The Illinois Eastern Community College District Board Of Trustees met Tuesday night at Frontier Community College in Fairfield.
During the session, trustees approved naming the college’s new athletic facility the Jerry Cox Athletic Center, with the main competition floor designated as Jerry Cox Court. The recognition honors Cox’s longtime support of the district, including significant financial contributions and continued advocacy for student success. Additional information on the naming is available in a separate story under the Local News tab on our website.
Board members also approved changes to student fees beginning in Fall 2026. The revisions eliminate the testing fee, a move expected to save students about $177. In addition, a $40 lab fee within the Medical Assistant program will now be split evenly between two courses, with no increase to the overall program cost.
Trustees authorized a new three-year agreement with Assessment Technologies Institute to provide nursing students with testing, remediation, and NCLEX preparation services. The agreement will be funded through a cost-recovery fee applied to first-year registered nursing students.
Personnel actions included the hiring of Adam McInter as TRIO Upward Bound Academic Counselor at Lincoln Trail College, effective June 1, 2026, and Vanessa Stevens as custodian at Olney Central College, effective April 27.
The board also approved new employment contracts for Chancellor Ryan Gower; Lincoln Trail College President and Vice Chancellor of Institutional Outreach Tona Ambrose; Olney Central College President and Vice Chancellor of Business Operations Chris Simpson; and Frontier Community College President and Vice Chancellor of Business and Industry Sharmila Kakac. In addition, trustees ratified the retirement of Dr. Matthew Fowler as Wabash Valley College President and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, effective June 30, 2027.
The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees is set for Tuesday, May 19, at Lincoln Trail College in Robinson.