SPRINGFIELD – Helping Benedictine University students will be a priority of Lincoln Land Community College.
The Board of Trustees held aspecial board meeting at 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, to discuss how it can aid Benedictine in transferring to LLCC next year.
Benedictine is cutting its traditional undergraduate program after this school year. The abrupt decision forces many students to go elsewhere for a degree.
Benedictine will allow students to transfer to its other campuses in Lisle or Mesa, Arizona, while the Springfield campus focuses on nontraditional degrees and graduate programs.
“We appreciate that these students have made a commitment to our community by choosing to attend college in Springfield,” said Trustee Jeff Fulgenzi. “We wish to honor their commitment through our resolution to provide them with in-district tuition rates, and, more importantly, to ease the fears they face in the wake of this unexpected transition.”
Many students may not be from the district or out-of-state, but the college will extend the in-district rate to any Benedictine student affected by the closure, said college spokeswoman Lynn Whalen.
“This is an opportunity to absorb students,” said Justin Reichart, the chairman of Lincoln Land’s board.
LLCC’s President Dr. Charlotte Warren said the college will evaluate freshman- and sophomore-level classes from Benedictine to see what is transferable to LLCC. LLCC currently offers no classes above the sophomore level.
Warren said Lincoln Land may add new adjunct professors in this process.
LLCC formed a Response Team Monday, Oct. 27, to help Benedictine students transfer to Lincoln Land. The team consists of academic, financial aid and student success advisers.
“The Lincoln Land Community College Board of Trustees supports the ongoing efforts of our administration to assist Benedictine students who are looking for a new educational home,” Fulgenzi
It will be at a Transfer Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at Benedictine.
“’No’ is not the answer (for this process),” Warren said. “(The answer is) how do we make it work.”
Ryan Wilson can be reached at 217-786-2311 or [email protected].
