The community colleges of Illinois deliver strong workforce outcomes for the state.
The Workforce Equity Initiative is a grant program that expands skills training and support to at-risk communities while addressing the workforce gaps in Illinois. Through WEI, 18 community colleges are providing individuals with short-term training for in-demand fields with the goal for them to obtain a job within one year which earns 30% above the living wage.
Workforce Equity Initiative Impact
Source: https://www.illinoiswei.org/
The colleges which currently offer programs through WEI are: Black Hawk College, Harold Washington College, Heartland Community College, Illinois Central College, Joliet Junior College, Kaskaskia College, Kennedy-King College, Lincoln Land Community College, Malcolm X College, Oakton College, Olive-Harvey College, Parkland College, Prairie State College, Richard J. Daley College, Richland Community College, Rock Valley College, South Suburban College, Southwestern Illinois College, Triton College and Wilbur Wright College.
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The Fall 2024 information series highlights programs offered at Illinois community colleges, where community support can expand access to higher education and foster a skilled workforce.
Week of Oct. 28: PATH Grant - Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce (PATH) is a statewide grant program that creates, supports, and expands opportunities for individuals studying nursing and other select healthcare pathways in Illinois. Through PATH, Illinois community colleges are expanding access to healthcare training opportunities, allowing more students to obtain credentials and degrees that allow them to enter and/or advance in their careers in the healthcare industry.
Week of Nov. 4: Dual Credit - The community colleges of Illinois, including KCC, are leading the way as the primary providers of dual credit. Dual credit programs provide high school students the opportunity to earn credits towards their diploma and college degree while in high school.
The community colleges of Illinois are leading providers of dual credit, which provides high school students the opportunity to earn credits toward their diploma and college degree while in high school.
Through dual credit, Illinois community colleges increase access to higher education by preparing high school students for college level coursework. Dual credit also lowers college costs by shortening the time it takes to complete a college degree.
“By the time I get done taking dual credit courses while in high school, I should have 18 college credit hours that will transfer to my four-year institution,” said Abby Purcell of Manteno, a senior at Bishop McNamara High School. Purcell has completed three dual credit courses. She is currently enrolled in two, and she plans to enroll in one more during her final semester.
“This is equivalent to one college semester that I don’t have to pay for at the four-year college tuition rate and will provide me with flexibility in my college-level schedule potentially allowing me to take courses I need for my major earlier,” she said.
All 48 Illinois community colleges offer dual credit courses.
Dual credit “allows a student get gain exposure to the academic demands of college-level courses, better preparing them for the rigors of college,” Purcell said.
Following are local and statewide statistics from Fiscal Year 2023 showing student participation in dual credit opportunities.
Source: ICCB 2023 Dual Credit Report.
In addition to Dual Credit, KCC also offers high school students opportunities to earn college credit in the Early College Program, through Dual Enrollment, and through appropriate scores on Advanced Placement exams.
According to KCC information, some of the programs are not offered at all schools. Participating students must meet their school’s criteria for participating and receiving college credit. In addition, there might also be an application, documentation requirement and/or test fees depending on the program and the school’s policies.
More information is at www.kcc.edu/admissions/high-school/.
More details…
The Fall 2024 information series highlights programs offered at Illinois community colleges, where community support can expand access to higher education and foster a skilled workforce.
Week of Oct. 28: PATH Grant - Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce (PATH) is a statewide grant program that creates, supports, and expands opportunities for individuals studying nursing and other select healthcare pathways in Illinois. Through PATH, Illinois community colleges are expanding access to healthcare training opportunities, allowing more students to obtain credentials and degrees that allow them to enter and/or advance in their careers in the healthcare industry.
Week of Nov. 11: Workforce Equity Initiative – Eighteen community colleges in Illinois participate in the Workforce Equity Initiative, which expands skills training and support to at-risk communities while addressing the workforce gaps in Illinois.
A recent Kankakee Community College graduate has earned a scholarship from Phi Theta Kappa honor society’s Nota Bene literary competition.
Kelsey Gioja, a 2024 KCC graduate from Watseka, earned the Reynolds Scholarship, and a $500 award, for her short story, “Invisible.”
