HR1202

LRB094 20282 HSS 58285 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Zelema Harris has announced her retirement as 
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President of Parkland College, effective June 20, 2006; and

 
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    WHEREAS, She has served as the college's president since 
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July 1990; and

 
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    WHEREAS, She was previously president of Pioneer Community 
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College in Kansas City, Missouri, from 1980 to 1987 and was 
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president of Penn Valley Community College from 1987 to 1990; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, President Harris worked to attract and retain many 
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quality faculty, staff, and administrators during her tenure in 
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order to fulfill the mission of Parkland College; and

 
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    WHEREAS, With her 26 years of experience as a chief 
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administrator in various college campuses, she has earned a 
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reputation for leadership, innovation, strategic planning, 
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diversity education, organizational transformation, and 
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embracing teaching and learning; and

 
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    WHEREAS, President Harris faced financially difficult 
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times in her tenure at Parkland College and actively worked 
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with the community to avoid cuts in valuable staff and 
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programs; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Under President Harris' tenure, Parkland College 
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has achieved the status of being one of the top two providers 
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of online learning in Illinois; she has received national and 
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state awards for college planning, developed vital 
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relationships with area businesses and industries, established 
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the award-winning Center for Excellence in Teaching and 
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Learning to enhance faculty development, and designed a 
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leadership development program for Parkland that has gained 
 


 






HR1202
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LRB094 20282 HSS 58285 r




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national attention; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Further Parkland College accomplishments during 
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her term of service include establishment of the Parkland 
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Business Development Center to serve short-term training needs 
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of businesses; a $1.5 million Child Development Center to serve 
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students, faculty, staff, and community members with young 
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families; an Agriculture Technology Applications Center to 
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meet the high-tech needs of farmers and agribusinesses as well 
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as a state-of-the-art greenhouse expansion; and a $15 million 
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new Academic & Instructional Services wing to provide 
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additional classrooms and computer laboratory space for 
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students and faculty; and

 
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    WHEREAS, President Harris also collaborated with local 
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service providers to create Illinois' first One-Stop Center to 
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better serve underemployed and unemployed district residents; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we congratulate Parkland College President Zelema Harris on her 
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outstanding contribution to Parkland College and the 
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surrounding community and wish her well upon her retirement; 
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and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Parkland College President Zelema Harris as a sign 
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of our respect, esteem, and admiration for an exemplary career 
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of service and with our best wishes for future successes.