October 2025
News so fresh, it's spooky.
Highlights
Let Us Get Your Good Side
Are you in need of a new glamour shot? Marketing has you covered with their photo studio drop-in hours! Skip the scheduling and just stop by CCB 2400 on Tuesday afternoons between 2-5pm or Thursday mornings from 8:30am-Noon. Any changes to these hours are published on the employee portal.
And – when the College’s new website goes live next summer, we’ll be showing off those new headshots. All employees will have their headshot featured on the website, unless you complete this opt-out form. So if you’re a little camera shy, make sure to complete the form by January 30, 2026. (That’s also the date that we will need any new headshots taken by for inclusion on the new website!)
A Quality Course
English instructor Stephanie Kratz is the latest faculty member to have her class designated as a Quality Matters course. Kratz’s English 101 course earned the Quality Matters certification for having alignment of learning objectives with assessments and activities, opportunities for student collaboration and engagement, and accessibility. The Quality Matters Certification Mark is an internationally recognized symbol of online and hybrid course design quality. Kratz joins instructors of six other Heartland classes who have also earned the designation.
A New ALLY at Heartland
Heartland is full of talented students and now there’s a new place where they can let their light shine. The ALLY is a new independent publication that serves as a hub to spotlight Heartland voices and original work. Students can submit work themselves, or professors can submit students’ work (please get permission first!). Types of work accepted include writing, photos, and videos. This new publication was made possible with a LASS Innovation Mini Grant and was born of a collaboration between LASS faculty, digital media faculty, and Student Engagement. Instructions for submission can be found online or by contacting Karla Huffman.
Hawks Food Drive
Sharing is caring, and what better way to care for our students than to help make sure they know where their next meal is coming from? Join the Hawks Food Drive by dropping off shelf-stable food at any of the collection boxes in the ICB, CCB, SCB, and WDC lobbies. Personal care items (deodorant, feminine hygiene items, soap, etc.) are also needed.
Award-Winning Work
The Marketing department got an early treat this month. At the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) District 3 Conference in Indianapolis, Heartland came away with two awards. They won a Gold Medallion in the Interior Signage/Display category for the Multicultural Lounge Mural, and a Silver Medallion in the Academic Catalog/Class Schedule category for the Kids@Heartland summer booklet. The NCMPR Medallion Awards are the premier regional competition recognizing outstanding marcom and PR achievements at community and technical colleges. Heartland competed against colleagues from colleges in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and the Canadian province of Ontario. Congrats to the Marketing team for adding a few more trophies to their wall!
Dinks and Dunks
There’s good news for students who want to indulge their sporty sides. Due to a partnership with Illinois State University Campus Recreation, Heartland students have access to intramural sports this year. Whether the sport is basketball, pickleball, volleyball, or something else, there’s now an option for Hawks to level up their game. They can visit the HCC & ISU Intramurals Get Involved page to learn more. The next registration deadline is November 3 for pickleball so get your paddles ready!
Speaking of Dinks...
The Heartland Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) club is offering another opportunity to get paddle happy. The club will be hosting a PTA fundraiser pickleball tournament at the Picklr on November 16 from 1-4 pm. Cost is $15 to participate and includes 3 hours of play, rental of equipment, and game instruction. The event benefits the PTA Club and helps cover the costs of the 2026 pinning ceremony. Sign up online and pay the day of the event.
Still to come...
COUNTRY Financial Trail Ribbon Cutting
- Friday, October 24
- 10:00 am
- East side of the trail, near the Corn Crib
Heartland Harvest 5K
- Sunday, October 26
- Noon
- Fitness and Recreation Center
- Register today!
Random Knowledge to Make You Just a Little Smarter
The Libby’s Pumpkin canning plant in Morton accounts for roughly 75% of the country’s canned pumpkin. No word on where the “spice” part of the latte comes from.
Let's Get Social
That's all for now. In the meantime, check out our Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn for the latest happenings. Spread the love and share our stuff on your own pages.