Published: October 14, 2009 08:44 pm      

RLC upgrading mining center

By RORYE O’CONNOR

rorye.oconnor@register-news.com

INA — Rend Lake College has taken the next step to making its coal mining program unique to the region.

During the board of trustees meeting Tuesday night, members approved a bid for a power center in the coal mining training center, which will allow mining students and instructors to use, troubleshoot and diagnose mining equipment as part of their training.

“It’s basically the heart of any mining program,” said Terry Wilkerson, division chair of applied science. “It is the cornerpiece to our department.”

RLC received bids from five companies to furnish the power center for the coal mining center. They approved a base bid of $53,250 with an additional option of $4,499 from Becker/SMC Electrical Products of Barboursville, W.V.

Wilkerson expressed enthusiasm about the program’s progress, saying it offers an experience to students and returning coal miners taking annual re-training that is uncommon in Illinois.

“With what we’re looking to do, that’s what’s gonna set us apart,” Wilkerson said. “When you actually get hands on behind the theory, that’s a more skilled student.”

The mining center on RLC’s campus includes classrooms and offices, as well as a mock mine and operational coal mining equipment. It opened Aug. 11, 2009, and currently has about 25 associate’s degree students, but trains or re-trains many more career miners, Wilkerson said.

At the center, students study ventilation, roof control, mine operations and maintenance to achieve an associate’s degree.

RLC received help from two grants in the construction of the mining center. From a federal-based Community Based Jobs Training grant, the school received $1.7 million. It also acquired $1.07 million in Illinois coal development funds through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Wilkerson said he expects to attract more associate’s degree students as well as career coal miners taking training.

“It’s gonna go the way mining goes in Southern Illinois,” he said.

According to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois coal industry makes nearly $1 million and affects 12 counties in Illinois.

In other business, the board:

— Granted tenure to two instructors. Sara Bilderbeck, Office Systems Technology Instructor, and David Columbo, Mining Technology Instructor, will bear the title of “Associate Professor” instead of “Instructor;”

— Approved programs in Associate in Fine Arts, Music Performance; Associate in Fine Arts, Instrumental;

— Approved a new course, Computer Tomography Cross-Section Anatomy;

— Granted permission for a project to replace the Science Building roof to submit a proposal to the Illinois Community College Board for approval and permission in Fiscal Year 2011, and;

— Used a grant through the Illinois Department of Human Services to hire Jamie Nichols as a full-time infant/toddler child care specialist effective Oct. 16; and

— Approved revisions to board policy regarding stipends.