Yesterday, LLCC experienced a delayed opening of 10 a.m. district wide due to icy conditions early in the morning that were expected to clear up by mid-morning.

Should a delayed opening occur again, please note that any class or activity scheduled to begin prior to the delayed opening hour is cancelled. For instance, in the case of a 10 a.m. opening, an 8 a.m. to noon class or a class that begins at 9:30 a.m. would both be cancelled for the entire class time.

NISOD Webinar – Building Academic Tenacity
Today, Feb. 26, 1-2 p.m., room S0119
Presenter: Renee Wright, English Faculty, Triton College

According to Dr. Gregory Walton of Stanford University, academic tenacity is not about being smart, but about learning smart. Webinar participants review the implications of using psychological interventions to address student achievement gaps with practical classroom examples used over two semesters. Student success rates are also discussed. Specifically, participants explore psychological factors related to learning in the classroom and their impact on retention, learn how to recognize the importance of building academically tenacious students, and learn how to recognize the various aspects of mindset approaches to learning and student performance. The webinar facilitator has taught in postsecondary education for 12 years, with the last eight years working as a full-time faculty member teaching developmental reading, writing, and freshman composition. Her research interests focus on improving the academic success of underprepared students.

Know of a student needing to pick up an extra class this semester? Twelve-week, Short Semester classes begin Feb. 9 at LLCC. These classes offer the same content, number of classroom hours and credit hours that traditional, semester-long classes offer, but in a 12-week format.

Spring Short Semester classes include:
• Public Speaking Fundamentals, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30-5:20 p.m.
• Introduction to American Politics, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-7:50 p.m.
• Introduction to Sociology, online
• Improvisational Jazz, Mondays and Wednesdays, 5-6:50 p.m.

Also offered are private applied music lessons and theatre practicum in acting, stage management and directing, along with touring theater. Theatre classes must have permission of the instructor prior to registration.

Current LLCC students may register for Short Semester classes in person, by calling 217.786.2292 or their nearest LLCC location, or online via WebAdvisor. Students new to LLCC should begin by filling out an admission worksheet, available at www.llcc.edu (click on the “Apply” button.)

There is a new process for cleaning up proposals that are stalled in CurricUNET. For proposals that have been copied but nothing done according to the comparison icon:
1. After one year of inactivity from the time the course/program was copied, an email will be sent to the originator asking if this course is being revised, with a copy to the dean.
2. Based on the response from the originator, the following actions may be taken:
a. The pending file deleted.
b. The pending file deleted and the course recopied.
c. The pending file will continue.
3. If no response is received, the file will be deleted.
4. If Option C is chosen and no activity occurs in CurricUNET within the next six months, the pending file will be deleted.
It is important that files not sit out in the queue for several years. Once the course is copied, it is tied to the curriculum process in place at that time. If the processes change between the time it is copied and the time it is launched, it is easier for that file to get lost in the processes. Also, the date used for a course documentation’s last update is the date the pending file is originated, not the date it is approved.

Alice Edwards of Springfield, adjunct instructor of music, was recently recognized with the Outstanding Adjunct Instructor Award.

The award recognizes exceptional classroom teaching, expertise in the field, and commitment to innovative teaching, assessment and student learning.

Ms. Edwards has been an instructor at LLCC since 2002, following her retirement as an associate professor of piano at Olivet Nazarene University. In addition to classroom teaching at LLCC, she offers private applied piano lessons.

Ms. Edwards’ experience is extensive and varied. She has served as harpsichordist and organist for the Illinois Symphony, Olivet Nazarene University Symphony and Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra and as an organist at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Kankakee and Springfield. She performed two European tours with the Illinois Symphony Chorus, and last summer, a Sunday Mass at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, France with Prairieland Voices.

A student described Ms. Edwards as an instructor who “encourages and guides in such a way that makes you feel accomplished. She makes learning a positive experience and leads by example.” A colleague observed that Ms. Edwards “is always teaching in Studio B, facing life with a smile and a song.”