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 With the
award, Heartland joined Illinois Central College (ICC) in a group of
33 institutions receiving first time or continuing funding.
The Initiative focuses on improving workforce inclusivity by
providing a credential and above living-wage job for adults of
poverty residing in disproportionately impacted areas (low income,
low employment, high crime). African American participants represent
a minimum of 60 percent of the population served by the grant due to
their underrepresentation in high-demand, high-wage careers. The end
goal is for participating adults to secure full-time employment in a
job paying at least 30 percent above the regional living wage.
With support from Governor JB Pritzker, Speaker Pro Tempore Jehan
Gordon-Booth, the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, and local
legislators, funding of WEI allows participating colleges to
credential adults in high-demand employment sectors experiencing
workforce gaps including healthcare, manufacturing, construction,
transportation, information technology, and emergency services.
Statewide this program has served over 6,500 residents producing
over 6,100 credentials with a 62% completion rate and a 70%
employment rate, more than doubling the national average completion
rate for African American individuals.
"The last few years have brought education and employment challenges
for our hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans, disproportionately
affecting African American and other minority communities. Through
WEI, participating community colleges have supported and scaled
effective educational and career opportunities to help these
targeted populations, enabling them to gain the necessary skills and
credentials to earn above a living wage, a task that has always been
a critical role for community colleges," said Illinois Community
College Board Executive Director Brian Durham.
"This program is tapping into a talented pool of individuals who are
too often overlooked," Leader Jehan Gordon-Booth said. "I'm ecstatic
about the positive results we have seen thus far, but more work
remains. I am committed to helping residents receive the support and
opportunity they deserve to pursue a good-paying career. When
programs like this one succeed, all of Illinois benefits."
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"The WEI grant allows community colleges to continue removing
barriers to completing a credential for adults of poverty and African Americans
from distressed communities," said ICC President Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey. "When
adults earn credentials with labor market value, it not only changes the
trajectory of their lives, but also the lives of their families; while
strengthening the community, growing the workforce, expanding businesses and
creating a more vibrant regional economy."
The WEI model is proving to be a successful methodology for achieving
outstanding enrollment, completion, and employment for African Americans and all
participants of poverty outperforming Illinois and national performance data.
Comparative Outcomes: Nationally, of students who start college at a community
college, 41% of students have earned a postsecondary credential in 6 years. The
comparable rate for African Americans is 29% (AACC, July 2020). WEI students
have a 62% completion rate (33 points higher) and more than twice the national
average, which was achieved in a one year or less.
"Community colleges play a vital role in the economic health of our region,"
said Heartland Community College President Dr. Keith Cornille. "Offering the
targeted support funded by the WEI grant, institutions such as Heartland and ICC
connect individuals with the kind of educational opportunity that leads to a
good job, and eventually a career. By engaging with our community partners and
local industry, we are not only working to close educational attainment gaps but
also helping provide a vital pipeline to the workforce."
In FY2020, WEI was successfully administered by the ICCB and led by Illinois
Central College with 15 participating colleges. This year WEI colleges expanded
to 18 additional institutions including Heartland Community College.
For more information about the statewide Initiative, visit illinoiswei.org.
[Steve Fast
Assistant to the President, Public Information and Communication
Heartland Community College]
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