MATTOON - Gov. Jim Edgar says the new $7.7 million East Classroom Building to be constructed at Lake Land College will help Illinois meet the challenges of the 21st Century. The groundbreaking ceremony beneath a tent on a rainy Thursday was led by Edgar and attended by dignitaries including college officials, state legislators and city officeholders. This was Edgar's second visit to campus since February when he announced he would include $5.7 million in the state budget for the college to allow for the construction of state-of-the-art classrooms and labs. Another $2.3 million in local matching funds will also be used in the project. About $400,000 was previously given for planning purposes.

"As we look to the future of the state, we know the key is going to be the people of the state. We need to make sure our people have the necessary skills to meet the challenges and the requirements of the new century," said Edgar. The East Classroom Building will be the first permanent classroom building constructed on campus since the late 1970s. Community colleges in Illinois are in the forefront of making sure Illinoisans have the necessary skills to hold the jobs as the new millennium approaches, Edgar said. Prior to this groundbreaking, Edgar attended a similar ceremony in DuPage County where a research lab is expanding to include an additional 2,000 workers. "We are tied together as one state," he said. Groundbreakings like those today mean good news for all of Illinois, said Edgar. Remarks were also made Thursday by Robert Luther, president of Lake Land; Mel Myers, representing Sen. Judith Myers; Rep. Dale Righter; Rep. Chuck Hartke; Joseph Cipfl, president and CEO of Illinois Community College Board, and Leland Glazebrook, chairman of the Building and Site Committee at Lake Land.

College officials say that increased enrollments of 70 percent since 1974 have led to overcrowded conditions and limited course offerings. The new building will include six laboratories - one for nursing, two for science and two for computer learning. The new building will provide an entire wing dedicated to the college's nursing program, which has established and maintains valuable partnerships with area hospitals and rural health care providers serving the state. The building will also include two art rooms, a music room and eight general classrooms. It is expected to encompass about 42,600 square feet and will be erected at the front of the campus. Completion of the construction is targeted for Spring 2000.

Luther said the latest figures from student applications show Lake Land continues to grow by leaps and bounds with the number of full-time equivalency students up by 5.2 percent for next fall and the headcount is up by 5.7 percent next fall. One FTE is equivalent to 15 credit hours or one full-time student. State funding is based on the number of FTE's generated by a community college on a staggered two year basis. "We continue to grow as an institution. But, much of the enrollment increases at Lake Land College have to do with the fine quality of our faculty and staff here," said Luther.

Many students, faculty and board of trustees were also on hand to hear the remarks. "It is better to go out and do something positive to improve education than to complain about ignorance, poverty, welfare and hopelessness that we have in this country," said Glazebrook. Cipfl called Lake Land the fastest growing community college in the state. He credited Luther for leading the college to record enrollments over the past several years. "It's a great day for Lake Land. Go make it happen," said Cipfl.

Edgar said community colleges have to lead the way to providing necessary skills for the people of the state. The state's economy is booming with the highest standard of living now and with the lowest unemployment rate in a three decade record low, well below the national average. "We have a lot of things going for us in Illinois, and I think part of the reason we are so successful is because of our educational system," said Edgar.

Groundbreaking ceremony at Lake Land College.
Edgar, left, holds a Lake Land shirt presented by college President Robert Luther.
Photo by Kevin Kilhoffer

Used with permission from Mid-Illinois Newspapers
Publishers of the Mattoon Journal Gazette and the Charleston Times-Courier

Back To News Index

Coles Together
400 Airport Road
Mattoon, Illinois 61938
(217) 258-5627 FAX (217) 235-9492