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Around Campus
• Technology Education Center (TEC) Gets Green Light
• ICCB Approves C.O.D. Paralegal Studies Program
• C.O.D. Foundation Launches $10 Million Initiative
• College Receives $1.4 Million Grant for Practical Nurse Program
• C.O.D., Benedictine Academic Partnerships
• HVACR to Offer Two New Degrees
• Transfer is the Answer
• Electronic Sleuths - Computer Forensics Experts Go Digital
• Why Start at C.O.D.? Ten Reasons to Give it a Go
• Graphic Arts or Graphic Design - Which is Right for You?
TEC Construction Gets Green Light
By Ken ReedConstruction of the Technology Education Center (TEC) on the College of DuPage campus will get under way as early as Wednesday, June 20.
This comes after the college’s Board of Trustees approved the first bid package for the building on Monday, June 11.
The Board’s approval of bids by four sub-contractors for concrete, masonry, structural steel and excavation paves the way for work to begin as early as Wednesday, according to Michael Appelbaum, project manager.
Appelbaum said that crews on Tuesday will erect a fence around the building site “to define the work area” and that excavation activities will follow.
As TEC construction begins on June 19, all of Lot B, located at the southwest corner of Lambert Road and Fawell Boulevard, will be closed. This past February, the east half of the parking lot was closed. Access to the Open Campus Center drop-off circle will remain via a dedicated access drive entry from Lot B.
When ground is broken, the TEC building will be the third facility under construction as part of the college’s comprehensive Facilities Master Plan.
Construction on the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) building, located west of Lambert Road, and the Health Careers and Natural Sciences (HCNS) building, situated east of Lambert Road, has been under way for some time.
The TEC, an approximately 178,000-square-foot building, is tentatively scheduled to be completed in January 2009. It will contain the Architecture, Interior Design, Ornamental Horticulture, Automotive Technology, Computer-Aided Design, Construction Management, Electro-Mechanical Technology, Electronics-Integrated Engineering Technology, HVACR, Manufacturing Technology and Welding programs.
Meanwhile, the ECEC is to be completed this summer, while the HCNS building is tentatively scheduled for completion in December 2008. The HCNS is a 192,000-square-foot facility.
The ECEC will house both the Beem Demonstration Center (the Early Childhood Education program) and the Student/Parent Co-op (the childhood center), currently located in the Open Campus Center building.
The HCNS building will house a combination of laboratory, classroom, office and instructional space for health careers programs.
For more information on these projects, visit this web site: www.cod.edu/facilities_plan/index.htm.
ICCB Approves C.O.D. Paralegal Program
By Ken ReedCollege of DuPage has received approval from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) to offer an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree and a certificate in Paralegal Studies.
The official start of the new degree/certificate program is immediate, according to Sally N. Fairbank, program coordinator. Fairbank noted that some students recieved a head start on their program studies by enrolling in introductory classes in fall 2006. Those classes will count toward the associate's degree or certificate program.
"I am very pleased with the ICCB approval," Fairbank said. "Their approval indicates that there is a strong need in our community for a Paralegal Studies program. I have every confidence that this program will become a vital and valuable addition to the college and community."
Meryl Sussman, C.O.D. dean, Business and Technology, and Fairbank project a target enrollment in fall 2007 for the new program of about 60 students.
"The program has already received enthusiastic support from the local legal community," Sussman said.
The program advisory board is co-chaired by Fairbank and by Lyle Haskin, an attorney with Haskin & Corrigan, PC in Wheaton.
"The ICCB approval of C.O.D.'s Paralegal Studies program manifests recognition of the legal and academic communities' need for high-quality, local training of paralegals," Haskin said. "As DuPage County grows, there will be an increasing need in the community for paralegals in both the public and private sectors. C.O.D.'s history of contribution to the needs of the community is enhanced by the program and the ICCB approval."
Other members of the C.O.D. Paralegal Studies advisory board include several lawyers, paralegals and a judge. Also endorsing the program with enthusiasm is Barbara Lipe (Naperville), a C.O.D. student who is enrolled in Introduction to Paralegal Studies.
"I've been very happy with the class," Lipe said. "Sally (Fairbank) is well-organized, competent and very helpful to her students. Her knowledge, experience and enthusiasm just shows. She will bend over backwards to help students. I've learned so much."
Lipe said that Fairbank also brings in outside speakers, including paralegals, who are working in the field.
