The Lake Land College Board of Trustees approved a $117.7 million budget, updated its student hazing policies to comply with a new federal law, and took the first step toward naming a new nursing lab in honor of a major donor at its August 18 meeting. The board also appointed Heather Nohren, an internal candidate, as the new Vice President for Student Services.

In one of its most significant actions of the year, the board unanimously adopted the operating budget for the 2026 fiscal year. The budget allocates funds for all college operations, with the largest portions directed toward the Educational and Restricted Purposes funds. In a separate move driven by new federal regulations, trustees swiftly approved revisions to the Student Code of Conduct, strengthening anti-hazing rules and increasing public reporting requirements. For more details on the budget and the new hazing policy, see our full-length stories.

The board also heard a recommendation to name the Nursing Simulation Lab at the Effingham Technology Center in honor of HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, following a significant donation from the healthcare provider. A final vote on the naming is expected in four months. The board also made key investments in the Allied Health programs, approving over $360,000 for new simulation equipment and educational software.

Bid Awarded for Fieldhouse Panel Installation: The board awarded a $257,836 contract to Kreiling Roofing of Peoria, IL, for the installation of red metal panels at the Fieldhouse entrance canopies. The project will align the canopies’ appearance with a planned pitched roof. Kreiling Roofing was the lower of two bids received for the project.

Campus Construction Projects Nearing Completion: Trustee Gary Cadwell, Chair of the Buildings & Site Committee, reported that several campus construction projects are nearing completion. These include the Effingham Technology Center, the Webb Hall Testing & Tutoring center, and remodels of the Northwest Lab and the Fieldhouse and West Building roofs. Projects in the early stages include a rehabilitation of Parking Lot B and a new front entrance project.

Technology and Cybersecurity Contracts Renewed: Trustees approved three significant contract renewals to maintain the college’s information technology infrastructure and security. The board authorized a $140,437 three-year renewal with Darktrace for cybersecurity services, a one-year, $122,908.94 renewal for the college’s Microsoft A5 software license, and a one-year, $58,843.94 renewal with NeoGov for human resources solutions software.

College Accepts $15,000 Apprenticeship Grant: The board voted to accept a $15,000 stipend from the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) for its Scaling Apprenticeship in Community Colleges program. The grant will support Lake Land in developing registered apprenticeship programs in at least two non-traditional occupations, focusing on advanced manufacturing and healthcare.

Organizational Charts Approved: Following the approval of a new MOU with the faculty association that formalizes an academic restructuring, the board approved updated organizational charts for Fiscal Year 2026. The new charts reflect the creation of a Dean of Instruction position and other minor realignments in student services to better align support responsibilities.

Annual TORT Plan Approved: Trustees approved the college’s annual Tort Levy Expenditures/Risk Management Plan for Fiscal Year 2026. The Tort Immunity Act allows the college to levy taxes to fund expenses related to liability and insurance. According to a memo from Vice President for Business Services John Woodruff, the annual review resulted only in modifications to job titles, with no other substantive changes.