“I was really surprised when I learned that I had won it, and was really excited to hear that others had enjoyed my story,” Gioja said. “It is a great honor to have my story published with Nota Bene and among all the other winners.
“After joining PTK, I learned of the opportunity to send in creative writing as a chance to be published in Nota Bene and win a scholarship. I have loved writing for as long as I can remember, and had been working on a short story that I started in a creative writing course at KCC. I decided I might as well give it a shot and send in the story, but I wasn’t expecting much to come from it. I had a lot of encouragement from my professor, Amy Porter, and I am very grateful to her for that.”
“Invisible” is about a girl who feels like she is growing apart from her best friend, Gioja said. “On their first day of high school, her friend starts ignoring her, and she starts to realize that their friendship might not be what she always believed it was,” Gioja shared.
“PTK offers many scholarship opportunities, and it is always an honor to see one of our own students earn an award which carries such prestige,” said Jaclyn Montemayer, a KCC professor and co-sponsor of the college’s PTK chapter, Alpha Delta Eta.
The Nota Bene literary competition accepts entries from PTK members in the following categories: Poetry, Short stories, Essays, Drama, and Visual arts. Award recipients also have their works included in the “Nota Bene” anthology. Nota Bene is Latin for “note well.”
The 30th edition of Nota Bene will be published later this fall. It will also be online at www.ptk.org/nota-bene.
Gioja now attends Taylor University, in Upland, Indiana.
About Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The honor society has more than 3.8 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 220,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at www.kcc.edu/student-resources/clubs/#phi-theta-kappa.
The Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce (PATH) is a grant program which has helped 221 Kankakee Community College students in the last year.
PATH is a statewide grant program that creates, supports, and expands opportunities for individuals studying nursing and other select healthcare pathways in Illinois. Through PATH, Illinois community colleges are expanding access to healthcare training opportunities, allowing more students to obtain credentials and degrees that allow them to enter and/or advance in their careers in the healthcare industry.
“PATH opens doors to healthcare careers for students who may not have had the opportunity,” said Jenna Sambrooks, the health careers navigator at KCC. Sambrooks connects students to internal and external supports including mental health services, financial aid, scholarships, and financial literacy.
“I have seen firsthand, time and time again, PATH make immediate and effective difference in the lives of the students and consequently, their families and the community,” Sambrooks said. “PATH is an invaluable resource, not just for short term assistance, but for the long-term success of the students.”
The target populations for PATH funding are incumbent workers; new students with an identified need for support and an intention to continue their employment in Illinois; and low-income, first generation, and minority students.
“They want to see you be successful and the PATH program has helped me maintain my class work while also helping financially,” said Brandy Grove of Manteno, who received PATH funding while working toward becoming a registered nurse. “It has helped me stay where I need to be so that I can be successful and finish my degree. The program has also helped with building a better budget and better skills to handle finances.”
“I came out strong. It made me want to be a better person in helping others, including myself,” said Gwyneaetta Ford of Bourbonnais, who completed KCC’s Certified Nursing Assistant class. “The program motivated me … from the encouragement from teachers and classmates. You have to put in the work and effort into what you want, it will not be given to you, but the help is there.”
KCC offers health careers associate degrees and certificates in six areas: nursing, paramedic, respiratory therapist, physical therapist assistant, radiography and medical laboratory technology.
PATH Grant Impact
Source: ICCB PATH Grant data.
PATH grant at KCC – Fiscal Year 2024
Source: KCC records.
About this article
The Fall 2024 information series highlights programs offered at Illinois community colleges, where community support can expand access to higher education and foster a skilled workforce.
Week of Nov. 4: Dual Credit - The community colleges of Illinois, including KCC, are leading the way as the primary providers of dual credit. Dual credit programs provide high school students the opportunity to earn credits towards their diploma and college degree while in high school.
Week of Nov. 11: Workforce Equity Initiative – Eighteen community colleges in Illinois participate in the Workforce Equity Initiative, which expands skills training and support to at-risk communities while addressing the workforce gaps in Illinois.