"Just hearing from them and learning about their interesting and varied work has really encouraged me," Lipe said. "This program is a real asset to students and the community."
There are currently seven American Bar Association-approved Paralegal programs in northern Illinois: Harper College, Elgin Community College, Loyola University-Chicago, Roosevelt University-Chicago, South Suburban College, Kankakee Community College and Northwestern Business College.
"C.O.D.'s program will adhere to all American Bar Association guidelines from its inception and will apply for approval from the American Bar Association at the earliest possible date, which is two years after the program has been launched and a group of students has graduated," Sussman said.
An additional Paralegal program has recently been launched at College of Lake County.
A paralegal is a person who works for a lawyer, law office, corporation, government agency or other entity, who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.
Paralegal job prospects, according to Sussman and Fairbank, are bright. In fact, the Department of Labor Occupational Outlook lists paralegal job prospects as growing faster than the average over the next decade. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment for paralegals will grow by 27 percent or more by 2014.
In addition, while paralegal salaries vary greatly, depending on education, training, experience and workplace type and location, May 2004 BLS data states that paralegal salaries range from $34,910 to $59,370 nationally.
For more information about the Paralegal Studies program at C.O.D., call (630) 942-2955 or visit: www.cod.edu/paralegal.
C.O.D. Foundation Lauches $10 Million Initiative
By Robyn JohnsonDue to the rapidly aging Baby Boomer population, there is a marked concern about the number of nurses and other health care workers that will be required to maintain area health-related care and services over the next decade.
In fact, Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council (MCHC) recently stated that the number of trained nurses and other health professionals must increase by 50 percent over the next several years in order to maintain a thriving health care workforce in Illinois. With the majority of health care workers being trained at community colleges, there is no question about whether College of DuPage should play a role in addressing this community need.
“Throughout the state, nursing programs are turning students away due to a lack of faculty and teaching space, and the timing couldn’t be worse,” said Mike Trench, C.O.D. Chief Development officer, “and with the higher costs of nursing education, finding available funds for program expansion is the prime challenge.”
As one of the largest health career education providers in the region, College of DuPage is making a concerted effort through the many community volunteers who comprise its Foundation to address this anticipated health care worker shortage. The C.O.D. Foundation recently announced its intention to raise $10 million to provide “solutions for building a stronger health care workforce in the DuPage County area.”
“Our fund-raising effort is focused on supporting the expansion and enhancement of programs that reflect community need, beyond the general operating support generously provided by our community,” Trench said. “We’re working hard to meet the need for greater numbers of trained personnel in the health careers, especially nursing, and we will need the support of our alumni, our staff and our community to make this happen.”
Specifically, the C.O.D. Foundation’s $10 million initiative will provide a $7 million endowment that will generate funds to support the additional instructional costs needed to increase enrollment by 125 students per year. In addition, the other $3 million endowment will provide support for Health Career students through a tuition scholarship program.
For the past three years, C.O.D. has been actively working to expand the current Associate Degree in Nursing program with the help of its DuPage Area Healthcare Leadership Council (DAHLC), a coalition representing 35 organizations from area hospitals, long-term and post-acute care, academic institutions, and state agencies working together to prevent predicted shortages in nursing and other health care occupations. The Foundation “heard and responded to (DAHLC’s) request,” Trench said.
“The Foundation has embraced this concern with action and is determined to help fund the solutions that will provide a better tomorrow for those who need health care services in DuPage County,” Trench said. “We know we are on the right track for filling a significant workforce gap in our community.”
For more information, call (630) 942-2462, e-mail: FdnNews@cod.edu, or visit: www.cod.edu/foundation.
College Receives $1.4 Million Grant for Practical Nurse Program
By Robyn JohnsonCollege of DuPage recently received a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Community-Based Job Training Grant program, which will fund the development and implementation of a Practical Nurse (PN) program at the college, expected to begin in early 2008.
According the Karen Solt, associate dean of Health Sciences at C.O.D., the one-year “PN Capacity Bridge” program funded by the grant is “aptly named.”
“We’re envisioning a program that will serve as a bridge to higher education for students who wish to make a smooth transition from Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) to PN to an associate’s degree in nursing and beyond,” Solt said. “In addition, this program will help bridge an enrollment gap at the college. The demographics of DuPage County have changed enormously over the past decade or so – the creation of a PN program will help us reach out to under-represented students in our area so that the C.O.D. nursing student population more accurately reflects the general population as a whole.”
