ABOVE: DACC Interim President Dr. Randall Fletcher (center) during Thursday, February 27th Board of Trustees meeting.
During his recent annual budget address, Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker spoke of adding more four-year degrees at the community college level. Danville Area Community College Interim President Dr. Randall Fletcher said after Thursday’s (Feb 27th) Board of Trustees meeting that this has been in the works for a full decade. But now, it not only has the attention of the governor, but there’s also pending legislation in both the Illinois House and Senate.
Dr. Fletcher says the idea is not to offer the same, for example, Bachelor of Science degrees that you’ll find at four year schools around the state. Instead, it’s a matter of offering four year baccalaureate degrees in a applied curricula; providing trained workers for available positions right within their district; especially for students who intend to stay put and know where they want to work.
(1st Picture) Jonathan Daugherty awaits DACC Board of Trustees’ vote on his tenure. (2nd Picture) Mark Barnes after approval of his retirement. (3rd Picture) Collin Wright prior to his tenure vote.
AUDIO: Areas that are in high need for (those) trained at the baccalaureate level to enter into a profession; in manufacturing, in health (primarily nursing), information technology.
Dr. Fletcher says, and as is common in this area, local industry lets community colleges know what they want.
AUDIO: A community college baccalaureate is really focusing on local industry; businesses that are asking for skilled workers at the baccalaureate level. So you’re meeting local workforce need.
(1st Picture) Jonathan (Joe) Daughterty and family after tenure vote. (2nd Picture) Collin Wright and family after tenure vote.
DACC already offers various “two plus two” plans the give their students a smooth path to various four year schools. And then there’s the “three plus one,” where students take some third year classes in the classroom, and complete their fourth year online with participating schools.
Also during Thursday’s DACC Board of Trustees meeting; Director of Information Technology Mark Barnes and Math Professor Marjorie Larson were accepted for retirement consideration. After that, tenure recommendations were unanimously approved for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning instructor Jonathan “Joe” Daugherty; and Graphic Design Instructor Collin Wright.
