, 40% from the students, and 4% from grants, contracts and miscellaneous sources. However annual expenditures are over 70 million when capital and contract funds are included. Due to excellent financial management, the current cumulative fund balance is about 6 million. The leadership opportunities and challenges are to maintain the tradition of sound fiscal management, to be active with local and state officials to improve funding, to encourage entrepreneurial efforts for program and enrollment growth, and especially to work with the Foundation to raise private funds.
Facilities and Equipment
The campus, buildings, classrooms, labs, and offices are beautifully maintained. Those responsible for maintenance are dedicated and enthusiastic about their work. Up-to-date technology is embraced in every facet of the College. Hardware and software are regularly updated. According to a survey by the Center for Digital Education based in Sacramento, California, the College ranked 7th among mid-sized colleges nationally for use of advanced information technology. Technology is a primary source and support for innovative program enhancement, including online course development. Green technology has been introduced by adding wind, solar, and geothermal to both production and instruction. The use of these alternative energy sources has reduced the College annual energy budget by about $300,000. At 81 square feet per FTE, the College has the third smallest space per FTE of all community colleges in Illinois. There is need for more classrooms, labs, offices, student services, and library space. State funds have been released for a 70,000 square foot addition to the student center and that work will begin soon. The leadership opportunity and challenge is to work with local leaders, state legislators, the state board, and other colleges to increase state capital funding, and to seek other sources of funding.
Please visit www.lakelandcollege.edu for more information about the College.
Faculty and Staff
There are 119 full-time faculty, 188 nonteaching professionals, 60 classified staff, 36 administrative staff, and about 447 adjunct faculty, and 351 part-time employees. Employees, except for administrative, supervisory, and support, are represented by three unions. The employees are well qualified, like their work, and go the extra mile to complete assignments and to help students. Their strong work ethic is matched by their pride in student and college success. They have been supported in their efforts to change, develop, and improve. Innovation is encouraged. However, some employees think that the spirit of mutual support and the “students first” concept has lost a little focus. The enrollment has increased by 152% in the past 10 years, and while some new positions have been added, full-time employee growth has not matched enrollment growth. The leadership opportunities and challenges are to maintain and enhance camaraderie, morale, and the entrepreneurial spirit; to actively and visibly support and encourage the work of the faculty and staff; and to seek the means to increase their numbers.
Students and Student Activities
Most students come from throughout the district and from Indiana, but there are students from throughout Illinois and from 30 other countries. Privately owned and operated student housing is adjacent to the campus. Annual enrollment is about 24,000 unduplicated with about 7,300 annual FTE. Thirty-nine percent of area high school graduates begin college at Lake Land because of its reputation for low cost and high quality educational programs. A large number of non-traditional students are enrolled in the College. However, the number of high school graduates in the district is slowly decreasing. Students participate in a comprehensive activities program and intercollegiate athletic program. A livestock judging team and the men’s and women’s athletic teams often compete in national tournaments. Students have strong affection for the College, faculty, and staff. Graduates are successful in their careers and when they transfer. Tuition has been kept affordable, and a textbook rental program saves each full-time student about $1,200 a year. The Foundation has raised substantial funds for scholarships. The leadership opportunities and challenges are to continue to enhance the student centered focus as well as student support programs and activities, and to promote efforts to increase enrollment and retention.
excellence
teamship Board and Community Relationships
There are enthusiastic relationships among the President, the Board, the Alumni Association, the Foundation, and the community. The elected Board understands and actively carries out its fiduciary responsibility. Positive working relationships have been established between the College and local and state elected officials, with the Illinois Community College Board, and with other colleges. These working relationships are necessary for the support of the College and for the public relations and marketing of the College. The general community, as well as the agricultural and business sectors, relies on the College for assistance that is needed and appreciated. The leadership opportunities and challenges are to quickly develop a working relationship with the Board and to assist the Board to carry out its duties, and to work with the Foundation to maintain scholarship fundraising, and also to begin fundraising for endowments and capital projects. Further, the new president must positively and actively engage the local community and the agricultural, business, and government entities to extend partnerships.
