Higher Education: Lindenwood-Belleville’s Bladdick departs Thursday
Lindenwood University-Belleville will celebrate the tenure of outgoing campus president Jerry Bladdick Thursday, his last day on the job.
Bladdick will be replaced by interim campus president Brett Barger, effective Friday.
According to Lindenwood University system president Michael Shonrock, the permanent Belleville campus president will be expected to live in the metro-east.
Barger, who has worked at Lindenwood University in St. Charles since 1994 and who currently serves as associate vice president for operations and finance, said he wants the job on a permanent basis and would be willing to move to the Belleville area if he is determined to be the best candidate.
During Bladdick’s tenure in Belleville, which began in 2009, the local campus went from a night time commuter school to a full-time, full service four-year university that serves more than 2,000 students.
Its number of degree programs went from 12 when Bladdick started to 38 at the time of his departure.
Bladdick is leaving Lindenwood to work for Ringling College in Sarasota, Fla.
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The St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office, in cooperation with Southwestern Illinois College, will offer a free training course for all local elected officials.
The objective of the Public Trust and Government Ethics Training course is to help officials protect and avoid violations of the public trust. The course will run throughout the fall on Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. at the SWIC Belleville Campus Liberal Arts Complex.
“Trust in public institutions is the heart and soul of democracy, so we have to make every effort in our own community to earn and strengthen that trust,” St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly said. “Prosecution is one way, but prevention is another. We hope this partnership will be a model for the state.”
Course dates and topics include:
Aug. 27 Course introduction, public trust, public opinion
Sept. 10 Open Meetings Act, Freedom of Information Act
Sept. 24 Ethical conflicts, Gift Ban, Whistleblower Act, Public Official Prohibited Activities Act
Oct. 8 Illinois Election Code, campaign finance requirements, voter integrity
Oct. 22 Financial report requirements, annual audits, statements of economic interest
Nov. 12 Criminal consequences for violations of public trust
Dec. 10 Special guest speaker to wrap up the course
The training course is free; however, registration is required. To register, call the SWICCommunity Education office at 618-235-2700, ext. 5393 or 5618. Register for CSA 2417-4102 – Public Trust and Government Ethics Training.
For more information about the training course, contact Kelly at 618-277-3892 or SWICDean of Liberal Arts Rick Spencer at 618-235-2700, ext. 5227.
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Southern Illinois University’s School of Dental Medicine is urging parents of qualified children between the ages of 3 and 13 to bring their children to this year’s Give Kids A Smile Day from 7:30 a.m. to noon, Monday, Oct. 12 at the School’s main clinic in building 263, 2800 College Ave. in Alton.
Give Kids a Smile Day includes free comprehensive examinations, X-rays, cleanings, fluoride treatments, fillings and extractions. All services will be provided by SIU School of Dental Medicine faculty, students and staff, members of the Madison and St. Clair district dental societies, Lewis and Clark Community College dental assisting and dental hygiene faculty and students, and faculty and students from the Missouri College of Assisting. Professionals and volunteers from the community also will participate.
Children qualified to participate in the event are those eligible for free and reduced-priced meal programs.
“We are once again prepared to treat approximately 300 children and hope that the children needing urgent dental care will be able to come and receive treatment,” said Dr. Poonam Jain, professor in the SIU School of Dental Medicine and director of community dentistry. “Each child must be accompanied by a parent or guardian in order to be treated. Apart from dental treatment, fun educational activities and snacks will be available for all children.”
Give Kids A Smile Day is a national event sponsored by the American Dental Association to provide free dental treatment for underserved children. The event is organized to promote community awareness of the need for dental services among the underserved.
In Alton, the one-day event allows an average of more than 200 children to receive care from dental professionals each year. The volunteer dentists and staff offer an annual average of more than $50,000 in preventive, restorative and surgical treatment for the children who participate.
Fun activities for children will take place throughout the event. First-year dental students from the SIU School of Dental Medicine will host a “Smile Station” featuring fun, educational activities and games to help children learn the importance of a good diet, oral hygiene and the connections between their mouths and bodies.
For more information, contact Sherie Gottlob from the School of Dental Medicine, (618) 474-7200, or sgottlo@siue.edu. While pre-registration is preferred, it is not required. Walk-ins are welcome between 7.30 a.m. to noon.
This story was originally published July 29, 2015 at 2:10 PM with the headline "Higher Education: Lindenwood-Belleville’s Bladdick departs Thursday."