In October 2024, Dr. Valerie Lynch, Vice President of Student Services, resigned to accept the role of Senior Managing Director of the Illinois Community College Board. Lake Land College (LLC) has been unable to secure a master’s required, PhD preferred candidate since then.
The search goes on for the new Vice President of Student Services at Lake Land College as the job was reposted on March 25, according to college President Dr. Josh Bullock.
Although the extended timeline has been a source of concern for some on campus, Bullock assured that delays like these are typical for upper-level administrative positions. “It’s very normal,” he said, noting that this type of search often takes anywhere from three months to a year to complete.
Bullock added that the timeline has been adjusted to fit the college’s ambitions for the role. He referred to the search as a collaborative effort, with a search team made up of college staff members who come into contact with the role on a daily basis.
The college seeks a person who will be able to deliver the wide-ranging and strategic responsibilities outlined in the job posting on the institution’s website. As the senior student services officer, the Vice President provides administrative oversight to units that include Enrollment and Student Success, Financial Aid and Veterans Services, Counseling and Student Conduct, Athletics, Career Services and Marketing and Public Relations, among others.
“The essential functions as listed in the job description are what we’re prioritizing,” Bullock said. Those functions include advising the president on all student services matters, promoting a student-centered learning environment and leading initiatives related to student success, equity and community engagement.
According to the description, the Vice President will also play a monumental role in Guided Pathways implementation, supporting emergency and crisis response, scholarship awarding and adhering to state and federal mandates.
In the meantime, Bullock and Chief of Staff Jean Anne Highland have taken over the work duties of the Vice President. “Direct reports are split between me and Jean Anne,” he said, continuing to keep student services operations running smoothly.
Discounting concern regarding faculty shortages at colleges, Bullock confirmed that outside influences such as local area market competition or macro trends are not impacting the search.
The college has not released an official timeline on when they would be filling the position but did confirm that the process would be done carefully and thoroughly reviewed.
President Bullock emphasized that they are trying to get the best individual at Lake Land College.
