Rend Lake College

Rend Lake College
Former names
 Mt. Vernon Community College[1][2]
Motto "Our Students' Success, is Our Own Success"
Type Public, 2 year Community College[3]
Established 1955[1]
Endowment $4,927,997[4]
President Terry Wilkerson, M.S., President[5]
Undergraduates 5259[6][2]
Other students
 4092 (non-credit)[2]
Location United States Ina, IL, USA
Campus Rural, 350 acres (1.4 km2)
Newspaper RLC Times
Colours Red      White      Black     
Athletics 17 Varsity Teams[7]
Great Rivers Athletic Conference
NCJAA Division II
Nickname Warriors[7]
Affiliations Illinois Community College System[8]
Website http://www.rlc.edu/

Rend Lake College (RLC), located in Ina, Illinois, is one of 48 two-year, open-admission colleges of the Illinois Community College System (ICCS), organized under the Illinois Public Community College Act.[3]

History

Rend Lake College was founded in 1955 as Mt. Vernon Community College to allow students from High School District No. 201 the opportunity to receive post-secondary education similar to university curriculum. Authorized by the Illinois General Assembly and signed by Illinois Governor Otto Kerner, Jr. in 1961, the legislation enacted created the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). The IBHE was tasked by statute with formulating a Master Plan for Higher Education in the state of Illinois.[9][10] In July 1964 the higher education master plan was published by the IBHE, which led to the Junior College Act of 1965.[9][10] Soon thereafter, the institution was officially renamed Rend Lake College when it was organized December 20, 1966.[1]

The Mt. Vernon Township High School and its faculty served as the initial facilities for the college when it began in 1967.[1] The college began with a staff of 29 full-time and eight part-time faculty members, two full-time administrators and a librarian.[1] Soon after its organization, the RLC Board of Trustees selected a 350-acre (1.4 km2) site near Ina, Illinois, located between Interstate 57 and Rend Lake, and began planning a new campus. Voters approved a bond issue of $3.1 million in 1967, to provide for the districts local share of the $9.5 million total cost. Groundbreaking ceremonies for construction were held March 27, 1969, coinciding with the day the college received word of its first North Central Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation.[1][2]

The first five buildings of the campus, including Academic, Science, Gymnasium, the South Oasis and Maintenance buildings were ready for occupancy by August 1970, with classes beginning that fall. Phase II and III construction, which included five more buildings began in the Spring of 1971. Phase II and III construction were complete by 1975, which led to RLC becoming the first community college in Illinois to complete its entire facilities master plan. Major remodeling of the Administration Building took place during 1999-2000 and nearly doubled its size while centralizing almost all student service functions in one building. In 2002, off-campus changes occurred with the addition of the Rend Lake College MarketPlace in Mt. Vernon and the Rend Lake College Murphy-Wall Pinckneyville Campus. In Fall 2005, the Applied Science Center opened on the southwest corner of campus. This 22,300 square feet (2,070 m2) facility houses the Agricultural Business, Agricultural Production, Agricultural Mechanics, Heavy Equipment and Diesel Technology programs.[1] On August 7, 2008, RLC broke ground on the new Coal Mining Training Center, a 20,000 square feet (1,900 m2) training facility located next to the Mark Kern Applied Science Center.[11][12] The college received $1.07 million in grant funding from Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for the construction of the facility, alongside a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to train students in the mining industry. One year later on August 11, 2009, the new facility held its first open house to the public.[13]

Campus

Rend Lake College currently has its main campus in Ina, Illinois. A second learning center for classes, known as the RLC Murphy-Wall Pinckneyville Campus was opened in Pinckneyville, Illinois.[14] In addition to RLC's two credit learning campuses, the college holds non-credit classes at its RLC Marketplace location. Located in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, the RLC Marketplace houses shops and businesses as a part of RLC curriculum.[15]

In addition to the degrees it offers at its two campuses, Rend Lake College currently operates two satellite campuses at local correctional facilities under contract with the Illinois Department of Corrections. RLC holds vocational and rehabilitative classes at IDOC facilities, which are closed to the public.[16]

Academics and demographics

Rend Lake College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) to offer certificates, diplomas and associate degrees.[2][17] It received the maximum ten-year accreditation approval by the Higher Learning Commission of the NCA during its last review.[18][19][20]

