SHAWNEE, REND LAKE RECEIVE LARGE GRANTS FOR COLLEGE IMPROVEMENTS

ULLIN, Ill. -- Shawnee Community College, located near here, is one of two Southern Illinois community colleges that will receive Strengthening Institutions Program grants from the Department of Education.

Shawnee will receive $454,315 during the first year of a five-year application that will total about $2.4 million. Rend Lake Community College of Ina, Ill., will receive $346,731 in the first year of a four-year application for about $1.5 million.

"We are very happy and feel fortunate to have received this much-needed and highly competitive grant," said Shawnee president Jack Hill. "It will enable us to strengthen our institution and services to our students.

"Through the assistance of this grant, Shawnee will become a much stronger institution over next five years," said Hill. "This is a strengthening institution grant, and it will definitely strengthen Shawnee Community College."

Shawnee is one of only 57 schools that received the grants in 1991 out of 459 applications.

"We have applied for the grant a total of four times," said Marti A. Clarke, public relations coordinator at Shawnee College. "Congressman Glenn Poshard has been a big supporter for us."

"Shawnee and Rend Lake are important players in our efforts to make progress in Southern Illinois," said Poshard, D-Carterville. "I am pleased to have a part in helping to make this funding possible.

"The economy in our area dictates that we have high quality, affordable educational opportunities for our people," said Poshard. "The needs of students from a wide range of ages and backgrounds demand innovative approaches.

"Shawnee and Rend Lake are working hard to meet those challenges, and I congratulate them on successfully competing for the funding," he said.

Officials from Shawnee College say the new grant will "basically do three things":

It will set up a learning assistance facility, which will enable students to improve academic skills.

It will strengthen the administrative management area through a computerized management information system.

It will strengthen the fiscal resources through the creation of a resource development office.

"The monies we receive the first year will enable the college to acquire computer equipment and software," said Clarke. "It will also allow us to employ appropriate personnel to provide additional student services.

Rend Lake is also looking to a computer-assisted basic skills program to develop its management information system and improve services to the students and community.