Nursing students earn high pass rates on national exam

Illinois Valley Community College nursing students recently earned excellent pass rates on the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX), board members learned Feb. 8.

IVCC Associate Degree Nursing graduates earned a 95 percent pass rate compared to the Illinois average of 86 percent and the national average of 87 percent, IVCC President Jerry Corcoran reported.

LPN graduates received a 100 percent pass rate compared to the Illinois average of 86 percent and national average of 84 percent.

Nursing program coordinator Julie Hogue said, “I cannot tell you how proud I am of the women I work with in the Nursing Department and how honored I am to work with all the men and women at IVCC. Together, we all do make a difference.”

IVCC graduates about 65 RNs and 30 LPNs each year. Following May graduation, graduates typically sit for the licensure exam in June. IVCC received the results from the state in late January.

The board also approved:

  • A three-year contract extension with auditor Wipfli LLP of Sterling. Fees are $37,300 for 2018, $38,150 for 2019 and $39,050 for 2020. “Wipfli has been very thorough, responsive, and provided great service,” said Vice President for Business Services and Finance Cheryl Roelfsema.
  • Purchase of 38 tables for conference rooms C316, C325 and C326 from Mity-Lite for $7,256; 90 chairs for C316 from Henricksen for $13,041; and chairs and tables for Building B common areas from KI of Green Bay for $14,307.
  • The retirement of Michael Sankovich, an accounting instructor since 1984, effective July 31. “Mike has been an outstanding instructor for over 34 years,” said Corcoran.

Sankovich closed his retirement letter to Dean of Natural Sciences Ron Groleau saying, “My sincerest thanks to you and the college for providing me the opportunity to experience this incredibly rewarding career.”

  • The retirement of Graphic Design Technology instructor Francie Skoflanc, also effective July 31. Corcoran said Skoflanc has been an outstanding instructor since 2000.

In her retirement letter, Skoflanc said, “Over the past few years I have had the opportunity to work with a group of excellent instructors, supportive deans and administration and have seen many of my students go on to obtain jobs and become productive citizens.”

The board also learned:

  • Dawn Watson has been appointed the administrative assistant for the Academic Affairs office. She had been administrative assistant in the business office.
  • Eugene Schultz was appointed to IVCC’s maintenance department and part-time English instructor Janice Skeen announced her intent to resign.
  • 161 fall graduates earned a total of 202 degrees and certificates compared to 220 graduates earning a total of 283 degrees and certificates in fall 2016.
  • IVCC is one of the taxing bodies involved in discussions over a proposed downtown Marseilles TIF district.

“For 16 years, our practice has been to work with others and strike a balance between doing everything we can to support economic growth, yet reminding everyone of our dependence upon the college’s tax base as a vital stream of operating revenue,” said Corcoran.