The Illinois Valley Community College Board on March 14 hired two veteran employees to fill new dean positions tasked with assessing and improving student performance and success.

Kathy Hart was appointed dean of Institutional Effectiveness, a position tasked with overseeing and guiding institutional research, quality improvement, and strategic planning.

Hart holds a doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis and has been employed at IVCC since 2018.

As dean of Student Success, Crystal Credi will develop, implement, and monitor student success strategies and coordinate related departments, including Career Services, Counseling, Retention, and Project Success. Credi holds a master’s in organizational leadership and has been employed at the College since 2013 in several student support roles.
The creation of both of these positions reflects a Higher Learning Commission initiative and the College’s commitment to data-informed processes and student success.

In her monthly report, President Tracy Morris:

• Congratulated the winners of annual faculty and staff awards: nursing professor Amber Robertson won the Stephen Charry Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence (full time faculty and counselors); Counselor Debbie Burch was selected as the Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Award (part-time faculty and counselors), and Jill Wohrley, Financial Aid Reconciliation and Compliance Specialist was awarded the Connie Skerston Memorial Award for Support Staff Distinguished Service.
•  Noted the addition of a freezer to the Eagles Peak Food Pantry, enabling the pantry to supply a larger variety of foods. Over the last quarter of 2023, the pantry served 213 households, including 200 children.
• Recognized organizers of Black History Month and Women’s History Month activities on campus.
•  Noted that 40 employees contributed to raising more than $11,800 in the Employee Giving Campaign to benefit the IVCC Foundation and the 21st Century Scholars Society gained three new members/supporters and six honorary members, bringing the total to 51.
• Noted that adult education enrollment in GED and English as a Second Language programs stands at 278 students.

In other action, the Board:

• Authorized a three-year cash farm lease with Holly Farms of Granville for 116 acres at $326 per acre or $37, 817 per year, and also contracted with Holly Farms for combining and grain hauling at $200 per acre and 35 cents per bushel.