LLCC’s surgical technology program received a national merit award for achieving a 100 percent pass rate on the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam during the 2016-17 academic year from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. The award recognizes LLCC’s role as a leader in the field of surgical technology education.

The CST is widely recognized in the health care community as the foremost credential for surgical technologists in the nation. Graduates obtaining national certification as a CST have demonstrated understanding of the competencies for safe patient care in the operating room. The CST is required for employment within many local, state and national health care organizations.

Read more.

Paula Luebbert, assistant vice president, corporate/government training and economic development, was honored at the weTRaIN Fall 2017 Conference Oct. 19 with the Joan Simon Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognizes an outstanding weTRaIN member who has exhibited exemplary lifetime achievements in the community college business and industry profession either at the state or local level. weTRaIN is the Illinois Community College Training Resource and Information Network.

Thanks to Dr. Chris McDonald, professor of political science, for sharing photos of a misty day around Lake Macoupin as fall colors just started to show on the LLCC-Springfield campus.

Registration is now open for those wishing to enroll in spring semester classes at LLCC. Be sure to wear your “Register for classes today!” button to remind students that they can now sign up for courses. If you don’t yet have a button, stop by the LLCC Information Desk to pick one up!

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission will be providing a free financial aid training workshop today for professionals in high schools, higher education and community-based organizations. Participants will learn about the most challenging areas of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The workshop will take place from 8 a.m.-noon in the Trutter Center.

Professional Development Day will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 7.  Mark your calendars now and make plans to attend. Information about the day can be found online at www.llcc.edu/ProDevDay. On this site you will find the full schedule, session information and keynote speaker information for the luncheon and dinner.

Professional Development Day is a great opportunity to share ideas, learn something new or expand upon skills and talents you already have. It also provides excellent opportunities to interact with colleagues from other departments across campus. The Professional Development Day Committee has planned many activities and concurrent sessions throughout the day, with something for everyone.

This year’s afternoon concurrent sessions will focus on the college’s new Core Values: Access & Success, Diversity, Accountability, Progress, and Teaching and Learning (ADAPT). Our luncheon keynote presenters will be Charles Metz, LLCC alumnus, and Dr. Mike Ramm, LLCC chemistry professor. An ice cream social will round out the afternoon’s activities at 4 p.m. with fun and games for everyone.  At 5 p.m., we will have dinner and our evening keynote presentation by Beth Hoffmann, professor, communication and 2017 Drs. Raymond and Ann Pearson Master Teacher Award winner.

We have put together an app for Professional Development Day again this year. We encourage you to use the app rather than printing a schedule. In addition to viewing the schedule, the app allows you to create a customized schedule, view the session based on the ADAPT tracks, upload photos, and post and follow Twitter updates exclusive to our ProDevDay activities. Visit the LLCC ProDevDay App webpage to learn more and download the app.

Save the date, and plan on attending Professional Development Day on Nov. 7!

Terri Bailey, VALIC financial adviser, will be on campus today, Wednesday, Oct. 18 from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the VP conference room to answer questions about the 403(b) and 457(b) deferred compensation plan options available to LLCC employees from VALIC. View the invitation below to find out how you can register for a consultation time. Deferred compensation options are available to employees from VALIC and TIAA-CREF.

You Are Invited

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission will be providing a free financial aid training workshop tomorrow for professionals in high schools, higher education and community-based organizations. The workshop will take place from 8 a.m.-noon in the Trutter Center.

Participants will learn about the most challenging areas of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). They will discuss federal and state aid eligibility, dependency, parental information and financial information.

Attendees will also learn about current financial aid concepts, tools and resources at the state and federal levels. By analyzing and discussing case-study scenarios, participants will have the opportunity to work with other professionals in the field in order to better understand the common issues and misconceptions that arise when assisting students in navigating the financial aid process.

Registration for the workshop is required. To get more information and register, visit www.isac.org/financialaidcertification.

Thanks to Gary Bach, instructional technology specialist, LLCC Academic Innovation and eLearning, for sharing a photo he captured of a butterfly. Gary says, “Coming back from lunch Tuesday, I found this little guy relaxing in the warm sun near A. Lincoln Commons … and was nice enough to stick around and let me take its picture.”

Please join us for a Lincoln Land Review live reading event today, Oct. 17 from noon-2 p.m. in A. Lincoln Commons. Authors will share their work published in the 2017 edition of the Lincoln Land Review. Refreshments will be provided at a pre-reading reception.