The Community Colleges of Illinois

It is National Apprenticeship Week and our colleges are celebrating! Meet Illinois Central College Apprentice Cara and learn about her path to become a Machine Tool Technology Apprentice and the company's first female apprentice in her program. #4EveryStudent4EveryCommunity #ilcommunitycollegeproud

Natasha Phillips was looking to find a new career outside of customer service. While visiting College of Lake County (CLC), she learned about a cost-free education through the Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) grant. “The WEI grant was the reason I decided to come to CLC,” Phillips said. “Heating, ventilation and air conditioning is a trade skill that’s always going to be needed, so I can have a stable career.” Read more about the WEI program at CLC: https://lnkd.in/dQ3Tb5Z6 #ilcommunitycollegeproud #4EveryStudent4EveryCommunity

This week we are proud to highlight our work with The Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI), a state-wide grant program that expands skills training and support to at-risk communities while addressing the workforce gaps in Illinois. Through WEI, 18 community colleges across Illinois are providing individuals with short-term training for in-demand fields with the goal for them to obtain a job earning 30% above the living wage within one year. Since it began in 2019, WEI has achieved a 67% employment rate, with over 5,000 students employed with jobs paying above life sustaining wages. #ilcommunitycollegeproud #4EveryStudent4EveryCommunity

High school students that take dual credit courses have substantially higher community college graduation rates and advancement rates than those students that did not enroll in dual credit coursework. Did you know, Illinois community colleges offered a total of 14,638 dual credit courses across the state, enrolling more than 82,600 individual high school students in one or more community college dual credit courses in FY 23? #ilcommunitycollegeproud?#4EveryStudent4EveryCommunity

Meet Elizabeth Perez, Oakton College student who pursued a career in nursing while still in high school through dual credit coursework. “During quarantine, I thought about what I wanted to do after high school and I still didn’t know. I kept seeing a bunch of nursing TikToks and I realized I could really help people and make an impact if I became a nurse. My counselor told me I could enroll in Oakton's Basic Nurse Assistant Training (BNAT) while I was still in high school and really guided me into the path of nursing. I’m so grateful to my counselor because the BNAT program gave me a glimpse into the Nursing world.” Read more about Perez's experience with Oakton College's Basic Nurse Assistant Training program. #ilcommunitycollegeproud #4EveryStudent4EveryCommunity

This week, The Community Colleges of Illinois highlight our work leading the way as the primary providers of dual credit in the state of Illinois. Dual credit programs provide high school students the opportunity to earn credits towards their diploma and college degree while in high school. Through dual credit, Illinois community colleges are increasing access to higher education by preparing high school students for college level coursework and lowering college costs by shortening the time it takes to complete a college degree. Did you know, all 48 Illinois community colleges offer dual credit courses in their communities? #ilcommunitycollegeproud #4EveryStudent4EveryCommunity

PATH has successfully expanded the healthcare workforce and supports diverse students in pursuing careers in high-demand health careers. In FY 23 Illinois community colleges enrolled more than 27,600 students in the state-wide PATH grant program, 45% which were first generation college students. #ilcommunitycollegeproud #4EveryStudent4EveryCommunity

The Illinois Community College System’s opening Fall 2024 enrollment report recorded an overall increase of 7.4%, the largest fall-to-fall enrollment growth in the last 15 years, outpacing last year's fall enrollment increase of 5.7%.

This week, we are proud to highlight the Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce (PATH) program, a statewide grant program that creates, supports, and expands opportunities for individuals in nursing and select healthcare pathways. Through PATH, Illinois community colleges engaged 1,032 employers across the state, opened 27 newly developed healthcare programs, and expanded 74 healthcare programs in FY 23. #ilcommunitycollegeproud #4EveryStudent4EveryCommunity

The Third Annual Illinois Higher Education Equity Symposium took place last week to provide a platform for meaningful discussions on how to promote equity in higher education. John A. Logan College President Dr. Kirk Overstreet participated in this important discussion. #4EveryStudent4EveryCommunity