LLCC: Supporting our students as we move forward
Now more than ever, our world needs leaders. Problem solvers. Lifesavers. Communicators. Healers. Makers. This is the time for students to keep moving forward in their education to become who they were meant to be. Their futures, and our resurgence as a community and nation, depend upon it.
With the uncertainty in the world and concerns about safety, some students and families are considering putting their college education on hold, by taking a “gap year.” However, when students get off track in their education, studies show that only 40% come back to finish. I urge students who are considering staying close to home, staying safe but still moving forward, to attend their local community college. Here’s why:
Reduced costs for a quality education. Many families have financial concerns in today’s uncertain environment. Consider the return on investment of attending a community college. Our courses transfer to four-year institutions for a fraction of the cost. For full-time students, tuition and fees at Illinois community colleges are approximately $10,000 less than a public university and over $35,000 less than a private institution. Many of our students also qualify for grants, financial aid and scholarships to assist with the cost of their education. Students undecided on a major can explore various fields of study without incurring debt. Many community college students work, and our flexible scheduling and online courses allow them to take classes to fit their job and family responsibilities.
LLCC is a leader in online education. For 23 years, LLCC has provided affordable, high quality courses online. We were among the pioneers in online education and maintain the highest level of accreditation for online teaching from the Higher Learning Commission. Our instructors are local and invested in their students, with a low faculty-to-student ratio. Smaller class sizes contribute to a more personalized online experience.
We are expanding online courses for fall. We have scheduled hundreds of online general education courses that transfer to four-year institutions, as well as many major-specific and career-focused courses. Our faculty receive intensive training in online teaching. We will be prepared for whatever fall brings, including classroom instruction, hybrid (classroom combined with online) and fully online.
We are committed to safety. The college is committed to the safety of our students, faculty and staff. Any classes offered face to face this fall will allow for safe social distancing, with adherence to Illinois Department of Health and CDC standards.
We prepare students for steady careers. Now is the time for many individuals to change course, acquire new job skills and prepare for future opportunities. Students who are interested in health care and hands-on careers, including adults who may have lost their jobs and need to retrain, should consider LLCC first. LLCC is the leader in providing these workers for our communities. Private career training institutions are much more expensive and can lead to unnecessary student debt. At LLCC, 87% of our students graduate without debt. LLCC career programs are affordable and taught by experts in state-of-the-art facilities.
We offer support systems that are second to none. Be assured, students are not alone as they progress through their studies at LLCC, even if they take all of their courses online. Our tech support, success coaches, tutoring, recruitment and financial aid staff are available now and in the fall for one-on-one assistance to students.
LLCC is a longstanding institution in our community. We have been providing our communities with high-quality transfer and career education for more than 50 years. We are invested in the success of our students and the economic development of our region. We are adaptable, committed to excellence and an outstanding value.
It’s true the world has changed in a short amount of time. However, we don’t want students’ goals to change. To students and their families considering the options for this fall, we say, stay the course in your education. Take the next step in who you were meant to be. You can stay home and keep moving forward!
Charlotte Warren, Ph.D., is president of Lincoln Land Community College.