Lake Land College Formalizes Academic Restructuring with Faculty Association MOU

Article Summary: Lake Land College and its faculty union have formalized a departmental restructuring through a Memorandum of Understanding approved by the Board of Trustees. The agreement clarifies the role of a newly created Dean of Instruction position and redefines certain responsibilities previously held by the Vice President for Academic Services.

MOU Key Points:

• The board approved an MOU between the college and the Lake Land College Faculty Association.

• The agreement clarifies the duties of the new Dean of Instruction position.

• The goal is to better support institutional initiatives and enhance day-to-day academic operations.

EFFINGHAM — An academic restructuring effort at Lake Land College was formally codified Monday after the Board of Trustees approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Lake Land College Faculty Association.

Dr. Ikemefuna Nwosu, Vice President for Academic Services, requested the board’s approval, explaining that the agreement was necessary as the department undergoes changes to more effectively support strategic goals and daily operations. A key part of this process was the recent creation of a Dean of Instruction position.

“The Administration now seeks to formalize a set of responsibilities that have been delegated to the Dean by the Vice President for Academic Services,” Nwosu said.

Because many of these responsibilities have contractual implications for faculty, the administration worked with union leadership to develop the MOU. The agreement clarifies that references in the collective bargaining agreement to the “Vice President for Academic Services” may now be interpreted as either the Vice President or the Dean of Instruction, depending on the context.

The move is intended to streamline administrative processes and provide clear lines of authority for faculty and division chairs. Trustee Doris Reynolds moved to approve the MOU, with Trustee Larry D. Lilly seconding. The motion passed on a unanimous roll-call vote.