The Southeastern Illinois College Board of Trustees seated a new board member and reviewed a range of institutional updates during its March meeting held in the Rodney J. Brenner Board Room on the Harrisburg campus.
The board officially seated Dr. Cliff Karnes as a member of the Board of Trustees. Karnes will complete the remainder of the late Richard Morgan’s term, which runs through 2027.
During the president’s report, Dr. Karen Weiss shared that Governor JB Pritzker’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget includes a 1% increase over the previous year in base operating and equalization funding for Illinois community colleges.
“We are encouraged to see continued state support for community colleges, even at a modest level,” Weiss said. “These investments help us maintain affordability while continuing to provide strong academic and workforce programs for our region.”
Trustees also received information about the upcoming Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) Lobby Day, scheduled for May 6-7 in Springfield. The annual event brings together trustees from across the state to meet with legislators and discuss issues affecting higher education, particularly community colleges.
The board reviewed results from a statewide economic impact study conducted by Lightcast. The analysis found that during fiscal years 2023-2024, Southeastern Illinois College contributed $67.4 million in income to the District 533 economy—approximately 1.1% of the region’s total gross regional product. The college’s presence also supported 846 jobs, with SIC and its students accounting for one out of every 75 jobs in the district.
“These results reinforce the important role SIC plays in strengthening our local economy,” Weiss said. “Our students, graduates, and programs create meaningful impact across the communities we serve.”
In academic highlights, nursing faculty member Sabrina Stout, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, was named the 2026 Teacher of the Year. Stout, who teaches in the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program, was selected by colleagues, staff, and students. She has served in her role for seven years.
“Sabrina is a dynamic instructor that is fully invested in her students,” said Dr. Tyler Billman, Executive Dean of Academic Services. “She cares about student progress and their future beyond her classroom.”
Trustees also learned about the launch of MySIC Mobile, a new app available for both iPhone and Android users. The app provides a mobile-friendly version of the college’s MySIC portal, allowing users to access campus events, the directory, and athletics updates. Prospective students can apply and access scholarship and nursing applications, while current students can register for classes, pay bills, check grades, request transcripts, and complete other tasks in a streamlined format.
In personnel action, the board approved the re-employment of the president, executive leadership, and administrative personnel for the 2026-2027 academic year.
The next regular meeting of the SIC Board of Trustees will be held April 21 at 6 p.m. in the Rodney J. Brenner Board Room on the Harrisburg campus.
