Student Services
Skills Center
Rend Lake College's Skills Center provides relevant and accessible educational opportunities to adult learners who have decided to earn a State of Illinois High School Diploma by attending High School Equivalency (GED) classes.
Hours
Fall & Spring Semester Hours
Monday - Thursday from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Closed on Fridays
Closed Weekends and Holidays
Program Objective
For more information, call (618) 437-5321 or toll-free at (800) 369-5321, ext. 1241 / 1244 / or 1220, or email adult_ed@rlc.edu.
News
View NewsICAPS at Rend Lake College: Your Path to a Brighter Future
Integrated Career and Academic Preparation System (ICAPS) at Rend Lake College could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. This program is all about helping students...
2024 Adult Education Program Graduation Ceremony
Rend Lake College held a ceremony to celebrate students who successfully completed the Adult Education Program Graduation Ceremony.
Skills Center Classes
Class Days and Times
Classes are available on the following days and times:
Monday - Thursday
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
5:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Class Locations
Skills Center classes are offered at the following locations. Class schedules vary from location to location. Contact a member of the Skills Center team for enrollment information at a location near you.
Rend Lake College MarketPlace
Suite B
327 Potomac Blvd.
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
Rend Lake College Main Campus
468 N Ken Gray Pkwy
Ina, IL 62846
Remote classes are available to students who qualify.
Class Days and Times
Classes are available on the following days and times:
Monday - Thursday
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
5:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Class Locations
Skills Center classes are offered at the following locations. Class schedules vary from location to location. Contact a member of the Skills Center team for enrollment information at a location near you.
Rend Lake College MarketPlace
Suite B
327 Potomac Blvd.
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
Rend Lake College Main Campus
468 N Ken Gray Pkwy
Ina, IL 62846
Remote classes are available to students who qualify.
Resources
Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE)
All students enrolling in a Skills Center class must take the Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE) in reading and math. The TABE results give an indication of a student’s grade level equivalency (GLE). The TABE also provides a detailed report about the skills each student needs to improve. Using this report, instructors can develop a learning plan that will move students through classes as quickly as possible.
Eligibilities
High School Equivalency (GED)
Eligibility:
No high school diploma/GED or below 9th grade in reading or math. Students with a high school diploma can enroll to brush up on academic skills before enrolling in college or to advance in the workforce.
Students can enroll in these classes if they only need to study math or reading to pass a GED test or if they want to increase their skills in these subjects.
Bridge: Healthcare/Manufacturing
Eligibility:
Reading or math between 6th and 9th grades
ICAPS: Phlebotomy/Welding/Machining/IT
Eligibility:
Reading or math between 9th and 12th grades
Bridge Program
The Skills Center Bridge classes provide students with the opportunity to improve their intermediate skills in reading, writing, numeracy, technology skills and oral communication while exploring careers in healthcare or manufacturing.
State of Illinois High School Diploma Program Testing Scholarship
Need Help Paying for the State of Illinois High School Diploma Test?
GED® Testing Fee Scholarship Application Guidelines
- In order to be eligible to apply students must:
-
- Be currently enrolled in a Rend Lake College Adult Education class
- Meet the attendance and class Code of Conduct policy
- Pass the GED Ready® practice test a minimum score of 145 (Likely to Pass)
- Have the recommendation of his/her teacher
- Accurately complete the application form
- Complete the application below and email it to the RLC Skills Center at adult_ed@rlc.edu
- Final approval for payment of GED Tests will be decided by the administration team of the RLC Adult Education Program
- RLC Adult Education has the right to deny or refuse any application
ICAPS
Through the Integrated Career and Academic System (ICAPS), students can earn their State of Illinois High School Diploma while also taking career and technical education (CTE) classes for college credit. Students get extra help through support courses and services that guide them along the way.
CTE instructors and Skills Center teachers work together as a team to help students learn. This program helps students build skills for good jobs and can also prepare them to move on to college programs or start working after graduation.
Eligibility: Students should have reading or math skills at a 9th to 12th grade level to join the program.
The Skills Center offers ICAPS in four pathways:
Phlebotomy
PHLEBOTOMY / CERTIFICATE / 16 CREDIT HOURS
Students in the Phlebotomy program will learn techniques, procedures and issues pertaining to the proper collection of blood specimens for routine clinical laboratory testing. Clinical experiences will give students the chance to use what they have learned in direct care situations.
Employment of phlebotomists is projected to grow 17 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, blood donor centers, and other locations will need phlebotomists to perform bloodwork. The median annual wage for phlebotomists was $35,510 in May 2019.
Welding Fundamentals
WELDING FUNDAMENTALS / CERTIFICATE / 12 CREDIT HOURS
Welding programs are designed to provide the student with a wide range of welding experiences. Programs will cover welding theory, blueprint reading, metallurgy and inspection and test procedures. There will be extensive laboratory practice in SMAW, GMAW, GTAW and oxy-acetylene welding processes. The student will learn to weld with electrodes and wires in all positions common to the welding industry. Program completers will have adequate skills to qualify for employment as a welder.
The nation’s aging infrastructure will require the expertise of welders, cutters, solderers and brazers to help rebuild bridges, highways and buildings. The median annual wage for welders, cutters, solderers and brazers was $42,490 in May 2019.
Basic Machining
BASIC MACHINING / CERTIFICATE / 18 CREDIT HOURS
This certificate is for those students who are seeking to improve their skills for the machining industry. Students will learn the fundamentals of machining using lathes and milling machining. The fundamentals of setting up the machine, selecting the correct tool, adjusting tool speed, determining depth of cut and the use of precision measuring tools will be covered.
Employment of machinists is projected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations. With improvements in technologies, such as computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools, autoloaders, high-speed machining and lights-out manufacturing, machinists will still be required to set up, monitor and maintain these systems. The median annual wage for machinists was $44,420 in May 2019.
