community college

Economy Is Key Driver As Community College Enrollment Declines Again

By Ryan Denham • Oct 31, 2019

Enrollment declined at Illinois community colleges again this fall, driven in part by a strong economy and low unemployment.

Enrollment Exodus: Community Colleges Offer Options

By Jennifer Fuller • Sep 26, 2019

A four-year degree is not the only option for students when they finish high school. But many choose community college in an effort to join the workforce sooner and save on tuition costs.

Community colleges funnel a lot of students into four-year institutions.

So-called articulation agreements like the ones John A. Logan Community College has with Southern Illinois University let students feel secure their credits will transfer, and count toward a degree.

With Data Breaches Soaring, Community Colleges Launch Cybersecurity Programs

By Peter Medlin • Aug 23, 2019

More than four billion private records were exposed by data breaches in the first half of 2019.

Illinois residents have seen their fair share of information compromises. In July, the state received a share of the Equifax settlement.

Community Colleges Are Still Rebounding From The Budget Crisis

By Peter Medlin • Nov 15, 2018

It’s been a rough couple of years for Illinois community colleges, from the slashed funds of the budget impasse to concerning enrollment declines. This is the final installment of a three-part series on how these very different schools have stayed afloat by embracing change and, more importantly, putting the "community" in community college.

The Kishwaukee table tennis club's practice is in full swing. They're preparing for a tournament coming up soon.

How Community Colleges Stay Local To Cope With State Instability

By Peter Medlin • Nov 14, 2018

It’s been a rough couple of years for Illinois community colleges, from the slashed funds of the budget impasse to concerning enrollment declines. We begin a three-part series on how these very different schools have stayed afloat by embracing change and, more importantly, putting the "community" in community college.

Are Non-Traditional Students And Classes The Future? Some Community Colleges Say So

By Peter Medlin • Nov 14, 2018

It’s been a rough couple of years for Illinois community colleges, from the slashed funds of the budget impasse to concerning enrollment declines. This is part two in a three-part series on how these very different schools have stayed afloat by embracing change and, more importantly, putting the community in community college.

Illinois Officials Seek Input On Adult Education Plan

By Jessie Schlacks • Jan 8, 2018

The Illinois Community College Board is calling on residents to give feedback on its draft five-year strategic plan to improve adult education.

The plan includes ways to remove financial barriers for adults wanting to pursue post-secondary education. Matt Berry is with the Illinois Community College Board. He said having a college degree is becoming more essential in the workforce.

Illinois College Enrollment Continues To Drop

By Dusty Rhodes • Jan 8, 2018

Flickr User Brent Hoard/ "ECU School of Education Class Room" (cc by 2.0)

For the past several years, Illinois has been losing more college students than any state except New Jersey. Last year, as higher education was starved by the state budget impasse, that trend continued.

Overall, undergraduate enrollment decreased by 2 percent, with even steeper drops at public universities and community colleges.

Schools defying this trend include those focused on medical professions, such as City Colleges of Chicago's Malcolm X campus. Mark Potter, the provost, said its home in the medical district makes it more attractive.

State Community College Board Issuing $3M In Emergency Aid To Several Campuses

By Dusty Rhodes • Jan 6, 2017

"Money" By Flickr User Pictures of Money / (CC BY 2.0)

The state’s ongoing budget impasse has hit community colleges particularly hard, with funds to these schools and the students who attend them drastically reduced.

The Illinois Community College Board is distributing $3 million dollars in emergency aid, divided among seven campuses.

New Study Says Students May Not Be Ready For Community College

By Dusty Rhodes • Jan 4, 2016

About half of Illinois high school graduates who went on to enroll in community colleges had to take remedial courses, according to a report released by the Illinois State Board of Education.

The board used data from the Class of 2013, matched with data from the Illinois Community College Board.

The Community College Board’s director -- Karen Hunter Anderson -- says Illinois participates in a program designed to boost graduation rates, and ranks fairly high.