LLCC was recently awarded a $400,000 grant from the Illinois Community College Board to create, support and expand bridge programs and services for adult education students through the Innovative Bridge and Transition (IBT) Grant program.

LLCC aims to increase opportunities for student transitions from State of Illinois High School Diploma preparation or English as a second language courses to and through workforce and health care training at the college so that graduates can achieve certificates, industry recognized credentials and employment.

“We’re looking forward to expanding the support we can provide as part of collaborative teaching practices between career training instructors and basic skills instructors,” explains Patty Mendoza, director of adult education and literacy at LLCC. “The students will receive additional instruction as well as reading, math and language skill assistance contextualized to the career training program in which they are enrolled.”

LLCC provided one such support course with additional instruction and basic skills assistance in diesel technologies this fall. This grant will allow for the expansion of such opportunities in areas such as automotive technology, hospitality, basic nurse assistant (CNA) and business.

The grant will also fund a part-time navigator position to support and provide enrollment assistance to students as they transition from adult basic education and English as a second language courses to career training programs at the college.

For more information about LLCC Adult Education programming, visit www.llcc.edu/adult-education, email AdultEducationandLiteracy@llcc.edu or call 217-786-2349.