The Board of Trustees of the Illinois Eastern Community College District No. 529 met Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Frontier Community College, Fairfield, Illinois.
The Board approved honoring Jerry Cox’s longstanding support of IECC by naming the new Frontier Community College athletic facility the Jerry Cox Athletic Center and its competition floor the Jerry Cox Court, recognizing his significant donations and ongoing commitment to student success.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees regular meeting held on March 24, 2026 and special meeting held on April 7, 2026 were approved.
The Board approved fee updates effective Fall 2026, including the elimination testing fee which will save students approximately $177, and redistributing a $40 lab fee in the Medical Assistant program evenly across two courses without changing total program cost.
A new three-year agreement with Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) to continue providing nursing students with testing, remediation, and NCLEX preparation through a cost-recovery fee assessed to first-year RN students was approved.
The Board waived a second reading and approved revisions to the following policies:
• Assessment Policy 800.4 – minor revisions that include the establishment of an annual report to the Board of Trustees summarizing assessment activities and outcomes.
• Tuition Waivers Policy 500.14 was updated to eliminate tuition waivers for specified counties and Indiana students in designated counties.
A first reading of Trustee Onboarding and Orientation Policy 100.44 was presented. This new policy, developed at the Board’s direction, establishes a structured onboarding and orientation process for new Trustees. The policy will be considered for approval at next month’s meeting.
The Board accepted the 2025 IECC 403(b) Plan report, summarizing plan participation, investment options, and total assets of approximately $6.9 million, in fulfillment of fiduciary oversight responsibilities.
The Board approved a transfer of a donated, uninhabitable property at 402 E. Locust in Robinson to the City of Robinson.
The Board authorized administration to proceed with the full disposition and potential sale of the Garden Valley Apartments property following the end of a temporary arrangement with a local property owner.
Approval of employment was given for Adam McInter as TRIO Upward Bound Academic Counselor at LTC effective June 1, 2026 and Vanessa Stevens as OCC Custodian effective April 27, 2026.
New employment contracts were approved for Chancellor Ryan Gower; LTC President/Vice Chancellor of Institutional Outreach Tona Ambrose; OCC President/Vice Chancellor of Business Operations Chris Simpson; and FCC President/Vice Chancellor of Business & Industry Sharmila Kakac.
A change in status was approved for Cassandra Goldman from Dean of Students to Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, and WVC President-Designate effective July 1, 2026.
The Board approved an externship through the Perkins Grant as a special assignment for Nursing Instructor Brittany Ochs.
Resignation ratification was approved for Cody Gifford as FCC Custodian effective April 24, 2026..
Retirement ratification was approved for Dr. Matthew Fowler as WVC President and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs effective June 30, 2027.
The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 6:15 p.m. at Lincoln Trail College, Robinson, IL.