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The Learning Resource Center plays a vital role in the instructional process of Rend Lake College. Students, faculty, staff and other district residents are encouraged to make full use of its facilities for study, research, leisure reading, class preparation and browsing.
The LRC has a book collection of over 31,000 volumes and subscribes to over 250 periodicals, 20 daily newspapers, and 35 electronic services. A CD-ROM network, located in the Reference Area, provides library patrons with access to databases which index magazine and newspaper articles. A collection of audiovisual materials, including videotapes, records, CDs, DVDs, and slides are available for research or classroom use.
The Learning Resource Center is a member of the Shawnee Library System. The system's computerized card catalog contains the collections of 71 member libraries in Southern Illinois. Their combined collections total over 1 million books. Because of this data-base, Rend Lake College students can borrow materials from any of the member libraries through inter-library loan.
An open computer lab is located in the LRC. Application software, Internet access, a scanner and color printer are available for use by Rend Lake College students and staff.
The LRC serves as the control center of a satellite distribution system to 25 receive sites on campus for broadcasts of satellite programs and pre-recorded videotapes. These satellite programs and tapes may be used for instructional enhancement, staff training, business and industry workshops and community seminars.
The Instructional Technology department is located on the lower level of the LRC. Personnel are available to provide services such as scheduling, delivery and set-up of audiovisual equipment, transparency production, audio and video tape production and engraving.
When classes are in session, the Learning Resource Center is open from 7:45 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays. The library also is open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon during the fall and spring semesters. When classes are not in session, the library is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Rend Lake College uses three different technologies to deliver instruction to students at a distance: telecourses, interactive video and Internet (on-line) courses.
Telecourses
The Learning Resource Center staff coordinates the viewing facilities and production of materials and videotapes for the Rend Lake College telecourse curriculum. Telecourses are college level courses consisting of a textbook, a student study guide, an instructor's packet, CDs or videocassette tapes, and online components. Telecourses combine video lessons with related textbook readings and assignments.
Convenience is the major advantage of taking a telecourse instead of a traditional college class. Students may watch the video lessons in the LRC Media Room, checkout individual videos/CDs from the circulation desk for home viewing, or rent a complete set of videos/CDs from the Rend Lake College Bookstore. Viewing is also available during normal hours of operation at the following public libraries: Benton Public Library, C.E. Brehm Memorial Public Library District in Mt. Vernon, and McCoy Memorial Library in McLeansboro.
Interactive Video
Rend Lake College has utilized interactive video conferencing since 1995 to deliver instruction to students at a distance. This form of distance learning allows students at various sites to take the same course at the same time from the same instructor. The video conferencing system allows students and the instructor to hear and see each other wherever the classroom is located. Classrooms in the Rend Lake College district are located in the RLC Library, Benton High School, Mt. Vernon Township High School, Pinckneyville Community High School, Sesser-Valier High School, Thompsonville High School, Wayne City Community High School, the Rend Lake College MarketPlace, RLC Murphy-Wall Pinckneyville Campus, Waltonville, Webber Township High School, and Continental General Tire in Mt. Vernon.
Internet (Online) Courses
Students enrolled in courses taught via the Internet must have access to the Internet, e-mail, and word processing capability or software. Students enrolled in RLC Online Courses may utilize the open Computer Lab located in the Learning Resource Center to participate in classes. RLC utilizes the Blackboard Learning System to offer online courses.
Rend Lake College is a participant in the Illinois Virtual Campus (IVC) initiative. The Illinois Virtual Campus is an online directory of distance education courses and programs offered by over 70 Illinois colleges and universities _ a searchable database with links to each participating college and university.
The IVC does not grant degrees, Continuing Education Units or certificates of completion. It merely provides information about courses and programs offered by these Illinois colleges and universities. Each IVC provider has the final decision on all academic requirements. Information is subject to change at any time.
Additional information about the Illinois Virtual Campus can be found at www.ivc.illinois.edu or by e-mail at ivc@uillinois.edu.
The Individualized Two Plus Two Program invites Rend Lake College A.A. and A.S. students to combine their coursework with a baccalaureate curriculum at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale to complete a bachelor's degree. Counselors at SIUC will structure a plan of study at Rend Lake College to fulfill SIUC requirements, satisfy associate degree requirements and enable students to move directly into their major program at SIUC. Students transferring directly to SIUC after earning a baccalaureate-oriented associate degree are granted admission with junior class status. Students are eligible to apply for the "2+2" program if they have completed a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 26 semester hours with a minimum 2.0 grade-point average and declare their projected SIUC major.
For more information about this program, contact the RLC Academic Counseling Center.
