QR Me

Having trouble? Read this article first.

Can't read this? Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_code

(14,039)

Construction!

Construction Update – May 2011

 Applied Technology Center (ATC) – This new construction is approximately 64,000 SF and is being partially funded by the State of Illinois through the Capital Development Board.  The facility will house the comprehensive Automotive Programs, Ford Asset, Collision Repair, Industrial Technology, and Welding.

Site work began on March 22^nd after snow and cold winter weather delayed the start of the construction.    The intent is to have the facility ready for classes in fall 2012.

ATC Site looking east

  

 ATC Site looking southeast

 ATC Site looking northwest

  Concrete foundation walls

Wing Remodeling –Trim work in the B Wing continues to progress.  New lounge furniture has started to arrive and is being installed in the B Wing.  Work on the X Wing south, 2^nd and 3^rd floors is beginning.

Master Plan Phase II

Student Services Center – This project is approximately 96,000 SF of new space that will house all student service functions, including additional student lounge and food service space.   Architects Perkins and Will have completed Design Development of the facility and construction documents will be completed over the summer months.  The project should be released for bids in the early fall.   Construction should begin in late fall pending Board approval.  The intent is to have the facility completed in fall of 2013 or spring of 2014.

Fitness Center – This project is an addition to the existing Dodds Athletic Center.  The completion of this project would give the College a new "state of the art" athletic facility with space for Kinesiology, dance and aerobics, strength training, an indoor walking track, new locker rooms and team rooms, and coach’s offices.  Included in this project would be the remodeling of the lower level of the gymnasium.  Bids have been received and will be presented to the Board for approval at the May meeting.

Physical Plant Grounds Building –  The construction of the new Applied Technology Center requires that the existing Physical Plant Grounds building be demolished and relocated.  A new Grounds building is being constructed on the northwest corner of the College property, on the location of the Carlson property.  The existing single family house at that location was demolished and the new building is being erected.  The new Grounds building will be approximately 9000 SF and will be a wood framed/steel sided structure.  Completion is expected in the first week of June.

  Foundation floor looking to the Southeast

  New fuel storage tanks and salt storage containment area

  New Grounds Building looking northeast

  Interior of new Grounds Building

PHS Drainage Improvements Phase XII  - Phase XII of the Campus Drainage Improvements is focused on the areas adjacent to the Tony Noel Agricultural Technology Center and the new Applied Technology Center.  The existing parking lot will be reconstructed and enlarged, resulting in improved storm water drainage, additional walkways and adding 100 parking spaces.  On the west side of the Tony Noel facility, storm water drainage will be improved and concrete access pads will be installed.  The parking lot for the Noel facility will be closed beginning on May 16^th and will reopen the first week of August.

 West side of the Noel Ag Tech facility

Rendering of the new parking area adjacent to the ATC and Noel buildings

Winter Break Upgrade/Remodeling Projects – Several projects are scheduled for the Winter Break period.  The Dental Hygiene Clinic received new dental chairs, new computers and new flooring.  The project started on December 15th and the refurbished clinic was ready for students when they return on January 10^th. 

The Wing Remodeling project continued to move forward with carpet installation in the South X Wing first floor hallways.  This completed the carpeting of the first floor X Wing common areas.  New laser-cut carpet patterns for the L Wing and M Wing entrances from the College Center were installed, which are similar to what has been installed in the B and C Wings.

   

(13,710)     

Notabilis...

Welcome to the end of the Fall Spring semester and the beginning of the summer semester!

I was talking with a community member at our commencement ceremony and was asked if we now could take it easy and relax a bit going into the summer. I told her that we would, of course, take the weekend off and not start our summer classes till Monday. 

Congratulations to Dr. Linda Moore and the staff members that made an outstanding Honors Convocation and Commencement Ceremony. So much planning and work by so many people goes toward ensuring that it is all it is supposed to be. Well done to all.

We have some special graduates of our own this year:

• Pam Lytel in Financial Aid
• Eleni Kametas in Fine and Applied Arts
• Carolyn Ragsdale in Health Professions
• Peg Boyce in Health Professions
• Myriah Fillenwarth in the Adult Re-Entry Center
• Vance Martin in Social Sciences

Congratulations to each of you on completing your degrees. We are proud of your accomplishments.

While we are in a congratulatory mood, Parkland College's 15th Leadership Class spent last week in Pana, Illinois. We spent three days learning about the community college movement, Parkland's early days, planning, and our individual leadership styles to name just a few of the highlights. It was truly great class and I enjoyed getting to know each of you.

Class #15 included:

Administration

Mark Combs – Engineering Science

Patty Lehn – Marketing

Cathy Robinson – Disability Services

Public Safety

Matthew Kopmann

Faculty

Dennis Cockrum – Counseling

Gina Mason – Health Professions

Kendra McClure – Fine & Applied Arts

Judy Smith – Business & Ag Industries

Michele Spading – Health Professions

Professional Support

Raymond Bielert – Print Shop

Paul Bover – Business Training

Lisa Brantley – Library

Kate Burner – Marketing

Jill Garner – Grants

Alison Groot – Research

Beth Hewing – Assessment

Nathan Mast – Athletics

Mark Saint-McDowell

Gaetano Minneci – Center for Academic Success

Joyce Morefield – Physical Plant

Antwanette Newton -  Computer Science
Deb Shonkwiler – Community Ed.

Gwen Smith  - Math

Ronnie Turner-Winston – Human Resources

Whatever your plans are this summer, I hope you get a little bit of time to recharge and renew yourselves. It has been a busy year and much has been accomplished. 

Have you noticed much construction on campus?

(13,575)

Congratulations, Reps. Rose and Jakobsson

Representative Rose let me know this morning that the decisions you see below we going to occur. 

Quotes are from the News Gazette Story by Tom Kacich, found here.

"We made two policy decisions, I think," Rose said. "There's a belief among the (Higher Education) committee members of both parties that community colleges are where it's at. They are responding to market need; they are producing good, high-paying jobs with benefits at a very low cost to the students and at a premium to what the taxpayers put in. The first thing that everyone agreed was that we're not cutting community colleges."

"The next policy statement was that in this environment, ISAC's decision to spend $25 million on for-profits is inexcusable when you're not paying your universities on time, when you're not funding the (Illinois Veterans Grants), when you're not paying your K-12 districts."

"We're putting more money into MAP for not-for-profit schools, for the public universities, for the community colleges," Rose said. "We're putting more money into MAP for kids from every district in the state. The community colleges are at zero (cuts). And every community college that hears about this is going to call their legislator and tell them to vote for it."

Well done.

(13,328)