Students who complete the one-year PN Capacity Bridge program, in addition to required prerequisite courses and a bridge course at C.O.D., can then move into the second year of the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program at the college if further education is desired, Solt said.
“The new PN program will bridge our current CNA and ADN programs. We’re offering all three avenues of entry into a nursing career, and it’s the student’s choice as to where he/she wants to stop along the way,” Solt said. “The bottom line is that a PN program will open doors to students who might not have come here otherwise – it’s all about providing options, because that’s what a community college is here to do.”
A unique aspect of the PN Bridge Capacity program at C.O.D. is the fact that it will serve as a “stand alone” program as well as a stepping stone toward an ADN degree. Students will have the option to complete the PN program and enter the workplace or, if they choose, continue their education and earn an ADN degree while working as an PN.
“Most entry-level nursing programs are offered on an educational continuum only – first CNA, then PN, then ADN and so on,” said Jeri Lynn Else, manager of strategic healthcare alliances at C.O.D. “We’re planning to develop a program that offers our students true flexibility in terms of their individual career and educational goals.”
Mary Ann Kelly, vice president of the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council (MCHC), said that in order to build and maintain a thriving health care workforce in Illinois, the number of trained nurses and other health professionals needs to increase by 50 percent over the next several years. In particular, physicians, hospitals and extended care facilities have identified the PN as a position they have a dire need for, she said.
Linda Carrigan, assistant director of Nursing at ManorCare, said the need for additional nurses in the sub-acute or long-term care environment will continue to rise as the elderly population increases. The PN program at College of DuPage will provide an appreciated and valued resource for ManorCare and other similar facilities, she said.
“The sub-acute or long-term care environment cannot compete with the larger medical centers for nurses in terms of salaries, benefits and opportunities,” Carrigan said. “(PNs) are very important to many types of health facilities to ensure that stable, long-term or rehab patients receive excellent care.”
The primary purpose of the President’s Community-Based Job Training Grant is to build community colleges’ capacity to equip workers with the skills that growing industries require for success. Of the 429 applications for the 2006 Job Training grant, College of DuPage was one of only 72 colleges nationwide and three community colleges in Illinois selected to receive this award.
For more information about the PN program at C.O.D., call
(630) 942-2495.
C.O.D., Benedictine Academic Partnerships
By Ken ReedCollege of DuPage and Benedictine University have announced several academic partnerships between the two institutions that C.O.D. President Sunil Chand said “would make their mark on students for years to come.”
Chand and the college’s governing Board of Trustees welcomed Benedictine University President William Carroll and Benedictine Trustees Will Gillette, David Lamb and Rosemary Macko Wisnosky to the joint announcement ceremony held during the C.O.D. Board of Trustees meeting Monday, Jan. 8, in Glen Ellyn.
One partnership agreement will feature a Benedictine Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree that will be available on-site at C.O.D. This BSN degree program will be offered on an evening/weekend schedule, according to Chand. He noted that the first cohort of 20 students has been recruited from graduates of C.O.D.’s Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program over the past three years.
Both Presidents Chand and Carroll emphasized that the tuition charges for Benedictine’s BSN degree will be adjusted to compete with the average state university tuition rates. Benedictine is a private institution.
“This will give students a first-class program at state university tuition rates,” Carroll said. “This is unheard of in private-public partnerships.”
Moreover, an adult fast track model of the BSN partnership is being developed. C.O.D. already offers several degrees in its accelerated Adult Fast Track program, which enables busy adults 24 years and older to complete their degrees by attending one class per week over an approximate two- to two-and-one-half year period.
C.O.D. and Benedictine also agreed to pursue a seamless articulation agreement in fine arts. C.O.D. currently offers an Associate in Fine Arts degree and has completed steps to articulate it with the Benedictine Fine Arts (BFA) degree.
Future developments point to a dual admissions partnership where students and faculty of the two institutions will be involved in the fine arts baccalaureate program. In a one-for-one exchange with Benedictine, C.O.D. faculty will teach some upper-level BFA courses, while Benedictine faculty will teach some associate degree courses. There will be joint use of classroom and studio facilities at each institution.
Chand and Carroll congratulated faculty and administrators from both institutions on this exchange agreement.
C.O.D. and Benedictine officials also announced that students from both institutions can now visit each respective library and check out materials. This agreement provides C.O.D. and Benedictine students access to myriad books and resources.
