| JJC Events &
Announcements
Main Campus
Fine Arts Theatre
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JJC FAST FACTS |
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Listen to WJOL 1340 AM on Monday, Dec. 14, at 9:10 a.m. to hear Amy Murphy talk about the college's defensive driving program. |
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Connections Magazine Fall 2009
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Message from the President: State Budget Update
At Tuesday's Board meeting, I informed the trustees that the college has been contacted by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) and the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) regarding a shortfall in the state's current budget, which may affect community colleges.
Though we have not received any official notice from the state, it is likely that JJC will not receive its third and fourth quarter fiscal year 2010 payments from the state until fiscal year 2011. These two payments are approximately $4 million in operating funds.
The college's financial team is reviewing the impact of this shortfall on our current budget and next year's budget, which will also be a topic at the January Board Workshop meeting. To put this in perspective, state funding for JJC accounts for approximately 10 percent of the college's operating budget or about $8 million, which is delivered by the state in quarterly payments.
JJC has still not received its second quarter payment from the state, which was due in November. JJC is more fortunate, however, than many of its downstate sister community colleges, who rely on state funding for 40-50 percent of their operating funds.
The state's budget issues will be a challenge for everyone in Illinois. We are working closely with other community colleges and our partners at ICCB and ICCTA to encourage the governor and the Illinois Legislature to fund community colleges on time. We will continue to share information on this as it becomes available.
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Culinary Students Carve Their Final Exams
Some culinary students at Joliet Junior College took a unique final exam on Dec. 9 and 10--they carved 400-pound blocks of ice into holiday sculptures for their ice carving class, taught by Chef Mike McGreal, chair of the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Department.
The FOX Chicago morning news team was scheduled to do a live report with the students and Chef McGreal on Dec. 10, but unfortunately had to cancel at the last minute due to late-breaking news. As shown in the photo gallery below, Chef McGreal carved them a nice FOX ice sculpture anyway!
The completed sculptures are now on display on the Main Campus patio outside the cafeteria.
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Student and Faculty Speakers Announced for Winter Commencement
The college's 94th Winter Commencement Ceremony will be held on Dec. 18 in the Main Campus gymnasium.
Featured speakers this semester are JJC student Alex Vasiliades and Lora McGuire, professor in the Nursing and Allied Health Department.
Lora McGuire
 Professor of Nursing Lora McGuire, RN, MS, has taught at Joliet Junior College for 27 years.
McGuire, who specializes in pain management, has presented lectures on the topic to hundreds of organizations across the country, and her articles on pain have appeared in over 30 leading nursing journals and textbooks.
She was also recently selected from a national pool of pain management nurses to serve as a master faculty member for the American Society for Pain Management Nurses Certification Preparation Course.
McGuire's dedication to her field and her community show in her volunteer work and numerous awards. She serves on the boards of Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home, the Will/Grundy Medical Clinic, and the Will County State's Attorney Child Advocacy Center. She is also a volunteer for the Joliet Area Community Hospice Education Committee, a member of Will County Take Back the Night, and the Zonta Club of Joliet.
Her awards include Zonta Club of Joliet Woman of the Year, 2000; Joliet Chamber of Commerce Athena Award recipient, 2001; Silver Cross Hospital Schering Award for Medical Excellence, 2003; Northern Illinois University Alumni Association Outstanding Alumni Award College of Health and Human Sciences, 2005.
McGuire, of Joliet, received her bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University and her master's degree-with a specialty in pain management-from Rush College of Nursing in Chicago.
Alex Vasiliades
 Alex Vasiliades, a communications and marketing double major at Joliet Junior College, plans to transfer to Lewis University for the spring 2010 semester to continue his education.
Through his time at JJC, the 19-year-old Joliet native and graduate of Joliet West High School has been involved with Student Government as its public relations officer, been a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and worked in the college's Office of Student Activities.
He also volunteers with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, where he has worked with the JJC student government to raise $5,000.
Though he entered JJC to study pre-med, his experiences working with peers, along with guidance from his mentor Office of Student Activities Director Pamela Dilday, channeled his interests toward pursuing a career in communications.
Vasiliades hopes to work in higher education after he completes his bachelor's degree.
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Construction Project Web Cams
Stay up-to-date with ongoing projects on campus:
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Giving Campaign to United Way and Combined Charities Underway
The college's giving campaign to help support the United Way of Will County and the Combined Charities campaigns is currently underway. JJC employees have the option to support one or both campaigns through various contribution methods, including payroll deduction or direct contribution via check or credit card. Spearheading this year's giving campaign are Elaine Falk, federal grant accountant, Angie Kaysen, transfer and articulation coordinator, and Catherine Suchy, librarian. "In these difficult economic times, giving matters even more," Falk said. "Any donation is greatly appreciated and will be used to improve the lives of those in need." Falk, Kaysen and Suchy are working with the Office of Human Resources and a volunteer committee consisting of Cathy Whalen, representing the food services union, Michele Coleman representing the clerical union, and Michael Riola representing the facility services union. Informational packets are being sent out this week through interoffice mail. Those who haven't received one by the end of the week can contact Falk at efalk@jjc.edu or ext. 2240. All employees are asked to complete and return the pledge form in the informational packet by Dec. 21, whether they choose to participate or not. For questions regarding the 2010 campaign, contact any of the committee members listed above or your union representative.
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Phi Theta Kappa Chapter Honored with Pinnacle Award
JJC's Phi Theta Kappa chapter recently won a Pinnacle Award and five membership scholarships from the Phi Theta Kappa national headquarters.
The Pinnacle Award recognizes Phi Theta Kappa chapters and regions for successful recruitment and orientation strategies, as measured by the number of new members reported to headquarters in a given year.
JJC's membership increased 25 percent in the past year, which earned the chapter five membership scholarships. Each scholarship is worth $45, and can be used toward membership fees for new inductees to JJC's chapter.
The college's chapter adviser is Lisa Sandoval, instructor in the English and World Languages Department.
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Upcoming PPD Sessions on the Web
Submit, view and register for PPD sessions from one convenient site
The new web-based Professional and Personal Development Week system is now operational.
Faculty and staff can now submit session plans, view what sessions are being offered, register, and evaluate, all from one convenient site.
From the JJC homepage, follow this path:
About > Operational Departments > Human Resources Department > PPD Committee, which leads you to:
www.jjc.edu/about/operational/human-resources/ppd-committee/Pages/default.aspx
On the left, you'll see the PPD Week links.
Read more about submitting, viewing and registering for PPD sessions
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Faculty, Staff Recognition
* With the collaborative efforts of Tracy Theard, Institutional Advancement and Research Division; Debbie Alberts, City Center; Griselda Martinez, Grundy County Center; Debbie Halley, North Campus; and the Human Resources staff, JJC raised $177 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation during their Passionately Pink for the Cure campaign during the month of October.
Want to send recognition information about a JJC faculty or staff member? E-mail communications@jjc.edu.
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