November 2019 Newsletter

Message from the President

Welcome to the first issue of the new Employee Newsletter, and the official launch of the Prairie State College intranet! "Please pardon our dust," as the site is still under construction. But, we wanted to give you an opportunity to take a look at the site, and see what sort of information we are hoping to provide on this site, moving forward.

One of my favorite features of the page is the "Departments" tab you see above. If you take a look around, you'll see that we are trying to help you all get to know the people you might not have met yet, to help you put faces to the names you see in emails and around campus each day. You’ll note that some people do not have pictures yet. While including your photo is completely optional, I encourage you to get a professional headshot taken so we can include your photo on your department’s page.

To help make things easier, we’ve scheduled a staff and faculty photo day on Friday, November 22. Stop by in room 2281 (located inside the Marketing Office) between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and get your photo taken. As an added bonus, you’ll get your “I am PSC” t-shirt when you’re done! You can see me sporting my PSC pride in my t-shirt in the photo to the left. Can’t make it that day? Please reach out to Kimberly Pedersen, our photographer, to schedule your shot.

Please be sure to check out the other important updates in the rest of the newsletter, including things happening on campus, a report from the most recent meeting of the Board of Trustees, and information about some of the employees who have joined us in recent months. I’m so happy to welcome all of them to our amazing college!

As we are always looking to improve the communication on campus, we want to hear from you! Tell us what you want to see in the next issue of the newsletter and on the intranet website. Any ideas and suggestions can be emailed to Andrea Small, manager of public relations, at asmall2@prairiestate.edu.

I hope you will enjoy this first issue and find the intranet a welcome addition to our communication tools on campus. As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to be sure to thank each and every one of you for all that you do for our students and our community. I hope you have a wonderful holiday week!

Welcome to PSC!

The following employees have joined the ranks at Prairie State College since July 1, 2019. We welcome them to the PSC family!

  • Michael Anthony - Vice President, Student Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness

  • Nikisha Brown - Adult Literacy Specialist

  • John Crago - General Maintenance – 2nd shift

  • Virginia Garcia - Career Pathway Advisor

  • Cristina Lazard - Manager, Printing and Support Services

  • George Nkulenu - Assistant Professor, Information Technology Cybersecurity

  • Nicole Price - Financial Aid Processor I

  • Mary Raymond - Assistant Professor/Coordinator of Physical Therapist Assistant

  • Andre Walton - Painter/General Maintenance

Fun Fact

Did You Know?

PSC students, faculty, and staff can get free admission to the Art Institute of Chicago by presenting their PSC ID?

This is a great opportunity to see some of the fantastic exhibits the Art Institute of Chicago has to offer, including "Andy Warhol - From A to B and Back Again," open though Jan. 26, 2020.

Or, enjoy the "Thorne Holiday Rooms," from Nov. 22 through Jan. 20, 2020.

Special thanks to the PSC Foundation for providing this excellent opportunity to our college community. Check out the Art Institute's website to learn more about the Art Institute of Chicago, other exhibitions, and opportunities this membership has to offer.

Image credit: The Art Institute of Chicago

Upcoming Events

Veterans Day Events

The Student Veterans Center at PSC is celebrating veterans throughout November with various activities intended to honor those who have served. All events are open to the public, and most will be held on the college's main campus. Check our events calendar for more information at https://www.calendarwiz.com/calendars/calendar.php?crd=prairiestate&&jsenabled=1&winh=706&winw=1285&inifr=false&fbclid=IwAR2924WBoJOel8p4ByOpezRPP3RxqFcA8bK9CsZgpKDey53Ju5LzwRhoRaM.


Open Enrollment for Benefits Changes

Open Enrollment (Nov 18 – Dec 4)

During the open enrollment period, you may:

  • Enroll, change or cancel your medical, dental and/or vision coverage

  • Transfer between the medical or dental plan options

  • Add or cancel dependents

  • Enroll for Health Care and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts

  • Increase your supplemental life insurance

100 Pretty Purses Drive for Female Veterans

Please consider helping the Student Veterans Club in supporting the fifth annual 100 Pretty Purses for Female Veterans Drive. New and gently used purses can be dropped off through Nov. 26, in the Student Veterans Center on the main PSC campus, located in room 1240 on the first floor.