The Adult Education and Literacy Programs prepare students for the GED (high school equivalency) test or to develop their skills in basic reading, math, job readiness and the English language. These programs also foster community and family literacy partnerships within college district communities to provide related educational services that benefit students and area residents.
1. "Adult Education and Family Literacy"
(ABE or GED Classes) Adult Basic Education provides basic reading, writing and math for those who need to start at the beginning or for those who need to review the basics to meet personal goals or to prepare to enter the GED class.
GED or high school certificate preparation classes provide coursework to help the student prepare for the General Education Development test or to improve his/her employment skills. Successful completion of the GED test enables the student to receive the Illinois High School Equivalency Certificate. Day or evening classes providing individualized instruction in both Adult Basic Education and GED are available throughout the RLC district. Application to take the GED test must be made at the Regional Superintendent of Schools Office.
2. "Adult Volunteer Literacy"
The Adult Volunteer Literacy program, trains volunteers to teach the adult and family, basic skills in a one-to-one setting or as a teacher's aide in a classroom setting. Anyone who would like to learn to read or to be a volunteer should contact the Literacy Services Specialist.
Visit the Skills Center web site.
The Math Lab gives the self-motivated student flexibility in taking mathematics courses. Courses may be taken in the Math Lab on an individualized, self-paced basis. A student can progress at his/her own rate and may finish the course before the semester is over. If more time is needed, students may take an additional eight weeks to complete the class. Those completing a course in the middle of a semester may begin another course immediately. An instructor is available to help students.
Math Lab students must meet minimum criteria:
- Attend a scheduled orientation the first week.
- Complete at least 1/3 of the material for the course by midterm or receive a failing midterm grade.
- Complete at least 2/3 of the material by the end of the semester or receive a failing grade. If 2/3 of the material is completed, the student will receive an incomplete grade and have eight weeks of the next semester to complete the course, if he/she attended the labs two hours per week.
- Meet with the instructor at least once each week.
Courses that may be taken in the Math Lab:
MATH 1401 _ Computational Math
MATH 1402 _ Algebra for College Students
MATH 1406 _ Intermediate Algebra
MATH 1108 _ College Algebra
MATH 1109 _ Plane Trigonometry
MATH 1201 _ Technical Math
MATH 1202 _ Business Math
Rend Lake College students may get credit and transcript recognition for volunteering to perform community service. The nature of the service performed need not relate to the student's major, although such a relationship would be ideal. Students performing community service may receive either .5 credit hours for 32 hours of service or 1 credit hour for 64 hours of service. A student must have completed at least 12 semester hours with a 2.0 GPA or higher to qualify.
Community service is advantageous to the student for a number of reasons. Four-year colleges and employers look favorably on students who have performed community service. It is an excellent way to develop new working relationships and future references. Community service is a noble act of good citizenship, empathy and commitment to the future of this area. Students have the opportunity to make the area an even better place in which to live by volunteering to serve.
For more information concerning volunteerism, students should contact Cooperative Education and Employment Services personnel in the South Oasis.
Community Development at Rend Lake College encompasses a myriad of programs which serve all ages. These include everything from "America Reads" and "America Counts" for grade school children to Alternative Education classes for high school juniors, "Advancing Opportunities" and business outreach training through the Times Square Campus in Mt. Vernon.
The Cooperative Education and Employment Services office and Volunteerism programs are covered in more detail elsewhere.
Other Community Development offerings include:
- Work Keys, the ACT-developed assistance that is fast-becoming the workforce development system of choice for business and industry, individuals and educators. Components involve job analysis, assessment, research and training
- "Project First Class," a longstanding, highly successful HECA Grant program which motivates and provides academic assistance to encourage Mt. Vernon minority students and others to succeed in school and pursue a college-bound course of study.
- "AmeriCorps in Southern Illinois," providing tutoring/mentoring help for grade and middle school students throughout the district.
- "Future Focus," a middle school project in Franklin and Jefferson counties which enhances career exploration and combats at-risk behaviors with counseling, workshops, training and cultural experiences.
- Teen Parent Services helps young individuals who receive public assistance and are not in school to return to the classroom and become more self-sufficient.
- Alternative Education classes on-campus for high school-age students who need catch-up opportunities to stay on track to graduate.
The Student Center houses a variety of resources and services for Rend Lake College students. These include the RLC Textbook Store and Retail Store, Security Office and cafeteria. The cafeteria is in operation during daytime hours only.
Rend Lake College, under contract with the Illinois Department of Corrections, offers a wide variety of college-level vocational and baccalaureate courses and programs at the Big Muddy River Correctional Center in Ina and the Pinckneyville Correctional Center. This includes both certificate and degree programs. All courses are taught at the prison site. These classes are not open to the general public.
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