College of Lake County students have another four-year university to choose from when looking at guaranteed transfer admission programs, officials said last week.
A new agreement with Illinois State University will help CLC students make a smooth transition to the four-year institution by communicating upfront what courses students need to take at CLC and offering them advising from both institutions, Karen Hlavin, associate vice president for student development at CLC, said in a news release.
The agreements are part of a larger push by community colleges across the country to boost their completion rates through streamlined and fast-track degree programs and agreements with four-year institutions.
A report issued last month by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics found that transfer students at public colleges and universities were more likely to complete their degree or certificate programs within eight years than their counterparts who enrolled in college for the first time.
This is the 23rd agreement the College of Lake County has set up to lay out a clear and guaranteed pathway for students looking to earn a bachelor’s degree, according to its website.
Illinois State is a good choice for College of Lake County students looking for a public, residential campus that’s not too far away from home, Jeff Mavros, director of admissions at Illinois State, said in a news release.
More than 50 CLC students transferred to Illinois State in 2017, bringing the total number of transfer students currently there to 139, according to Samantha Meranda, transfer coordinator at Illinois State.
Business boost
A bill aimed at significantly reducing the fees charged for registering a limited liability company passed out of the Illinois Senate in a 55-0 vote last week.
One of the sponsors of the bill, state Rep. Carol Sente, has been pushing for the reductions for several years, a spokesman said.
The goal is that the reduction in fees — from $500 to $150 for initial filing fees, and $250 to $75 for annual reporting fees — would foster economic growth and promote job creation, the Vernon Hills Democrat said in a news release.
“As a small-business owner, I understand the challenges businesses in our region face, and know that it is incredibly difficult to start something from nothing,” Sente said after introducing the bill earlier this year. “One of my objectives as a state representative is to remove barriers to new business formation and job creation.”
The bill was approved by the House in May and now heads to Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Seat to fill
The Township High School District 113 school board is looking to fill the seat left vacant by Julie Gordon, who resigned from the board earlier this month.
Gordon stepped down on Nov. 5, citing personal reasons, according to a news release.
She was first elected in April 2013, earning the most votes among the five candidates vying for three open spots that year, according to the Lake County Clerk’s Office. She retained her seat this year, again earning the most votes out of the four candidates.
A certified pension actuary, Gordon had served as vice president of the school board and co-chaired its finance committee, according to Highland Park News reports.
“I am thankful to have been part of such a great school district, with its strong leadership and exceptional staff that are all focused on best serving the needs of our remarkable students,” Gordon said in her resignation letter.
The board will discuss the process for filling the vacancy at its meeting Monday evening.
Township High School District 113 includes Deerfield and Highland Park high schools.
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