Laker Nation News

Lake Land College has replaced all developmental math courses with a ground-breaking math sequence design using co-requisite courses, becoming the first community college in Illinois to accomplish this innovative goal.

Developed by Mathematics Instructors Sarah Harley and Bambi Jones, the new math sequence design ensures Lake Land College students will no longer spend time and money on non-credit-bearing developmental math courses.

“We are thrilled by the innovation of our faculty to position Lake Land College as a state and nationwide leader in math education,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “We believe the promise of a better future through the power of education should be available to all, and this approach helps ensure equitable outcomes for the most at-risk student populations.”

Developmental math courses are standard throughout higher education and serve the purpose of developing the math skills of students with low test scores to prepare them to take higher-level classes. These developmental courses do not award college credit toward degree or certificate completion, meaning students with low test scores often must take additional classes and incur more expenses than their peers.

To combat these challenges, Lake Land College replaced all developmental math courses with new math sequences that includes co-requisite courses. In co-requisite courses, students with low test scores enroll directly into credit-bearing college math courses and receive supplemental support from faculty. Lake Land introduced the co-requisite format in 2016 in statistics and general education math courses, and in 2022 expanded to include college algebra. In Fall 2023, new math sequences were introduced and all developmental math courses were eliminated.

Since implementing the new math sequences, Lake Land College has seen a substantial increase in general education math completion rates. Students are also now completing their math requirements in fewer semesters, ensuring they avoid delays on their path to graduation.

Those interested in learning more about the new Lake Land College math sequence design are invited to attend a virtual information session on Nov. 18 from 1-2 p.m. To join, go to LakeLandCollege.zoom.us/j/95267979157 and use 952-6797-9157 as the meeting ID.

For more information, contact Sarah Harley at sharley@lakelandcollege.edu or Bambi Jones at bjones@lakelandcollege.edu.

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Lake Land College will host Laker Visit Day on Monday, Oct. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Luther Student Center. The event is designed for prospective students to learn about Lake Land College and the resources available to guide students to success.

Attendees will tour campus with a student ambassador, who will share information from a student perspective. Participants will also meet with faculty to learn more about specific programs.

Representatives from many services, including Counseling Services, Career Services, Student Accommodations, Student Wellness, TRIO Student Support Services and more will be available to provide information and answer attendees’ questions.

Attendees are also welcome to bring their parents or guardians to the event. A session will be offered to provide information relevant to parents or guardians of future Lakers.

“There’s no better way for a prospective student to learn what it’s like to attend Lake Land College,” Pam Hartke, Associate Dean of Recruitment & Enrollment Management, said. “If you’re interested in studying at Lake Land, even if it’s only for a few classes, this event is perfect for you.”

For more information or to register, visit the Lake Land College visit page at LakeLandCollege.edu/visit.

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Lake Land College will be offering a brand-new flexible format in its Emergency Services (EMS) program beginning January 2025.

The new format will follow a hybrid structure to maximize schedule flexibility. All courses will be available virtually, and students will be required to attend in-person class labs just one day per week. The new format will also include a 12-month continuous program timeline, allowing students to complete national certifications just one year after enrolling.

“We’re excited to implement this new program format that will allow our students to seamlessly balance work, life and education,” said Jasmine Ballard, Emergency Services Program Director & Clinical Coordinator. “We’re always striving to find ways to better serve the needs of our students and equip our communities with qualified workers in crucial fields.”

The Lake Land College EMS program is a special admission program. Applicants are required to possess an EMT basic license as well as a letter of employment. Interested students should apply by Nov. 1, 2024 at the Lake Land College Emergency Medical Services website at LakeLandCollege.edu/Emergency-Medical-Services/.

To learn more about the Lake Land College EMS program, contact Emergency Services Program Director & Clinical Coordinator Jasmine Ballard at 217-234-5362 or jballard9365@lakelandcollege.edu.

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Fall enrollment at Lake Land College has risen to its highest level since 2019, according to the College’s official 10^th-day Enrollment Report as presented to the Lake Land College Board of Trustees at the regular September meeting.

The total number of students attending Lake Land College for Fall 2024 is up 7% over last year’s count, with 3,960 students enrolled. Additional highlights of the report include a nearly 20% increase in New Students and growth in both Dual Credit and Certificate program enrollment, which increased by 7.97% and 8.30% respectively.

Full-time equivalency, or FTE, was also up by half a percent. FTE is the total number of credit hours divided by 15.

“We’re excited to celebrate this significant enrollment increase,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “Even with the challenges of the delayed FAFSA and a declining high school population, the College community came together to exceed our shared enrollment goal.”

Individuals across the nation are increasingly recognizing the value of community colleges, where students can prepare for rapid employment with short-term career programs or save money on the path toward a bachelor’s degree with long-term transfer options.

