Classroom Equity Practices and Reflection Discussion* will be held today, 3-4:30 p.m. in the Trutter Center. Registration
Sponsored by the LLCC Workforce Equity Initiative, this ORLCC facilitated workshop concludes the series by providing space for dialogue on short-term and long-term goals among participants. The session will focus on reviewing key concepts and practical application introduced in workshops one and two to support development of sustainable actions at the instructor, classroom and unit-area levels. The session will also provide guidance on implementation of equity-minded policy and scalability of practice.
* Faculty will receive two points toward their training and innovation professional development total for successful completion of this workshop.
A video featuring Dr. Charlotte Warren, president, three graduates of LLCC’s Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) and two local employers was recently completed and posted at www.llcc.edu/wei. LLCC’s WEI, directed by Candace Silas, was asked to participate in a statewide WEI video project and as a result, was offered the opportunity to have an individual video produced by Mouve Film of Peoria. LLCC’s WEI program has a 70% completion rate and 75% employment rate, both well above average.
LLCC Public Relations and Marketing, Workforce Equity Initiative and Aviation staff attended the Central Illinois Building Trades Career Day on Nov. 15, speaking with students about careers in the trades.
Afterward, students from Winchester, Triopia and Nokomis-Pana-Taylorville (NPT) Special Education Cooperative came to campus and toured the Workforce Careers Center.
Starting on Nov. 22, movers will begin relocating LLCC Student Services staff in Menard Hall to their temporary locations in the Millennium Center and lower level of Sangamon Hall. Earlier this fall, Accessibility Services moved to the Millennium Center and Testing to Logan Hall.
The upcoming moves will be phased over the final few weeks of 2022 with the hope that each department will be settled into their temporary locations in early 2023. This has required a lot of hard work and coordination by all involved, and we will ask for everyone to be patient as these new locations will take some adjustments for both students and staff. Future announcements will be coming from each department within Student Services as to “where to find them” soon.
As you can imagine, holidays like Thanksgiving are difficult times as many lack the resources to have a traditional Thanksgiving meal. One initiative back for a second year that has risen to help combat food insecurity faced by LLCC students is called Operation Full Belly: Help for Hungry Students. Operation Full Belly is a joint venture between LLCC Student Life, Child Development Center, Workforce Equity Initiative, Trio, Police Department and Foundation to offer students in need a chance to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.
To make Operation Fully Belly a success, please join faculty, staff and children from the Child Development Center on Monday, Nov. 14, at 9:45 a.m. for the Parade of Food in A. Lincoln Commons
Additionally, the Foundation will be collecting monetary donations through tomorrow, Nov. 15. Funds collected as part of Operation Full Belly will be used to purchase grocery baskets and gift cards for our students who have indicated a need for assistance this Thanksgiving Holiday.
Jeff Martin, Sierra Peterson and Kim Wilson represented LLCC at the 4th Annual Central Illinois HBCU and State College Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at Union Baptist Church in Springfield. They talked with students and shared information about college and Workforce Institute programs as well as opportunities through the Open Door Workforce Equity Initiative.
LLCC recruitment and WEI staff attended the Central Illinois Building Trades Career Day Wednesday at the Bank of Springfield Center, speaking with high school students about careers in the trades. More than 70 students from Mt. Pulaski, Winchester and Triopia then came to campus and toured our Workforce Careers Center!
LaCrea Lott, a recent Workforce Equity Initiative graduate of the CNA to Medical Assistant bridge program at LLCC-Medical District, is quoted in this story from Capitol News Illinois on the economic impact of community colleges in the state. Lott was a speaker at the Sept. 29 press conference announcing the new economic impact study.
A new report was issued by the Illinois Community College Board at a press conference yesterday that shares how Illinois’ 48 community colleges boost local Illinois economies and are important sources of revenue and employment for the communities and regions they serve.
LaCrea Lott, LLCC graduate, and Candace Silas, director, Open Door – Workforce Equity Initiative, attended the press conference. LaCrea spoke on her experience in the CNA to Medical Assistant Bridge and Workforce Equity Initiative programs and how the college and these programs impacted her life.
“It is clear that community colleges remain a solid return on investment for local communities and the students that use them. Our system plays a vital role in meeting the needs of Illinois’ workforce by providing quality training and education and gives students a greater opportunity to earn higher wages in countless industries throughout the state,” said ICCB executive director, Dr. Brian Durham.
The report evaluates Illinois’ community college system on its ability to meet the needs of business and industry, equity, student outcomes, students’ return on investment, and the system’s overall economic impact to local economies and job growth. The report also examines statewide trends including employment, population, race and ethnicity changes, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Community colleges remain a valuable resource for students of all walks of life. We are committed to creating an equitable path to economic mobility no matter who you are or where you live through the Illinois community college system,” said Dr. Lazaro Lopez, ICCB Board Chair.
The study found that more than 84 percent of students who earn a long-term certificate or associate degree in applied science programs are employed in solid paying career jobs within a year of graduation.
Investing in an Illinois community college long-term certificate or associate in applied science degree yields an average annual rate of return of nearly 27 percent, with an average wage increase of nearly 40 percent one year after graduation.
Annual earnings are even greater in specific areas of study. For students graduating with Long-Term Certificates in Architecture and Construction programs, the average annual earning five years after graduating is $60,552, while manufacturing program graduates earn $54,378 in the same timeframe.
The study also looked at Illinois community colleges’ impact on local economies. The total economic output of Illinois community colleges on the statewide economy in fiscal year 2020 is estimated at $3.5 billion and 43,316 jobs.
The Illinois Community College System and ICCB are committed to creating, supporting and expanding workforce training opportunities equitably in high-need communities. In 2019, Illinois started the Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) program, a grant program designed to increase workforce opportunities for African Americans which are severely underrepresented among Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Over the last two years, the WEI program has granted nearly $40 million to address education and unemployment gaps in the African American and other minority communities throughout Illinois.
When examining earnings one year prior to completion compared to three years after completion, African American student earnings increased 47 percent while Latinx students increased their earnings by 57 percent.
Representatives from LLCC Public Relations and Marketing, Workforce Institute and Workforce Equity Initiative attended yesterday evening’s Chamber of Commerce Job Fair in Springfield, sharing information on training opportunities and services available at the college.
Kim Wilson and Candace Silas
David Pietrzak, Tom Spears, Curt Robinson, Nancy Sweet and Sheridan Lane
LaCrea Lott, LLCC graduate, and Candace Silas, director, Open Door – Workforce Equity Initiative, attended the press conference. LaCrea spoke on her experience in the CNA to Medical Assistant Bridge and Workforce Equity Initiative programs and how the college and these programs impacted her life.
