University Center Adds Board Members & Programs

The University Center of Lake County’s Governing Board added two members and approved two academic programs when it held its quarterly meeting on September 13, 2017. The group also heard an enrollment report for the 2016-17 academic year that charted growth and demonstrated effectiveness in enrolling a student body that reflects the diversity of Lake County’s population.

Luis Fuentes, a realtor and a resident of Mundelein, was elected to serve as a community member filling a vacancy caused by a resignation. Mr. Fuentes has lived in Mundelein for the past thirty years and has worked as a realtor for the past 24 years. During that time, he has been an active volunteer in the community. He has worked closely with the University Center on three significant initiatives: the FAFSA workshop series (now in its tenth year); the Taste of College program with Mundelein school districts 75, 76, 79, and 120; and the Familias en Educacion workshops of 2016 & 2017.

Martin Mireles is enrolled in the B.S. in Special Education program offered through the Center by Southern Illinois University Carbondale and was elected as the student representative to the Governing Board. Mr. Mireles is a paraprofessional at Grayslake North High School (GNHS), where he has worked for the past three years. He anticipates receiving his degree in July of 2019; licensure as a special education teacher will enhance his current career. Mr. Mireles is an alumnus of the College of Lake County and graduated with an Associate in Science with high honors in July of 2016.

The Governing Board also approved the addition of two online degree programs to the University Center roster.

The Master of Science in Recreation, Sport & Tourism offered by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign serves those who work in park districts, event management, or marketing and are pursuing career advancement. It also serves those who wish to change careers by building on prior sports experience or part-time park district work. Lake County is ranked third in the state among counties in generating tourism expenditures, and tourism supports more than 10,790 Lake County jobs, according to a recent economic update from Lake County Partners.

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with an option area in Communication in Organizations is offered by Eastern Illinois University. This program is designed to provide a flexible alternative for transfer students whose work, family, and civic commitments make a synchronous classroom program difficult to pursue. EIU has a guaranteed admission agreement with the College of Lake County.

Dr. Myra Gaytan-Morales, assistant dean for academic services & programs, provided the Governing Board with a student enrollment report for the 2016-17 academic year. Each of the Center’s member institutions must report data on the students enrolled in their University Center programs three times per year. According to this data, 1,598 students generated 6,595 enrollments in 1,358 courses. This represents an increase of 4% in the number of students and in the number of individual course enrollments over the preceding academic year. The Governing Board was heartened to learn of student and enrollment increases in a period during which many public universities in Illinois reported decreases.

There were 349 graduates of degree or certificate programs offered through the University Center in 2016-17. This is eight fewer graduates than in 2015-16.

Data on ethnicity is available for 63% (1,000/1,598) of the student body. It indicates that the Center’s student body is 59% White Non-Hispanic, 25% Hispanic, 9% Black Non-Hispanic, 5% Asia/Pacific Islander, and 2% Multi-racial. This breakdown compares favorably with the census data for Lake County and reflects the Center’s efforts to attract students traditionally under-represented in higher education.

About 76% of the Center’s students are residents of Lake County, according to their home zip codes, with the highest number coming from Waukegan, Round Lake, Gurnee, Grayslake/Third lake/Hainesville, Lake Villa, Mundelein, Zion, Antioch, Buffalo Grove, and Vernon Hills.

For more information about the University Center of Lake County and its program, visit www.ucenter.org.