The new diesel technologies program at LLCC, which will welcome its first group of students in fall 2023, has earned accreditation through the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) Foundation. AED is the international trade association for equipment distributors, manufacturers and service providers.

“We are pleased that LLCC has chosen to demonstrate its commitment to academic excellence and continuous improvement through the process of accreditation,” said Sean Fitzgerrel, AED Foundation senior director of workforce and industry initiatives. “Accreditation signifies to equipment industry stakeholders that LLCC has met rigorous industry-specific national equipment technical standards. It further signifies to current and prospective students that the program provides the best in diesel equipment technical education as defined by the industry it serves.”

The two-year, associate degree diesel technologies program is the newest offering in LLCC’s Workforce Institute and provides training to those interested in high-tech careers working on heavy duty trucks, agricultural and construction equipment. Program Director Jeff Gardner says that demand is strong for qualified diesel technicians both locally and nationally, with many companies offering students tuition reimbursement and other incentives to enter this high-paying career field.

More information is available at www.llcc.edu/diesel or by contacting Gardner at jeffrey.gardner@llcc.edu or 217-786-2239.

Brian Earley, instructor, automotive technology, and Dave Pietrzak, program director, aviation, took students on a field trip to Southern Illinois University Carbondale last Friday. Students from automotive technology and aviation mechanics learned more about bachelor’s degree programs in auto tech and aviation and toured facilities. Students also toured Enhanced Aero’s hangar, a new aviation business located across from SIU Aviation.

Dual credit students from Nokomis High School participating in Pastry Arts CLA 142 and Food Pro 1 CLA 131 recently visited LLCC Culinary and Hospitality on the Springfield campus to complete finals for their prospective classes. In an effort to calibrate the teaching and learning occurring in both places, ongoing connection between the main campus program and the dual credit program is something that the culinary and hospitality program has focused on this school year. In the fall, Sheridan Lane, director of programs and operations, and Jeff Martin, workforce recruitment coordinator, visited the classrooms to talk about career pathways in the culinary and hospitality industry as well as available programing at the Workforce Institute and LLCC as a whole. Then this spring, students participated in the calibration/final exam at the Workforce Careers Center at the end of their learning periods on March 31 for Pastry Arts, and April 21 for Food Pro 1. We hope to use the results of students’ final exam data collected in both dual credit and on-campus classes to inform and guide the ongoing partnership.

LLCC welcomed 100 students from the Capital Area Career Center on Wednesdsay to the LRS Aviation Center to learn about our aviation mechanic training program and great careers in the field. They also toured the facilities of Standard Aero and the 183^rd Air National Guard while at the airport.

Info Tech Expo

The computer science program at LLCC is hosting the Info Tech Expo 2023 today, April 13, 1-3 p,m. at Kreher Agriculture Center.

The event will showcase the computer science program and its talented students. The expo will provide students with the opportunity to to learn more about the local IT industry and network with local employers and to explore different career paths in the field of computer science.

Employers such as the State of Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology, SIU School of Medicine, Illinois Air National Guard 183rd Wing, United Community Bank, i3 Broadband, Computer Techniques LLC and MSF&W Consulting will be present at the event.

Workforce Institute Career Fair

The Workforce Institute at LLCC hosted a career fair yesterday, 9-11 a.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m., for LLCC students. Approximately 30 employers participated.