In addition, C.O.D. is articulating 2+2 agreements with Benedictine in Management, Marketing, Accounting and Real Estate. Future agreements entail 3+1 arrangements in Applied Management, or the articulation of career education in Applied Sciences into baccalaureate completion programs.
Chand noted that these partnerships “will be a model.”
HVACR to Offer Two New Degrees
By Ken ReedCollege of DuPage this fall will be one of the few community colleges in the country to offer two new degrees in its Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) program that offer a unique combination of technical and management training. The college’s fall semester begins on Wednesday, Aug. 22.
“About one-half of the students who enroll in our HVACR Service Technician certificate program are interested in starting or owning their own business,” said Herb Haushahn, program coordinator. “The new Contractors degree would be ideal for them. The need for formal business training is essential for success in today’s challenging HVACR environment.”
The Contractors degree is also suited for HVACR contractors looking to enhance their management skills. “C.O.D. faculty will teach the technical skills that you will need and then combine that with management training in organization, planning, sales, marketing, accounting and finance,” Haushahn said.
The HVACR program is also launching a new course, HVACR Contracting, that is the capstone course for the Contractors degree. The prerequisite for this course is Financial Accounting 1140.
This class will explore many important topics, including profitability, capital structure, advertising, hiring and compensation, vendor selection, job estimation, and pricing.
The Building Environmental Managers degree combines technical training with instruction in project management, organization and staffing, planning, and other management skills. This degree is perfect for students who are in the building environmental management field or are currently a stationary operator.
“The Building Environmental Managers degree will provide students with the training and skills to become upwardly mobile in the field,” Haushahn said.
C.O.D.’s HVACR program currently offers certificates in Stationary Operator and Service Technician, and a two-year degree for Service Technician.
For information about the new Contractors and Building Environmental Managers degree or the HVACR program, call Haushahn at (630) 942-2599 or Jim Janich, (630) 942-3313.
Transfer is the Answer
By Robyn JohnsonCurrently, the average yearly salary for a college graduate is reported to be just over $45,000, while the average annual income for a high school graduate is about $25,000 a year. In addition, it’s estimated that over a lifetime, college graduates make about $600,000 more than non-grads. Besides economic motivation, there are also less-measurable reasons to earn a degree, such as the skills, knowledge and confidence that come with education.
Today, many college students on campuses across the country don’t fit the traditional college co-ed mold. Not all students start college as 18-year-old freshman living in a university dorm, supported by their parents. In fact, a 1999 U.S. Census Bureau survey found that one-third of all college students are enrolled part time, 38 percent are over age 25, and more than 30 percent are enrolled in two-year colleges.
These numbers add up to a significant percentage of students who don’t fit the typical college student profile. For individuals who think they’re “too old” or don’t have the academic skills to succeed, or have job and family obligations and limited time and resources for higher education, attending community college might be answer.
A Great Choice
Community colleges provide a flexible alternative to traditional four-year institutions. With low tuition, evening and weekend classes, and resources for assisting students with college-level academics, a community college can be the solution for students who would like to pursue their baccalaureate degree.
Nhung Ta, a former Architecture student at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, chose community college for a number of reasons.“I chose C.O.D. because it’s closer to my home and I thought it would be a smoother transition than going straight from high school to a four-year university,” said Ta, who is from Carol Stream and transferred last year to the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana to study architecture. “In addition, the tuition is a lot less (at C.O.D.) to get a similar educational experience.”
Testing out courses without making a four-year commitment was the reason C.O.D. student Mike Mlekowski of Lemont chose to attend the college.
“I chose to go to C.O.D. because I had just moved back in state and was taking a course to see if I liked it. I ended up falling in love with architecture,” said Mlekowski, who transferred to the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, last year to pursue a degree in Architectural Design. “The biggest advantage of studying at C.O.D. was the smaller class size and the ability to community with the instructors easily. The students here (at the University of Illinois) have noticed that we (students from C.O.D.) gained more valuable skills than they did in the first two years of school and for a lot less money.”
Make the Transition
In addition to offering flexibility and a more personal teaching style, community colleges such as College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn offer students programs to help make the transition to a four-year seamless and smooth. According to a 2005 Student Portrait survey, approximately 76 percent of full-time credit students at C.O.D. plan to transfer to a four-year institution.