The results of the report show that students continue to view Lake Land College as a smart investment in their futures and a pathway to increased earning potential. Students enjoy the advantage of an education that is accessible to all, with a campus environment that feels like home and the opportunity to jumpstart a career without the weight of student loan debt. Students also enjoy innovative programs, where cutting-edge technology and hands-on learning opportunities equip them with high-demand skills for a modern workforce.

Lake Land College continues to serve students of all ages, skill levels and experience. Students can begin at Lake Land as early as the junior year of high school, with dual credit courses designed to offer a head start on college and career trajectory. Meanwhile, GED programs and English Language Acquisition courses provide opportunities for essential skill development among adult populations, serving the needs of individuals in the area and strengthening the local workforce.

In addition to an increase in new students, Lake Land College enrollment numbers reflect strong retention throughout the student body. A devotion to student support services, including Welcome Week activities, free tutoring at the Student Success Center, helpful alternatives to remedial math and English courses, mental wellness and health services, the Laker Food Pantry and DEIB initiatives empower students to excel throughout their time at Lake Land College.

“We’re pleased to see so many students continue to choose Lake Land College as the starting point of their dream career,” Bullock said. “Our goal is to create accessible opportunities for students to change their lives through the power of education.”

The 10^th-day enrollment report is a standard report among the higher education community that captures opening enrollment data each semester.

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Lake Land College is pleased to announce the students who have graduated following completion of the Summer 2024 term. The 2024 Summer graduates are:

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Lake Land College is holding a Golden Ticket giveaway for students enrolled in dual credit courses.

At the start of the fall semester, all Lake Land College dual credit students will receive a welcome packet with helpful information and a giveaway. In addition, one randomly-selected student from each participating high school will receive a Golden Ticket, which can be redeemed for a personal campus tour and a free bag of Lake Land merchandise from the Laker Nest Bookstore. Winning students can arrange their visits and redeem their merchandise bags by contacting Tessa Wiles, Director of Dual Credit and Honors Experience, at 217-234-5044 or twiles@lakelandcollege.edu.

“We’re really excited to connect with our dual credit students in such a fun way,” Wiles said. “We’re so proud of the work they’re doing to jumpstart their college education, and we hope this experience helps them see the many benefits of continuing their education at Lake Land.”

Dual credit courses are available to high school juniors and seniors throughout the Lake Land College district. Dual credit students simultaneously earn credit toward college and high school completion, saving time and money on their path to a degree or certificate. To learn more about dual credit opportunities with Lake Land College, contact Wiles or visit the Dual Credit Webpage at LakeLandCollege.edu/Dual-Credit.

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Lake Land College is introducing Laker Connect, a new program designed to provide personalized assistance to high school dual credit students.

Under the Laker Connect program, a dedicated counselor will help high school students make the most of their dual credit options. The counselor is also available to help students in topics such as career exploration, paying for college, educational planning, transfer guidance, and trade school planning.

Academic Counselor Kellie Niemerg serves as the Laker Connect Counselor. Niemerg brings two years of counseling experience to the Laker Connect position. Prior to joining Counseling Services, she served as the Director of the Kluthe Center and held positions in Financial Aid and College Advancement.

“I love helping students prepare for their future with Lake Land College and beyond,” Niemerg said. “I want to help high school students and their parents feel confident about dual credit coursework and how it connects to their future.”

To learn more or set up a meeting, contact Niemerg 217-234-5473 or kkeck16009@lakelandcollege.edu.

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Lake Land College’s Adult Education (AE) program offers free GED and ELA (English Language Acquisition) classes with the support of funding from the ICCB Adult Education and Family Literacy grant. These classes help students ages 17 or older continue their education and develop valuable employment skills. AE staff help students in these courses achieve their academic goals and prepare for successful employment by assisting with résumés and providing access to community resources.

In Lake Land’s GED courses, students receive instruction, online resources and practice tests to help enhance their language arts, social studies and math and science skills in preparation for GED exams. AE celebrates all who pass the GED with a graduation ceremony in May.

In Lake Land’s ELA classes, non-native speakers receive an introduction to the English language and develop the skills needed to function in American society. Students are immersed in the language via reading, writing, and conversational activities. Students are assessed upon their entrance into the program and are matched to a corresponding level of material to ensure a productive and beneficial learning experience.

