The Campus Climate Team and its three workgroups (Safety and Inclusivity, Professional Development, Employee Satisfaction) meet regularly to review data, identify needs and develop projects for continuous quality improvement.

The team consists of: Nikki Baker, Stacy Bond, Gailyn Draper, Tim Ervin, John Freml, Tammy Kuhn-Schnell, Jennifer Lewis, Clayton Mason, Keri Mason, Greg Matejeka, Nicole Ralph (vice chair), Samantha Reif, Leslie Ross, Kyle Roughan, Brian Tweryon and Adam Watkins (chair).

The team is currently short one member from professional staff. We would like to ask for nominations to be sent to Julie Eason, Julie.Eason@llcc.edu by Oct. 21.

Please reach out to the team if you have ideas to help improve the climate here at LLCC. In the coming weeks you will see and hear more about past projects, upcoming projects and the PACE survey which we encourage you all to participate in. We all play a role in the campus climate, and it starts with respect. Respect of and for the needs, abilities and potential of our faculty, staff, administration and students. We look forward to serving you, our community.

LLCC’s Innovation in Diversity and Inclusion Grant, which began in 2020-21, is once again available! It is an internal opportunity for any LLCC faculty, staff, department, student or student club, and can be used to address a need and/or to promote and celebrate diversity.

The IDI Grant application process is open through Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. There is $3,500 available to be awarded in fall 2022. More information and helpful resources (standards of evaluation, project samples and more) are now available on the Innovation in Diversity & Inclusion Grant SharePoint page (be sure you’re logged in to Office 365 to access).

Have an idea? Don’t hesitate to reach out to kyle.roughan@llcc.edu with any questions.

IDI Grant Project Committee:
Kyle Roughan
Laura Anderson
Michelle Pulce-Flynn
Jamil Steele
Adam Watkins

The Safety & Inclusivity Workgroup of the Campus Climate Team is currently identifying staff, faculty and student members for the DEI Statements Project Team. The project team will work together to draft definitions and statement(s) of diversity, equity and inclusion. The team will also recommend steps for communication and action. The project will begin this fall and continue through spring 2023.

The project team will include no more than 12 people with diverse representation.  If you are interested or have a recommendation for a colleague’s involvement, please complete and submit the DEI Statement Project Team Member Recommendation Form. All nominations should be submitted by noon today, Sept. 12, 2022.

LLCC’s Innovation in Diversity and Inclusion Grant, which began in 2020-21, is once again available! It is an internal opportunity for any LLCC faculty, staff, department, student or student club, and can be used to address a need and/or to promote and celebrate diversity.

The IDI Grant application process is open through Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. There is $3,500 available to be awarded in fall 2022. More information and helpful resources (standards of evaluation, project samples and more) are now available on the Innovation in Diversity & Inclusion Grant SharePoint page (be sure you’re logged in to Office 365 to access).

Have an idea? Don’t hesitate to reach out to kyle.roughan@llcc.edu with any questions.

IDI Grant Project Committee:
Kyle Roughan
Laura Anderson
Michelle Pulce-Flynn
Jamil Steele
Adam Watkins

The Safety & Inclusivity Workgroup of the Campus Climate Team is currently identifying staff, faculty and student members for the DEI Statements Project Team. The project team will work together to draft definitions and statement(s) of diversity, equity and inclusion. The team will also recommend steps for communication and action. The project will begin this fall and continue through spring 2023.

The project team will include no more than 12 people with diverse representation.  If you are interested or have a recommendation for a colleague’s involvement, please complete and submit the DEI Statement Project Team Member Recommendation Form. All nominations should be submitted by noon on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022.

LLCC’s Innovation in Diversity and Inclusion Grant, which began in 2020-21, is once again available! It is an internal opportunity for any LLCC faculty, staff, department, student or student club, and can be used to address a need and/or to promote and celebrate diversity.

The IDI Grant application process opens today, and proposals will be accepted through Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. There is $3,500 available to be awarded in fall 2022. More information and helpful resources (standards of evaluation, project samples and more) are now available on the Innovation in Diversity & Inclusion Grant SharePoint page (be sure you’re logged in to Office 365 to access).

Have an idea? Don’t hesitate to reach out to kyle.roughan@llcc.edu with any questions.

IDI Grant Project Committee:
Kyle Roughan
Laura Anderson
Michelle Pulce-Flynn
Jamil Steele
Adam Watkins

• Pronouncing Student Names: How Do You Handle Student Names You Can’t Pronounce? (Pamela Broussard)
• Race on Campus: Pronouncing Students’ Names Correctly Is Important. Here’s How (The Chronicle of Higher Education)
• Why Pronouncing Students’ Names Correctly Is So Important (National Education Association)

The ICCB has commissioned the Office of Community College Research and Leadership to conduct a racial campus climate study across Illinois community colleges. This mixed methods study on diversity, equity and the racial campus climate will gauge faculty, staff, administrator and student perspectives. The study aims to provide awareness and a road map for colleges to engage in dialogue and develop next steps in optimizing an inclusive campus culture. Participating in this research study will include completion of an online survey with opportunities provided to interested individuals to schedule participation in follow-up interviews. The survey is open through April 30. Link to survey.

The Innovation in Diversity and Inclusion Grant Project Team is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s IDI Grants!

In the Training, Teaching, and Learning category, Brenda Schuster and Bree McClenning of LLCC-Beardstown was awarded to educate local high school students and administrators on the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (RISE Act). The RISE Act allows graduating high school seniors in Illinois to receive college assistance when they do not meet the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) requirements. The project aims to increase college enrollment and educate local community members in Cass County about alternative forms of financial assistance. This project will dispel the perception that no financial aid is available for undocumented, non-citizen and transgender students.

In the Training, Teaching and Learning category, Lori Large Oldenettel of LLCC-Jacksonville was awarded funding to carry out a Hunger Banquet. The Hunger Banquet is a meal and a presentation that addresses socio-economic differences, specifically around local hunger, world hunger and poverty. Through guided, thoughtful conversation, students will learn about the disparity of food and wealth and how we do not choose the economic situation we are born into.

Congratulations to the grant recipients! Their commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion at LLCC is appreciated, and we look forward to the positive impact these projects will have.