2024 - ECC board grants tenure to seven faculty members

At the October 17, 2023, board meeting, the Community College District 509 Board of Trustees accepted the recommendation by the Elgin Community College administration to grant tenure to three ECC full-time faculty.

The newly-tenured faculty are Charles Dakarian, DMED, assistant professor of biology; Jacquelyn Dalke, instructor of nursing; Lisa Hodson, instructor of nursing; Elizabeth Hultman, instructor/public service librarian; Thomas Limberis, instructor of welding; Chad Pearion, assistant professor of biology; and Rituparna Saha, PhD, assistant professor of chemistry.

“The tenure process at ECC is both rigorous and supportive, designed to help our new full-time faculty learn from their peers and further enhance their skills,” said Peggy Heinrich, EdD, vice president of teaching, learning, and student development. “Congratulations to these faculty on achieving this significant milestone.”

These newly tenured faculty members also join Frank Cassara, instructor of HVAC; Soma Chattopadhyay, PhD, assistant professor of engineering; and Christopher Purdy, instructor of mathematics, who were granted tenure in the spring of 2023.

Faculty members are eligible for tenure after being employed for three consecutive school years. Steps completed annually before being eligible for tenure include classroom visitations with their dean and peers, student evaluations, faculty content assessments, self-assessments, and yearly summary evaluation conferences.