INA, Ill. (Sept. 28, 2016) - Over 140 adult learners from across the Rend Lake College district improved their basic academic skills and advanced down the road to employment as part of RLC’s Adult Education and Literacy Department last year. And, with Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner proclaiming Sept. 26 through Oct. 1, 2016, as Adult Education and Literacy Week in Illinois, a new focus is being placed on this vital and positive force of the college mission.
“Nearly 90 percent of the fastest growing jobs of the future require education or training beyond high school,†said Dr. Karen Hunter Anderson, Illinois Community College Board Executive Director. “Illinois has taken the lead in creating partnerships between adult education providers and employers to ensure a seamless pathway for students to higher education and employment in high growth occupations.â€
While many Adult Education programs have been shuttered due to the State’s continuing budget crisis, RLC has firmly backed the initiative, funding the program during the previous fiscal year to keep it open despite the lack of state support.
Offering one-on-one guidance, RLC’s program goes above and beyond to help students overcome barriers that may prevent them from achieving a certificate or degree by offering classes that prepare students to take the their High School Equivalency Exam (GED) as well as provide accelerated, job-focused college courses.
“We have two student services coordinators, Vickie Golliher and Laura Kern. Both of these ladies do everything they can for our students. Keeping students as the focus is key,†explained Christina Hutcheson, Director of Adult Education and Literacy.
“One student was having to make the decision to buy diapers for her baby or purchase gas to drive to class. Laura sought out a community resource that would provide diapers and the student was able to continue in her studies. Vickie has assisted students with situations like locating temporary housing after being evicted from their apartments. Both coordinators are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that these students succeed.â€
The hard work is showing. RLC Adult Education and Literacy students exceeded the state’s targets for educational gains on five levels of measurement. One measurement was surpassed by a staggering 53 percent. Of the 31 students who completed all four sections of the GED test last year, 29 passed.
John Wilder, of Benton, is a current student in Adult Education and Literacy, is currently utilizing the program to earn the diploma he was never able to receive when he left high school to join the armed forces.
“I joined the Marines with no high school diploma. They said they would help me earn it, but every time I got put into a class, I’d get pulled out for deployment. So, that never came through. Then I entered the work force and started making money. I always wanted to go back and finish that part of my education, but I could never find the time,†Wilder relayed.
“They joke in here. They call me the dad of the class or the grandpa. But, I keep telling them that they need to take advantage of this opportunity now so they aren’t trying to do it later in life like I am. It’s nice to be in a program like this. I’m happy it’s here, and I’m glad we are able to take advantage of it,†he said.
(ReAnne Palmer/RLC Public Information)
In addition, Adult Education and Literacy has some great local partners to further assist their students.
The Man-Tra-Con Corporation is a resource that provides assistance for qualifying youth (16-24) and adult (25+) college students. Assistance includes financial aid to help pay for tuition, books, fees, gas money and other, related expenses. They also pay for GED testing with the goal of helping clients develop a career plan to find employment once their education and training is complete. More information on Man-Tra-Con may be found by visiting http://www.mantracon.org or by calling Kathy Lively at 618-998-0970, ext. 237.
Another partner, YouthBuild, hosts high school equivalency classes on their site and provides qualifying students with support including: transportation to campus for college-level classes, assisting students with filling out the FASFA, navigating college enrollment and assisting with GED testing costs. YouthBuild may be reached by contacting Program Director Ryan Alton at 618-242-6723.
“It is extremely difficult for at-risk young adults to overcome the obstacles and roadblocks on their road to success. Rend Lake College Adult Education partners with the YouthBuild Program to offer various services to these young adults,†explained Alton.
“The Rend Lake staff is very eager to help these young people do what it takes to succeed. The staff of both programs have met on several occasions to discuss the best practices to help these young adults overcome the barriers. We have put together a program tailored to fit the demographic that we serve. YouthBuild has had great success in helping young adults become productive citizens. The collaboration of the College and YouthBuild make it possible for these young adults to learn life skills, get an education, seek a post-secondary education, and start a career.â€
Adult Education and Literacy also has some important partners on campus as well.
“RLC’s Career and Technical Education Programs have also been wonderful to work with as we have established our ICAPS programs,†Hutcheson said.
The Integrated Career and Academic Preparation System (ICAPS) is an initiative that utilizes both adult education programs and technical education to train students for in-demand job skills in addition to preparing them for the GED test.
“The teachers in CTE have welcomed Adult Education and Family Literacy teachers and students into their classrooms. Even though we all work on the same campus, neither group knew much about the other until this collaborative effort began a few years ago. This is just another way that the people at RLC show their commitment to students,†said Hutcheson.
Participants in ICAPS have the opportunity to take both their high school equivalency curriculum plus team-taught career specific college courses to work towards an occupational certificate. Currently, RLC offers two certificates through ICAPS, a 16-hour Personal Care Aide and a 16-hour Certified Production Technician.
If interested, the next round of Adult Education and Family Literacy’s free High School Equivalency classes begin in October with classes offered at the RLC main campus in Ina as well as locations in Benton and Mt. Vernon. For more information on how to enroll in those classes as well as dates, times and locations, contact the department at 618-437-5321, ext. 1241 or email AdultEd@rlc.edu.