Rend Lake College partners with area four-year colleges and universities, such as Southern Illinous University, Carbondale, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, and the Western Illinois University as a part of the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide transfer agreement which ensures general education credits are transferable among more than 100 participating college or universities in Illinois.[20][21] In addition to the IAI, RLC offers students "two-plus-two" programs that guarantee students that the courses completed at the college will transfer to their majors at four-year baccalaureate institutions.[22] There are seven primary divisions at Rend Lake College: Advanced Technology, Math/Science/Education, Allied Health, Health & P.E., Applied Science, Skills Center, Liberal Arts, and Special Programs. The divisions offer a total of 43 associate degree programs, and 80 certificate programs.[2][23]

Enrollment

As of April 13, 2009, Spring enrollment at RLC was 21,952 of which 5797 were enrolled full-time, and 10592 were enrolled part-time. In addition, 4092 non-credit enrollees were reported by RLC for the same period.[2] During the prior spring semester in 2008, Student head count at the college rose 12.8 percent from 2004–2008, and rose 8.2 percent for the 2007-2008 year.[24] Most of the increase in enrollment was attributed to recent layoffs at local factories and plants, as well as the introduction of new programs at the college. In addition, dual credit enrollees obtaining college credit while attending high school increased from 3,415 students, to 5,040 students from 2010 to 2011.[24]

Libraries

Rend Lake College provides a library within its Learning Resources Center at its main Ina, Illinois Campus. The library has 21,000 volumes, and 145 periodical and newspaper titles alongside online resources and a media learning area. It has facilities for study, research, leisure reading, class preparation, and wireless Internet access for students.[25]

Endowment

The Rend Lake College Foundation, an Illinois registered not-for-profit organization, is a separate but cooperative entity alongside Rend Lake College.[26] The goal of the foundation is to support Rend Lake College activities through fundraising and endowment management. Through a combination of fundraising events, investment, and donations, the foundation's endowment grew from $1.3 million in 1997, to $4.9 million in 2007.[4]

In 2007, the Foundation began is "Friends of the Theater" campaign. the campaign set out to raise $50,000, one-quarter of the $200,000 needed to make a theatre renovation requested by the school. The campaign raised $72,700 by mid-March 2008. The $282,000 renovation was completed to the theater by the end of March 2009. The renovations included wider seats, wall-to-wall carpeting, acoustic wall treatments and handicapped-accessible seating.[27] The foundation also assists the school by providing scholarships for students. A recent scholarship drive between local business and the foundation raised $44,000 for local area high school students.[28]

Student life

Academic clubs

RLC has an active student population, with over 25 registered student clubs involved in academic, competitive, and cultural based activities .[29] The RLC College Bowl, an academic club, competes with other schools in the Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market (SICCM) conference.[30] Having won the state championships several years in a row, the College Bowl team recently went to the Illinois state academic finals after being undefeated for the entire 2008-2009 season.[31] In addition, the campus has an active chapter of Phi Theta Kappa ΦΘΚ the international honor society for two-year colleges and academic programs.[30][32]

Student athletics

Rend Land College fields teams known as the Warriors which compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) in the following sports:

Men's Intercollegiate Sports

Women's Intercollegiate Sports

The Warriors have been one of the dominant programs of the early 21st Century in men's cross country, winning the NJCAA Division III championship in 2001-03 and the Division I title in 2006 & 2009.[33] The school hosted the 2012 NJCAA Division I Championships.[34] Rend Lake was also the 2008 NJCAA Indoor Track and Field National Champion.[35]

Cultural activities

The Rend Lake College Cultural Events Committee is a campus organization dedicated to bringing artists in multiple disciplines to both the college and the surrounding area.[36] The main campus also houses an active Theater, which hosts numerous student-organized productions throughout the year.[37] An extension of the theater department is the Thespians, a student-led improvisational troop that performs at local area cultural events.[38][39] RLC also has an inter-college organization known as the Student Ambassadors, who serve as hosts or hostesses, tour guides and recruitment role models to area high school students.[40]

Ag Club

The Agriculture Department at Rend Lake College offers an Ag Club which is able to be joined by anyone in the agriculture department. The only other requirements are that you pay your ten dollar dues.

Disc golf

In 1987, a 9-hole disc golf course was added to the north end of campus. The course is free for students or visitors.

