March 25, 2011
Advisory Board Meeting Held For Kaskaskia College Nursing Programs


The Advisory Committee for the Kaskaskia College Nursing Programs met recently with Dean of Nursing, Susan Batchelor, presiding. Members of the committee include representatives from facilities where nursing students do clinical rotations or find employment, instructors from area high school health occupation programs and KC nursing faculty. 

Vice President of Administrative Services, Dr. Alan Phillips and Dean Susan Batchelor welcomed the guests to the KC campus. The committee spent a few moments at the beginning of the meeting to reflect on the legacy of the late Dean of Nursing, Mary Lou Whitten. Three students (Chelsea Wolff, Jodi Vargas and Jose Vargas) currently enrolled in the Associate Degree program shared information regarding their experiences as nursing students and expressed appreciation for their clinical experiences. Information presented included program statistics on enrollment, applications, NCLEX scores, and admission worksheet changes for Spring 2012. Faculty members received reports from the facility representatives on job openings for RNs, LPNs and CNAs as well as new developments in the facilities. The meeting concluded with lunch and a time of net-working.

Pictured are 1st row – Jose Vargas, Kaskaskia College Nursing Student; Jodie Vargas, Kaskaskia College Nursing Student; Janet Garretson, Kaskaskia College Nursing Faculty; Sister Agnes McDougall, Kaskaskia College Nursing Faculty; Susan Batchelor, Kaskaskia College Dean of Nursing; Cris Myers, Kaskaskia College Nursing Faculty; and Rita Bodem- Kaskaskia College Nursing Faculty. 2nd row - Pat Lane, Centralia Manor; Jan Rittenhouse, Central High School; Lisa Marcum, Warren G. Murray Development Center; Judy Seeger, Centralia High School; Sara Frailey, St. Joseph’s Hospital on Highland; Julie Obermark, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland and Kaskaskia College Adjunct Faculty; Helen Essenpreis, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese and Kaskaskia College Adjunct Faculty; Pamela Butts, Sandoval High School; Connie Causey, Salem High School; and Rene Kruse, McKendree University MSN Student. 3rd row - Shelley Harris, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital; Cindy Auld, Kaskaskia College Nursing Faculty; Richelle Rennegarbe, McKendree University; Tessa Opfer, Kaskaskia College Nursing Faculty; Carole Brink, Centralia Manor; and Nancy Newby, Washington County Hospital in Nashville.