JWCC Trustees Hear Reports on the Presidential Search and Grants

JWCC main campus building
May 19, 2022

JWCC Trustees Hear Reports on the Presidential Search and Grants
John Wood Community College Board of Trustees heard reports on the Presidential Search and the positive impact of state and federal grants for the College, during its regular meeting Wednesday, May 18.
Board of Trustees Chair Diane Ary gave an update on the Presidential Search, as President Michael Elbe is retiring December 31, 2022. John Wood has started the search process for the next President. To assist the Board of Trustees with the search, JWCC has engaged the Pauly Group, Inc., a national search consulting firm that assists in the recruitment and successful hiring of community college executives. Dr. Angela Provart, president of the Pauly Group and the Board will conduct a forum on May 26 that will be open to the public for community input. It will be held on the Quincy campus from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Discussion topics are the opportunities and challenges facing John Wood and the characteristics needed for the next President. The first Presidential Search Committee meeting will occur in early August. The selected candidate will begin in January 2023.
The Board authorized the submission and accepted almost $850,000 in grant funding requests. “The pandemic inspired funders to look at new ways to solve challenges and approach projects that impact lasting change. JWCC has adapted how we deliver our services and our students have changed the way they access education,” said President Michael Elbe. “Our longer-term strategic planning positions us to take advantage of grant opportunities to grow and support our programs and services and be even more responsive to community needs. Additionally, leveraging state and federal grants is a strategic and intentional way to off-set pushes on tuition and property taxes.”
In other business, the Board:
Accepted a $13,000 grant from the Illinois Community College Board for a grant titled Transitional English Instruction to prepare high school graduates for college-level English courses.
Authorized submission of a $195,000 grant application to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant titled Pulse Boiler Replacement.
Authorized submission of a $616,693 grant application to the Illinois Community College Board/IL Department of Human Services for a grant titled Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (over three-years).
Authorized submission of a $21,840 grant application to the Illinois Board of Higher Education for a grant titled Illinois Cooperative Work Study.
The next regular meeting of the JWCC Board of Trustees is June 15, at 6 p.m. at JWCC’s Quincy campus.

John Wood Community College is the educational link between business and community. JWCC collaboratively creates innovative and relevant academic and training programs with business leaders to educate young people and the workforce for today's needs and tomorrow's opportunities. JWCC has centers in Quincy, Pittsfield, Baylis and Mt. Sterling, Illinois. Programs include a comprehensive baccalaureate transfer curriculum, customized business training, career/technical degrees, certificates, and personal enrichment courses.