Adult Education and Workforce Development
As the largest provider of workforce training in the community, Parkland College provides the vital service of “improving the educational level of working-age adults”-a benchmark of workforce progress in the state of Illinois.
As a community college, however, Parkland takes an even more dynamic approach to workforce development, continually seeking new industry partnerships and state, regional, and national resources that boost the public’s access to higher-paying jobs and advancing technologies while meeting the needs of district employers.
The dedicated focus on community workforce development permeates the efforts of specific Parkland units (Adult Education, Community Education, and Workforce Development), and also serves as a guiding force for many who support the college, from its academic departments to the Parkland Foundation with its multifaceted entrepreneurial program to the college’s career advisory boards of area business and technology leaders. These groups work individually and collaboratively to build stronger local economies and produce more highly skilled employees in east central Illinois.
Support for Workforce Training
Support for Workforce Training (SWFT) is a supportive scholarship for select academic and non-academic certifications, nursing, and select allied health degrees at Parkland College. Parkland College is pleased to partner with the Illinois Community College Board for the Workforce Equity Initiative and the Pipeline for the Advancement of Healthcare Workforce to provide the SWFT supportive scholarship programs.
For more information, visit the SWFT website.
SWFT Short-term Training
The SWFT Scholarship provides a limited number of scholarships and related supports for short-term (one year or less) training in specific certificate programs. These certificates provide practical training and rich experiences that will prepare students for immediate employment upon completion. Certificate offerings can lead to continued education for growth in several career pathways at Parkland.
Scholarship recipients may receive financial assistance for tuition, fees, supplies and books; attendance and completion stipends; transportation assistance; and childcare assistance. Recipients also receive academic supports, employment skills training, and career services.
SWFT Healthcare
The SWFT Healthcare Scholarship program provides financial and academic support to qualifying individuals in nursing and select healthcare pathways.
Scholarship recipients may receive financial assistance for tuition, fees, supplies and books; attendance and completion stipends; transportation assistance; and childcare assistance. Recipients may be asked to participate in additional job skills preparation and academic support as part of the scholarship requirements.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, signed into law on July 22, 2014, aligns federal workforce development and adult education services that prepare low-income workers for economic and career success. The unemployed, dislocated workers, out-of-school youth, and re-entry population receive comprehensive support through a seamless provision of services across core program agencies.
- WIOA Title I - Adult, Youth and Dislocated Worker Employment and Training: Parkland College’s workforce development initiatives annually serve Local Workforce Investment Area (LWIA) #17 and portions of LWIA #23. Title I funding from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) provides eligible students with financial support to access career and technical education training that leads to postsecondary credentials aligned with in-demand industry sectors.
- WIOA Title II - Adult Education and Family Literacy Act: Title II funding provides basic literacy and language services to English Language Acquisition (ELA) learners and adults seeking a high-school equivalency credential. Services emphasize transition to postsecondary education and employment through the use of integrated education and training instructional models.
- Career Pathways: Designed to meet the needs of both adult learners and employers, career pathway programs provide sequenced education coursework leading to credentials for in-demand occupations.
- Bridge Programs: Bridge programs prepare adults with limited academic or limited English skills to enter and succeed in credit-bearing postsecondary education and training leading to career-path employment in high-demand, middle- and high-skilled occupations.
- Integrated Career and Academic Preparation System (I-CAPS): Through I-CAPS programming, adult learners receive both basic skills and professional technical training for specific career pathways, leading to both technical credentials and high school equivalency (HSE) preparation. Upon program completion, adults earn college credit and stackable credentials that can be applied to further training or industry-recognized certification to demonstrate workforce readiness.
Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship Programs
Parkland partners with a variety of employers to provide US Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship programs. For a full listing of the current apprenticeship programs and more information for both apprentices and employers, visit the Apprenticeships page on the college website.
Additionally, Parkland has established partnerships with the following employers:
AGCO Service Technician
The AGCO Corporation Service Technician Program is a cooperative two-year college-level Student Technician education program that leads to an Associate in Applied Science degree. The AGCO Corporation and local dealers in partnership with Parkland College work closely to administer the program activities. The program accepts students sponsored by AGCO dealerships. The purpose of the program is to prepare students to maintain and repair AGCO-branded equipment and innovative precision ag technologies in Fendt or Massey-Ferguson at local dealerships.
For more information, call the Agricultural Technologies department at 217/373-3838 or visit parkland.edu/agco.
Case New Holland Diesel Power
As a joint agreement between Case New Holland and Parkland College, the CNH Service Technician program prepares students to maintain and repair equipment used in a Case New Holland agricultural or construction equipment dealership. Candidates for this program must be sponsored by a CNH dealership. Students will work in the dealerships for two periods of time over the duration of the program of study. Based on successful completion of the degree, students will be transitioned into full-time employment with their respective dealerships.
For more information, call the Agricultural Technologies department at 217/373-3838 or visit parkland.edu/casenewholland.
Ford ASSET
As a joint agreement between Ford Motor Company, Ford and Lincoln dealers, and Parkland College, the Ford ASSET (Automotive Student Service Educational Training) program is designed to develop entry-level, product-trained service technicians for Ford and Lincoln dealerships. Since enrollment is limited, students are encouraged to submit their admission application for the Ford ASSET A.A.S. degree as early as possible.
The ASSET program is an intensive professional training program, requiring strong student commitment and solid academic preparation and skills in reading and mathematics. Application to the program is open to any student who is interested in a highly skilled professional technical career in the automotive dealership setting.
For more information, call the Applied Sciences and Technologies department at 217/373-3838 or visit parkland.edu/fordasset.
Highway Construction Careers Training Program
A pre-apprenticeship program funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation, designed to prepare individuals to enter into an apprenticeship with any of the trade unions. See the HCCTP website for more information.
Pre-college English as a Second Language
The ESL program offers a series of 3-credit-hour and 4-credit-hour courses in multiple skill areas for academic preparation. Students can enroll part-time or full-time.
Course placement is based on scores from Michigan EPT, TOEFL, or IELTS. The courses are available from beginning through advanced levels in grammar/writing, reading/vocabulary, and listening/speaking/pronunciation. Supplemental instruction through computer-based assignments and specialized electives may be available depending on student need.
International students can apply to this program from their home countries or from other colleges in the United States. Students do not need a TOEFL or IELTS score to apply to the ESL program.
For more information, call 217/351-2217 or see the Pre-college ESL website.
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