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Rend Lake College History". Rend Lake College. 2008. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Rend Lake College Accreditation Status". The Higher Learning Commission. 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
  3. 1 2 Public Community College Act (110 ILCS 805/), Illinois General Assembly, 1978, retrieved August 9, 2009
  4. 1 2 "Rend Lake College Self Study Report - Preparing for the Future" (PDF). Rend Lake College. 2008. p. 79. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  5. ↑ "RLC VETERAN WILKERSON NAMED COLLEGE'S SEVENTH PRESIDENT". 2008.
  6. ↑ Unknown, IBHE Institutional Profile: Rend Lake College, ICCB, retrieved August 2, 2009
  7. 1 2 Unknown, NCJAA Stats Page for Rend Lake College, NCJAA, retrieved August 2, 2009
  8. ↑ "ILLINOIS COMMUNITY COLLEGES". Illinois Community College Board. 2008. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
  9. 1 2 Lach, Ivan (1998), ICCS HISTORY, Illinois Community College Board, retrieved August 9, 2009
  10. 1 2 Illinois Junior College Act; Illinois Revised Statutes, Chapter 122, Sections 101-1 to 108-2: Illinois Legislature, 1965
  11. ↑ Culli, Tesa (August 8, 2008). "RLC breaks ground on new mining center". Mt. Vernon Register-News. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  12. ↑ Malkovich, becky (August 7, 2008). "RLC breaks ground on new miner training facility". The Southern. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  13. ↑ Culli, Tesa (August 9, 2009). "RLC readies mining tech center". Mt. Vernon Register-News. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  14. ↑ "RLC Murphy-Wall Pinckneyville Campus". Rend Lake College. 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  15. ↑ "MARKETPLACE BUSINESSES FACILITATE BEADING, COFFEE, TEA COURSES". Rend Lake College. December 12, 2003. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  16. ↑ "Educational Resources: Correctional Education". Rend Lake College. 2008. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  17. ↑ "Rend Lake College Accreditation Page". Rend Lake College. 2008. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
  18. ↑ "THE PERFECT 10: HLC awards RLC maximum accreditation". Rend Lake College. November 19, 2008. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
  19. ↑ "Rend Lake College Accreditation Status". The Higher Learning Commission. June 25, 2009. Archived from the original on June 22, 2007. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  20. 1 2 Culli, Tesa (November 20, 2008). "RLC receives 10-year accreditation". Mt. Vernon Register-News. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  21. ↑ "Rend Lake College Board of Trustees Meeting Highlights". Rend Lake College. August 12, 2008. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
  22. ↑ "Educational Resources: Two-Plus-Two". Rend Lake College. 2008. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  23. ↑ "Rend Lake College Degree & Certificate Programs". Rend Lake College. 2008. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
  24. 1 2 McCoy, Kandace (April 10, 2008). "Rend Lake College sets more enrollment records". Mt. Vernon Register-News. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
  25. ↑ "The Learning Resource Center". Rend Lake College. 2008. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
  26. ↑ Rend Lake College Foundation Corporate Filing #46868285, Illinois Secretary of State, August 26, 1966, retrieved August 12, 2009
  27. ↑ Malkovich, Becky (April 22, 2008). "COLLEGE FOUNDATION SHOWS GRATITUDE WITH GALA FOR "FRIENDS"". Rend Lake College. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  28. ↑ Testa, Adam (May 16, 2009). "Black Diamond Harley, colleges award scholarships". The Southern. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  29. ↑ "Campus Life: Student Activities". Rend Lake College. 2008. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  30. 1 2 "Campus Life: College Bowl". Rend Lake College. 2008. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  31. ↑ "College Bowl team headed to state finals". Mt. Vernon Register-News. March 26, 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  32. ↑ "Campus Life: Phi Theta Kappa". Rend Lake College. 2008. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  33. ↑ http://www.njcaa.org/Record%20Books/Cross%20Country%20(Men)/Men's%20Cross%20Country%20Record%20Book%20(12-11-2012).pdf
  34. ↑ http://www.njcaa.org/sports_nationalChampionship.cfm?category=National%20Championship&sid=1&divid=1&slid=1
  35. ↑ http://www.njcaa.org/news/NEW%20RECORD%20BOOK/Mens_Indoor_Track_Field_Records_040212.pdf
  36. ↑ "Campus Life: Cultural Events Committee". Rend Lake College. 2008. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  37. ↑ "Campus Life: Theater". Rend Lake College. 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  38. ↑ "Campus Life: Thespians Club". Rend Lake College. 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  39. ↑ McCoy, Kandace (December 14, 2007). "RLC thespians to help celebrate Granada". Mt. Vernon Register-News. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  40. ↑ "Campus Life: Student Ambassadors". Rend Lake College. 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2009.

38°7′50.95″N 88°55′8.29″W / 38.1308194°N 88.9189694°W / 38.1308194; -88.9189694Coordinates: 38°7′50.95″N 88°55′8.29″W / 38.1308194°N 88.9189694°W / 38.1308194; -88.9189694

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