To make this transition a smooth one, C.O.D. offers transfer advising through its counseling office, the library and through an online Transfer Resource Center that provides information on area colleges, student planning materials and an overview of four-year institutions that are part of the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) transfer agreement (www.iai.org).The C.O.D. Student Services office also offers a workshop, “Ready, Set, Transfer” as part of its Student Success workshop series. This class helps students choose the right transfer school for them and offers “insider” information such as the best time to apply and key information four-year schools require from transfer applicants.
“Unfortunately, the majority of students self-advise when it comes to transferring,” said C.O.D. counselor Dana Thompson. Before starting their two years at C.O.D. or any other community college, students should meet with a counselor if they’re unsure of their major or a faculty adviser if they know what program they plan to pursue so they complete the right classes during their time here. Solving the transfer equation upfront prevents many problems that can occur during the process.”
Aside from choosing a college that is close to home or because their “friends said it was a good school,” students should be methodical about investigating different colleges and applying for admission and financial aid on schedule.
““We have some of the best resources here (at C.O.D.) in the nation in terms of matching schools with a student’s interests, needs, grades and other requirements. I can’t stress how important it is for transfer students to use these materials,” Thompson said. “It’s also important that students check out a college or university’s ability to help them get a job once they’ve graduated. The school they choose should have industry connections, internships available and resources to help students find a job after they leave the campus.”
Visiting the campus is also an integral part of transfer decision-making, Thompson said.
“One of the most important things a student can do is visit the college where they’re thinking about transferring,” Thompson said. “Not just once, but twice. Students should go on a formal visit and also an unofficial one when classes are still in session. They should take the time to ask current students what they like and don’t like about the school.”
Transfer Agreements
College of DuPage currently maintains 2+2 and 3+1 agreements with more than 40 area colleges and universities in all areas of interest, from theater to marketing to health science. A 2+2 agreement enables students to study for two years at College of DuPage and then seamlessly transfer to a partner university where they can complete their bachelor’s degree in two years or less.
Similarly, a 3+1 agreement enables students to complete most of their undergraduate degree at C.O.D., and then transfer to a selected college or university where they can finish their degree with approximately one more year of study.“The 2+1 and 3+1 agreements make getting a four-year degree very cost-effective for students,” said Madiha Jamal, C.O.D. Articulation coordinator. “As long as the students stick to the recommended courses, transferring is an easier, seamless process.”
In recent years, these inter-collegiate agreements have gained popularity among both community college and their four-year partners, Jamal said.
“An increase in (2+2 and 3+1) agreements over the past few years stems from the fact that they are more beneficial for the students overall and make community colleges more attractive for students seeking bachelor’s degrees.
“In addition, these agreements guarantee enrollment for four-year institutions,” Jamal said. “C.O.D. is a very attractive entity for universities to partner with because we (at C.O.D.) prepare our students well for the four-year institutions, equipping them with the core and basic foundations they need for success in college.”College of DuPage is also a fully articulated institution, which means many courses completed at C.O.D. are transferable to any college or university in Illinois, as well as many other regional and national schools. For information on the transferability of courses, students can visit: www.itransfer.org.
Electronic Sleuths - Computer Forensics Experts Go Digital
By Ken ReedRecognizing a growing need for computer forensics professionals, College of DuPage will soon be one of the few community colleges in the area to offer a certificate in this field.
In fact, Robert Nichols, C.O.D. associate dean, Business and Technology, said the college is already offering the required certificate courses in its Computer and Internetworking Technologies (CIT) and Criminal Justice programs.
"All we need to do to finalize the certificate is bundle together the courses," Nichols said.
It is anticipated that C.O.D. will offer a certificate in Computer Forensics this fall. He noted that the certificate is designed for post-degree students. "This is not an entry-level program. The students will need a degree and work experience (to enroll)."Nichols said the Computer Forensics certificate program will teach students to preseve, identify, recover and document computer data.
Peggy Bradford, C.O.D. associate dean, Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences, agrees. She said that the purpose of the joint certificate is to allow students who are in Criminal Justice or Computer and Internetworking Technologies "to look at the different ways to investigate computer crimes and retrieve evidence. Computer forensics professionals can track criminal activity and also track information in cyberspace."
Nichols said there is a definite need for computer forensics professionals.
"Every organization should have a person who knows how to recover data," he said.
