Please join us in congratulating the 2017 winners of the LLCC Paul Simon Essay Contest.
1st: Claire Krugler
2nd: Catherine Wittler
3rd: Aditi Shah
Claire’s essay has been forwarded on to the state-wide competition for a chance to win a $500 scholarship.
Lynn Whalen, executive director, public relations and marketing, was re-elected March 29 as treasurer on the executive board of the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR), an affiliate council of the American Association of Community Colleges.
Regina Suszko of Springfield and Catherine Wittler of Williamsville were selected as LLCC’s representatives for the 2017 Phi Theta Kappa All-Illinois Academic Team. Community colleges in Illinois select two students yearly for the prestigious honor. Honorees were recognized at the 19th annual Phi Theta Kappa All-Illinois Academic Team awards banquet sponsored by the Illinois Community College Board in Springfield on April 4.
Suszko is vice president of the PTK Illinois Region Central District, public relations officer of LLCC’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, captain of LLCC’s Quiz Bowl team, treasurer of LLCC’s Honors Program Student Organization and ranks 12th in the nation as a quiz bowl player. Suszko has a 4.0 GPA and is graduating in May with an Associate in Arts degree in philosophy. After graduation, she plans to take a gap year before pursuing a degree in sign language interpretation for the deaf.
Wittler serves as president of LLCC’s Honors Program Student 
Organization, vice president of scholarship of LLCC’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter and vice president of LLCC’s Student Government Association. In addition, she works as a student recruiter at LLCC and participated in a biological field studies research trip to Belize in January 2017. Wittler maintains a 4.0 GPA and is graduating with an Associate in Arts degree in business administration. Following graduation, she plans to transfer to University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign to major in marketing and environmental sustainability.
Nominees must be a member of Phi Theta Kappa, have a minimum GPA of 3.5, be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours and be actively engaged in school and the community. In addition, they must submit a short essay explaining why they chose to start their higher education at a community college and describe their most significant academic endeavors in college.
Phi Theta Kappa is the leading international academic honor society for students at two-year colleges.
Psychology Professor Judy Nichols, Ph.D., captured this picture of a “white 
goose” among the Canadian geese in the park across from the zoo. Did this goose escape the zoo because it thought the grass was greener on the other side or is it trying to find its way to our bird banding station?! If someone knows what type of goose this is, submit the information via LincIn or stop by the PRM office and let us know.
Throughout the month of April, information meetings are being held for those employees who would like to learn more about the College’s High Deductible Plan and Health Savings Accounts. These meetings are also an opportunity for employees to ask any questions they may have about health insurance here at LLCC. The first meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, April 7 at 9 a.m. in Menard 2207. If you are unable to attend tomorrow’s meeting, please plan to attend one of the following:
Wednesday, April 12 – 3 p.m., Menard 2207
Monday, April 17 – 2 p.m., Menard 2207
Thursday, April 27 – 10 a.m., Menard 2209
If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources at 62752.
We are experiencing a high demand for use of College vehicles. Reservations are first come, first served. Please make sure you get your approved vehicle reservation request to Property Control via the electronic request form located on the Finance Department portal page no later than three (3) business days before the reservation. This will help to ensure we can provide you with a vehicle.
Because of the high demand, we are currently having to rent additional vehicles from outside agencies. If you are no longer in need of your vehicle, you MUST contact Sarah Goodman and/or Rachel Patarozzi via email to cancel this reservation as soon as possible. If you do not cancel your reservation with us and an outside rental occurs because of said reservation, you will be responsible for the rental charges incurred by the outside agency. Additionally, we often have another group taking a van out shortly after its return to the College. If you are not able to return the vehicle to campus at or before your scheduled return time, you must contact us so that we can make other arrangements for other reservations scheduled for that vehicle if necessary. If we are not contacted and a future reservation is not able to be fulfilled, you may be responsible for transportation charges incurred by the other party. If you are uncertain about your return time, please make sure you allow for some extra time within your reservation request.
You may pick up the keys and clipboard for an upcoming reservation the day before you leave (or earlier upon request), or Friday for weekend or early Monday morning reservations. However, you are not allowed to physically take the assigned vehicle until the exact time of your approved reservation. That vehicle may be reserved for another party. If this occurs and the vehicle is not available for that person, you will be responsible for whatever transportation charges are incurred for that party.
Lastly, you MUST fill the vehicle with gas prior to returning to campus regardless of how far you went. If it is returned without gas and gas receipt, you will be asked to take the vehicle back out to fill up. If you have any questions regarding these guidelines, please feel free to contact rachel.patarozzi@llcc.edu or sarah.goodman@llcc.edu.
Am I considered a “Responsible Employee” under Title IX? The answer is probably “yes”
Facilitators: Leslie Johnson, assistant vice president, student success and Nicole Ralph, director, employment and benefits
Did you know that most faculty and staff are considered “responsible employees” under Title IX? Attend this session to learn more about who is considered a responsible employee under Title IX, and what their obligations are. This session will discuss what to do and what not to do when a student informs you of an alleged incident of sexual violence. Resources and best practices will also be shared.
Click here to register for the session below
Thursday, April 6, 1-2 p.m., SGMN 0119
Cathy Huffman has joined LLCC Advising, Counseling and Career Services as a career development professional. Her office is M1154 and phone number is 786.2344. Welcome!
Scott Stallman, Ph.D., AVP, LLCC outreach, and Tisha Miller, enrollment operations, were interviewed April 5 for an upcoming story in the Breeze-Courier newspaper regarding LLCC-Taylorville’s 50th anniversary celebration and the college’s overall observance.
Students from all walks of life make “an educated decision” to choose LLCC for an affordable, excellent education. Twelve of those students are featured in the new FORWARD magazine, which also has the new theme. We have a webpage featuring some of these students, and you’ll soon be seeing “I made an educated decision” 
billboards, bus and print ads. You’re invited to help us spread the word by copying and pasting this email signature into your emails. Thank you!