Programs
Lake Land College offers career, transfer, general education, work force development, continuing education, and online educational programs as well as contractual educational services for various government, agricultural, and business entities. There are 90 technical and career degree and certificate programs, 49 transfer and pre-baccalaureate programs, and many continuing education and work force development initiatives. The College contracts with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois Department of Corrections, the John Deere Company and others to offer specific educational services. The programs are innovative, professionally staffed, and accredited where possible. The student/faculty ratio is about 22:1 with approximately 53% of the student credit hours taught by full-time faculty. Many of the programs were initiated or refined through entrepreneurial efforts to expand and attract additional students. The leadership opportunity and challenge is to encourage continued entrepreneurial development and expansion of programs, staff, and facilities to increase enrollment and revenue.
Qualifications for the Lake Land College President The successful candidate will be one whose education, experience, achievements, and personal characteristics most closely fit the aforementioned opportunities and challenges as well as the culture and mission of Lake Land College. The following is a list of the most important qualities, experiences, and characteristics for the Lake Land College presidency. •
Academic credentials appropriate for leading a college – a doctorate is preferred.
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Experience working with elected officials, community and education leaders, and state education officials.
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A firm commitment to the ideals and mission of Lake Land College.
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Experience in supporting students, student activities, and athletics, and in promoting a student-centered focus.
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A commitment to learn and embrace the culture of the College and the community.
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Leadership experience and record of accomplishment at a senior level in a complex organization – preferably with experience in or comprehensive understanding of community colleges.
Commitment to and experience with fostering partnerships with community leaders in business, industry, labor, health, government, non-profit organizations, schools, and colleges.
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Ability to earn the trust, respect and support of the Board, the faculty, staff, students, and the community.
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Ability to work productively with others in a collegial setting to build morale as well as motivate and empower faculty, staff, students and administrators to think and act creatively to address opportunities and challenges.
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High ethical standards, personal integrity and honesty, and congenial good humor.
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Effective listening, writing, and speaking skills.
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Experience with managing in tight fiscal circumstances and experience in raising funds through private sources as well as government sources.
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Characteristics of a caring, outgoing person who will be frequently seen on campus supporting and encouraging the work of others.
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Devoted to excellence in teaching and learning; teaching experience is desirable.
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Ability to work well in a collegial and collective bargaining setting.
Understanding and appreciation of the Midwestern, agricultural lifestyle and willingness to make a commitment to Lake Land College.
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Experience with a governing board and an appreciation of the mutually supportive but distinctive roles of the CEO and Board.
innovation
Lake Land College Mattoon, Illinois
Rockford Chicago Moline
Interstate
Bloomington
57
Champaign Quincy
Springfield
Mattoon
Lake Land College Edwardsville
Indianapolis Terre Haute Interstate
70
St Louis
Carbondale
Nomination and Application Procedure Applications should include an up-to-date resume and a 3 to 5 page letter specifically addressing the applicant’s background in relation to the opportunities, challenges, experiences, characteristics, and qualifications described in this Profile. The search committee will begin reviewing applications on November 14, 2012. To ensure consideration, all materials should be received by November 30, 2012. Nominations and applications should be sent electronically in MS Word or Adobe PDF to: LakeLandpres@agbsearch.com
5001 Lake Land Blvd. Mattoon, Illinois
lakelandcollege.edu/presidentialsearch Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity: Lake Land College is committed to maintaining a working and learning environment that promotes equal opportunity and affirmative action and that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. It is the policy of Lake Land College not to engage in discrimination or harassment against any person because of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital or civil union status, veteran status, sexual orientation or any basis of discrimination precluded by applicable federal and state statutes. This policy applies to admission and access to and participation, treatment and employment in the College’s programs, activities, and services. The following campus office is assigned the responsibility for ensuring compliance with this policy as well as federal and state statutes and regulations concerning affirmative action and equal access: Office of the Director of Human Resources • (217) 234-5210 / Human Resources Office Complaint forms and procedures for filing can be obtained through Counseling Services or Human Resources. In addition, these offices will maintain current copies of appropriate laws, regulations, and policies.
This search is being assisted by: Robert E. Parilla, Ph.D. Search Consultant AGB Search Robert.parilla@agbsearch.com 301-518-2071 Lake Land College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer
e n gag i n g m i n d s, ch a n g i n g l i ve s, t h ro u g h t h e p owe r o f l e a r n i n g