Nichols said the college's Criminal Justice program is a natural fit with CIT to jointly offer this certificate. "Students would learn both the (technical) process of evidence recovery, as well as the rules of evidence."
Why Start at C.O.D.? Ten Reasons to Give it a Go
By Robyn Johnson1. While you're on break from your out-of-town college or university, take a course or two at C.O.D. You’ll save money and finish your bachelor’s degree sooner. Tuition is less and personal attention is maximized – flexible schedules at a community college allow you to pursue your summer job as well. For students who want to spend fewer weeks finishing maximum credits, College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn offers condensed five-week sessions.
2. Add credentials to your resume. Education is taking on greater significance in today’s job market. It could be the deciding factor between you and another qualified applicant. Courses that update your knowledge of the latest technologies or increase your skill set look great on a resume.
3. Improve your GPA. A good grade could improve your academic standing elsewhere. Retake a course in which you did poorly or transfer over courses in which you did well. Many community colleges offer academic support. For example, C.O.D. offers free academic assistance in math, reading, writing and speech communication, as well as peer tutoring and paid tutoring programs.
4. Supplement your high school studies. Get a head start on college while still in high school. Talk to your high school counselor about applying C.O.D. coursework toward your graduation requirements, or use it to get a few college credits out of the way. At C.O.D., dual-credit enrollment among 11 area partner high schools increased more than 300 percent over the past year.
5. Hoping to get into a competitive program or college? Get your prerequisite courses out of the way. Last year, C.O.D. unveiled a unique accelerate format, “Program 8,” which allows students to complete a year’s worth of general education courses in one semester.
6. Build on your certificate know-how. Your certificate got your foot in the door take it to the next level with an associate’s degree. Many working students opt to take advantage of their company’s college payment program and earn their degree while on the job. C.O.D. has implemented a successful internship program with Caterpillar Inc. of Aurora where students earn their associate’s degrees while developing hands-on experience at a paid internship at the company.
7. Transform applied skills into academic credit. In some occupational areas, you can get credit for work experience. For example, the Cooperative Education and Internship program at C.O.D. allows students to earn academic credit for work-based learning in a job related to a major field of study. The Co-op program provides students with great resume material, professional networking opportunities and extra money for college expenses.
8. Bolster your resume with hands-on skills and experiences while earning college credit. The C.O.D. Service Learning program combines volunteer community service with classroom instruction. And the Field and Experiential Learning program opens a world of educational opportunities with local, national and international field trips and travel that complement the learning experience.
9. So you’ve completed your associate’s degree, what’s next? Transfer your C.O.D. credits to a four-year institution and keep going for your bachelor’s degree and beyond. Not enough time is no longer an excuse, as many colleges such as C.O.D. offer unique program formats so students can take classes in the evening, in an accelerated format and even from home.
10. Learn how to make two equal three. Turn your two-year degree into three years of a four-year bachelor’s degree at one of many colleges and universities who offer articulation agreements with the community college of your choice. College of DuPage offers both 2+2 and 3+1 transfer agreements for nearly all areas of study at more than 40 four-year institutions.
Graphic Arts or Graphic Design - Which is Right for You?
Are you a well-spring of creative ideas or someone who enjoys the process of bringing a creative project to its completion?
If you desire work in the fields of design or print production, the good news is that there are plenty of jobs to go around. At College of DuPage, the Graphic Design and Graphic Arts Technology programs offer many options. Before getting started, however, it's important to understand which program is right for you.
The Advertising, Design and Illustration department at C.O.D. teaches students to conceptualize many possible solutions for answering a client's needs. Students in the Graphic Design program learn to manipulate visual images, symbols and text to convey the concept to the intended audience in the most effective and memorable manner.Toward the end of their studies, students in the Graphic Design program at C.O.D. have ample opportunities to work with real clients in a controlled environment that allows them to develop a personal style and build a portfolio for jump-starting their careers after graduation.
If you find the production side of the design process more appealing, the Graphic Arts Technology program at C.O.D. will help you get the expertise necessary to land the job of your dreams.
Learning the ins and outs of graphic design software packages, such as Adobe's Creative Suite, Quark Express and other industry standards, is an essential part of the Graphic Arts experience. Students in this program also gain hands-on knowledge of press operations and the tactile sensations of paper and ink.
Whether you select graphic design or graphic arts, the knowledgeable, patient and experienced faculty at C.O.D. will help you navigate through your educational experience to an employable destination.
