Lake Land Trustees Review ‘Education That Fits Your Life’ Strategy at Retreat

Lake Land College Board of Trustees Special Meeting | May 20, 2026

Article Summary: The Lake Land College Board of Trustees held a special retreat May 20 to hear progress reports on the college’s strategic direction, “Education that Fits Your Life,” including plans to complete a transition to a cloud-based student information system by Fall 2028.

Lake Land Strategic Plan Key Points:

• Four project action team leaders presented updates on technology readiness, student support, scheduling and systems modernization.
• The college aims to fully transition to the Ellucian Colleague cloud-based (SaaS) system by Fall 2028, working with consultant Ferrelli.
• Data presented by the college’s analytics director showed a downward trend in attendance by non-traditional students.
• The board took no action beyond entering a closed session for self-evaluation.

MATTOON — The Lake Land College Board of Trustees on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, gathered for a special retreat devoted to the college’s strategic direction, “Education that Fits Your Life,” hearing presentations from data analytics staff, four project action team leaders and the college’s director of strategic initiatives at the Foundation and Alumni Center.

Chair Tom Wright called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. with all seven trustees physically present — Wright, Vice Chair Denise Walk, Secretary Larry Lilly, Chuck Deters, Doris Reynolds, Scott Montgomery and Gary Cadwell — along with Student Trustee Wyatt Draper. No citizens, faculty or staff addressed the board during the public hearing portion.

Lisa Cole, director of data analytics, opened the strategic discussion with metrics identifying groups of students at risk of withdrawing from courses or not succeeding, along with student demographic trends over time, including declining attendance by non-traditional students. According to the minutes, the metrics and demographic data will be used to track the future success of the college’s strategic plan and equity plan.

Four project action team leaders followed with updates. Career Readiness Coordinator Stephanie Anderson described efforts to ensure every student has essential technology skills before their first class, including a technology readiness self-assessment, a faculty-student technology survey and a “How to College Tech Skills Workshop.” Heather Nohren, vice president for student services, outlined six initiatives to provide personalized support and a consistent point of contact through application, onboarding and enrollment, grouped into three categories: improving student access to support services, enhancing student communication with employees, and improving the application-to-enrollment process.

Dr. Ikemefuna Nwosu, vice president for academic services, presented on customer-centric schedules and learning options, built on three pillars — expanded modalities, improved transparency and optimized scheduling — and said the team is researching all available data, including a prospective student survey being conducted from April through June 2026.

Cloud Transition Targeted for Fall 2028

David Stewart, chief financial officer, reported that information technology staff and Cole are working with the college’s consultants, Ferrelli, to fully transition to the Ellucian Colleague cloud-based (SaaS) system by Fall 2028, connecting all ancillary products and centralizing data. The minutes record an expected return on investment through enhanced retention, increased enrollment, and improved process efficiencies, security, compliance and future readiness.

Jay Hopper, director of strategic initiatives, closed the presentations by explaining how project management methods support visibility and college-wide collaboration, and how the administration will use SmartSheets planning software to provide the board and administration with real-time progress dashboards.

The retreat opened with a presentation by Jim Reed, ICCTA executive director, on effective board governance and the board’s role, versus the administration’s, in supporting the strategic direction. The board later entered a closed session at 3:41 p.m. for self-evaluation while meeting with a representative of a statewide association of which the college is a member, returning to open session at 4:21 p.m. and adjourning one minute later with no further action.

Meeting Briefs:

Board Hears Governance Presentation From Statewide Association

Jim Reed, ICCTA executive director, opened the retreat’s discussion with a presentation on effective board governance, addressing the board’s role — as distinct from the administration’s — in supporting the college’s strategic direction. Also present for the retreat were Jay Bliler, the 2025-2026 student trustee, along with President Dr. Jonathan Bullock, Chief of Staff Jean Anne Highland, Vice President for Business Services John Woodruff and numerous additional members of the faculty and staff, according to the minutes.

Trustees Hold 40-Minute Closed Session for Self-Evaluation

The board voted unanimously at 3:41 p.m. to enter closed session under the Illinois Open Meetings statutes for self-evaluation while meeting with a representative of a statewide association of which the college is a member. The motion was made by Vice Chair Denise Walk and seconded by Trustee Doris Reynolds, with all seven trustees and the student trustee recorded as voting yes. The board returned to open session at 4:21 p.m., took roll call, and adjourned at 4:22 p.m. on a motion by Reynolds, seconded by Trustee Scott Montgomery. No action followed the closed session.