The Rend Lake College Board of Trustees met last night and two new Office Systems Technology offerings received approval and will be submitted to the Illinois Community College Board for action.  These are a new Associate in Applied Science Degree – Office Systems Technology Specialist – and a new occupational certificate – Office Technologies Assistant.  A new OFTC course, Communication in Technical Services, also received approval.  The new Specialist degree will provide students with the background and technical skills needed for a career as an administrative assistant, technical services associate or similar position.  Students will focus on the concepts and methods used to organize and manage information as well as the development or enhancement of skills necessary to effectively implement technology into the office or business setting.  This may include word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation software, information management software, web page editors and social media.  The new Assistant certificate will give students the introductory skills necessary to work as an office assistant and is designed to introduce the various skills and technologies needed for entry-level positions.  In other curriculum-related matters, a new computer science class, Integrating Technologies, was approved.  Cultural Anthropology was approved for online development, and the existing Computer Programming degree was granted permanent approval.