We also are requesting donations of new toiletries such as lotion, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap/body wash, combs, brushes, shampoo, conditioner, and feminine hygiene products.

Thanksgiving Break: (November 27-30)

Have a wonderful holiday!

Upcoming Concerts

The PSC Wind Ensemble Winter Concert, "Joyance!" will begin at 7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 2, The PSC Jazz Ensemble Winter Concert, "Jazzence!" will begin at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 3. Both performances will be held in the Barnes & Noble College Auditorium.

Employee Holiday Party - Save the Date!

2019 Employee Holiday Luncheon

Friday, December 13, 2019

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Atrium

More information to follow in the coming weeks. We hope to see you there!


For more events, visit https://www.calendarwiz.com/calendars/calendar.php?crd=prairiestate&&jsenabled=1&winh=706&winw=1285&inifr=false&fbclid=IwAR2924WBoJOel8p4ByOpezRPP3RxqFcA8bK9CsZgpKDey53Ju5LzwRhoRaM


From the Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees held a special meeting on Thursday, November 7, 2019. During the meeting, the following items were discussed and approved.

  • Dr. Marisa Gray was named director of Business and Community Engagement. She will join the staff of PSC on November 25.

  • Heather Pevion was appointed assistant professor/coordinator, Surgical Technology. She joined the faculty at PSC on November 11.

  • Kisha Wells, associate professor of English, was approved for a one-semester sabbatical leave in spring 2020. Wells is currently enrolled in the Educational Leadership program at the University of Saint Francis, and spring 2020 is her last semester in the program. During this sabbatical Wells plans to complete her dissertation, “Learning Communities and Service Learning: The Effects of Combining Two High-Impact Practices on First-Year, Full-Time Community College Students in First-Year Writing.”

  • A renewal of the Adobe Creative Cloud licenses for the college from CDW-G, under Illinois Community College System Procurement Consortium pricing was approved. The Creative Cloud licenses include the entire Adobe suite needed for direct and supplemental student engagement in courses offered by Prairie State College. In addition, certain departments utilize this software for marketing and presentation materials.

  • The Biology Labs Renovation Project was approved, including architectural/engineering services, construction costs and contingency. The Biology labs are original to the main building and in need of a renovation to meet today’s teaching needs. The scope of work includes renovating the two labs and prep rooms to include casework, ceiling, electrical, flooring, HVAC, plumbing, and miscellaneous items.

  • The tentative tax levy for 2019 was approved. PSC is required by state statute to file its annual tax levy with Cook and Will Counties in December. The average taxpayer will see an increase of 1.9% in the dollar amount they pay to the college. Our property tax revenue will increase by approximately 1.9% over last year.

To view additional information from the Board of Trustees, including meeting agendas, minutes and video recordings, visit https://prairiestate.edu/about-us/board-of-trustees/index.aspx.


In Case you Missed it...

Veterans Day Events

The Student Veterans Center has been celebrating Veterans Day throughout the month of November with various activities. During the opening of the "Potrait of a Soldier" exhibit, former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, who spearheaded the exhibit, gave opening remarks. Quinn, who is a former adjunct faculty member at PSC, was proud to receive his "I am PSC" t-shirt during his visit. The Veterans Day events also included a special address by Vernard L. Alsberry Jr., who discussed the 75th anniversary of the GI bill.

ICCCA Conference

A group of PSC administrators recently traveled to East Peoria for the Illinois Community College Faculty Association/Illinois Council of Community College Administrators Fall Conference. Presenters included Dean Janice Kaushal and Lisa Ziegler, manager of grant services, speaking on "Blooming in the Heart of Students at Prairie State;" Deans Elighie Wilson and Janice Kaushal speaking on "Too Many Cooks Without a Kitchen;" and President Dr. Terri L. Winfree speaking on "Opportunity and Leadership: A Real Community College Story."

FYE Learning Community

A panel of PSC faculty, students and administrators presented "Food Insecurity: Thinking Globally, Acting Locally," during a panel discussion presented by the First-Year Experience Learning Community. Panelists included Professor Lalinda De La Fuente; Professor Dr. Cynthia Cornejo; student Clayvon Bedenfield; Dr. Michael Anthony, vice president for student affairs and institutional effectiveness; and student George Mahiya.