Meeting Summary and Briefs: Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees for March 11, 2026

Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | March 11, 2026

The Joliet Junior College (JJC) Board of Trustees met on Wednesday evening to manage the college’s sprawling operational and capital needs, approving long-term architectural planning, software renewals, and fall course fee increases. In addition to the highly debated capital expansion into Grundy County and the hiring of referendum consultants, the board authorized routine facility maintenance, including repairs to the ring road bridge erosion and main campus sidewalks. The board also unanimously approved an on-premise renewal contract for the college’s Ellucian ERP software (Item 3.2.8). The meeting was heavily attended by students and staff, highlighting multiple cultural proclamations before concluding at 8:53 p.m. following a closed executive session.

VNA Healthcare Looks to Expand Campus Partnership
During the Communications segment, Kelly Rohder-Tonelli and VNA Healthcare Vice President Sunonny Dana presented a plan to scale up the healthcare provider’s partnership with JJC. VNA, which has served the area since 1918 and operates 15 clinics across the region, is exploring opportunities to bring mobile care and house-call nurse practitioners directly to the Joliet and Romeoville campuses. Dana noted that 36% of VNA’s patients are currently uninsured, and their mission ensures no student would be turned away for lack of insurance or ability to pay.

Faculty Sabbaticals Approved Amid Adjunct Opportunities
The board unanimously approved sabbatical leaves for three faculty members under agenda items 2.1.1, 2.1.2, and 2.1.3. When questioned about the financial impact of the leaves, Dr. Amy Gray explained that the professors will continue to receive their base pay while they are away. However, Gray noted that the college is currently experiencing a shortage of classes for adjunct professors, and utilizing adjuncts to cover the sabbatical vacancies provides them with much-needed teaching opportunities and compensation.

Cultural and Environmental Proclamations Passed
The board unanimously approved three proclamations to recognize significant cultural and environmental initiatives throughout the month of April. Student Naomi Barnes read the Earth Month proclamation, highlighting the college’s core value of sustainability and upcoming events like the Romeo Repair Cafe on April 18. Student Abigail Camacho read the Community College Month proclamation, recognizing JJC’s historical status as the nation’s first public community college. Finally, student Sarah Al Sali presented the National Arab American Heritage Month proclamation, acknowledging the rich history and contributions of the estimated 450,000 people of Arab-American descent living in Illinois.