In both the GED and ELA courses, students begin with an orientation session, where they learn about the classes and take their first assessments. Orientations for Lake Land’s GED courses are held the first week of each month, September through November, and January through April. Upon completion of the orientation, students can begin attending GED classes at one of the following locations during the Fall 2024 semester:

• Charleston: Eastern Illinois University, Booth Library, Room 4450
• Effingham: Kluthe Center for Higher Education and Technology, 1204 Network Center Dr., Room 219 (Day) or 222 (Evening)
• Marshall: Eastern Region Center, 224 S. 6th St.
• Mattoon: Workforce Development Center, 5001 Lake Land Blvd., Room 105
• Pana: Western Region Center, 600 E. 1st St.
• Shelbyville: First Assembly of God, 108 S. Oak St.
• Sullivan: Sullivan High School, 725 N. Main St., The Media Center

For Lake Land’s ELA courses, orientations are held the second week of the month in September through November and January through April. Upon completion of the orientation, students can begin attending ELA classes in one of the following locations during the Fall 2024 semester:

• Arthur: Arthur Public Library, 225 S. Walnut St.
• Charleston: Newman Center, 500 Roosevelt Ave.
• Effingham: Kluthe Center for Higher Education and Technology, 1204 Network Center Dr.
• Mattoon: Workforce Development Center, 5001 Lake Land Blvd.

To view the full orientation and class schedules for both the GED and ESL courses, visit https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/adult-education/.

To see if these programs may be right for you or someone you know, call the Adult Education line at 217-238-8292 to speak with an Adult Education representative, or e-mail us at adulteducation@lakelandcollege.edu.

Lake Land College and Laker Athletics are proud to share the many team and individual athletic accomplishments from the 2023-2024 academic year.

“I would like to congratulate all our student athletes for a great year and thank the many coaches, faculty and staff who helped make it possible,” Vice President for Student Services Valerie Lynch said. “We applaud these outstanding young men and women for their many accomplishments both in the classroom and in their sports.”

The athletic accomplishments include:

2024 NJCAA Academic Team (must have a team GPA of 3.00 or higher):

• Softball
• Volleyball
• Men’s Basketball
• Women’s Basketball
• Baseball

2024 NJCAA All-Academic First Team (athletes with 24 credit hours with 4.00 GPA):

2024 NJCAA All-Academic Second Team (athlete with 24 credit hours with 3.80-3.99 GPA):

2024 NJCAA All-Academic Third Team (athlete with 24 credit hours with 3.60-3.79 GPA):   

Accumulative GPA of all of our athletes (132) for the 2023-2024 academic year:  3.13

Top three accumulative GPAs by team:

• Volleyball – 3.39
• Clay and Trap Shooting – 3.34
• Women’s Basketball – 3.33

Total number of athletes achieving a 3.0 or higher GPA for the 2023-2024 academic year: 83 of 132

Season records by sport:

• Softball: 48-14
• Women’s Basketball: 25-10
• Men’s Basketball: 19-12
• Volleyball: 13-18
• Baseball: 30-24-1

Volleyball 

Team Honors:

• NJCAA Academic Team

Women’s Basketball

Team Honors:

• NJCAA Academic Team
• National Tournament Appearance (At Large Selection)

Individual Honors and Awards:

Men’s Basketball

Team Honors:

• NJCAA Academic Team

Individual Honors and Awards:

Softball

Team Honors:

• NJCAA Academic Team
• Great Rivers Athletic Conference Runner Up
• Region 24 and Midwest District Champion
• National Tournament Appearance

Individual Honors and Awards:

Baseball

Team Honors:

• NJCAA Academic Team

Individual Honors and Awards:

Clay and Target Shooting

Team Honors:

• Fall 2023 Finished 2nd in the Conference
• Spring 2024 Finished 1st in the Conference

Individual Honors and Awards:

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Lake Land College Career Services is launching the Hire a Laker campaign, an opportunity for local businesses to collaborate with the College and promote their companies to job-seeking students.

Under the Hire a Laker campaign, the College is spotlighting local organizations with a history of hiring Lake Land alumni. Participating organizations will be featured on the Lake Land College Career Services webpage and social media platforms. Companies interested in joining the campaign can visit the Lake Land College Career Services webpage at LakeLandCollege.edu/Hire-a-Laker and complete the submission form.

“We’re very excited to foster connections with local businesses and spotlight their company values through this campaign,” said Stephanie Anderson, Internship & Employment Coordinator. “When we help our Lakers find rewarding, local careers, that’s a win for our students, the companies and our community.”

Lake Land College Career Services is a resource for local businesses to meet employment needs and find qualified workers for their organizations. Career Services supports employers by sharing job openings on Lake Land’s campus and social media pages, sending job opportunities to relevant departments and arranging on-campus recruitment sessions and job fairs. More information about Career Services, upcoming job fairs and on-campus recruiting opportunities is available on the Lake Land College website at LakeLandCollege.edu/Career-Services/Services-for-Employers/.

For more information about the Hire a Laker campaign or other opportunities with Lake Land Career Services, contact Anderson at 217-234-5457 or sfreeman41846@LakeLandCollege.edu.

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