FY08 Funded Projects

Illinois Community College Board: Right Start: A Pilot Bridge Project to Prepare Students for Postsecondary Education Leading to Careers in Manufacturing. Funding for this project derives from a $1 million grant awarded to ICCB from the Joyce Foundation Shifting Gears Initiative. C.O.D. is one of eight Illinois community colleges named a demonstration site. C.O.D.'s 18-month project will engage a cohort of 25 adult students to enter the Manufacturing Technology program, preparing them to work in high-skill, high-demand jobs in manufacturing. Faculty will develop a 10-credit, 24-week bridge course called, Fundamentals of Product Design and Fabrication, based on the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) nationally recognized certification program. Faculty with professional training in the MSSC curriculum will team-teach the course. Students will: complete a core curriculum in math, science, verbal and written communication; participate in e-learning and blended online learning components; and augment classroom work with field experiences and job shadowing in local manufacturing companies. Project Directors: Adenuga Atewologun, Gerald Krusinski and Sheryl Mylan. (Funded: $125,000)

Illinois Community College Board: Tech Prep Support Program. This grant will support the College's FY08 Tech Prep Support Plan which includes collaboration with high school and college faculty to successfully bridge high school students to college. Activities include acquiring computer-based software systems to measure math, reading and writing proficiencies; conducting counselor workshops focused on dual credit and career pathways; and implementing a regional workshop providing opportunities for high schools to highlight accomplishments and disseminate exemplary practices. Project Director: Ann Marie Rosen. (Funded: $50,518)

Illinois Community College Board: DuPage Area Technical Preparation Consortium. To participate in the FY08 Tech Prep Consortium, led by DuPage Area Occupational Education System (DAOES). Work with the region's secondary and post-secondary education and industry partners to align curriculum and promote Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities. C.O.D. will co-sponsor a 7th grade career fair for 3,500 students; a career fair for persons with disabilities; industry site visits; and a transition expo focused on health care and applied technology careers for students, guidance counselors and teachers. Project Director: Ann Marie Rosen. (Funded: $66,000)

Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois: Asian Economic Topics: India, Japan, and the Pacific Islands; Homeland Security; and Latin American Political Issues. To augment the library's collection of public and social policy related materials in the following subject areas: Asian American Topics: India, Japan and the Pacific Islands; Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness; and Latin American Political Issues.
Press release
Project Director: Dan Blewett. (Funded: $7,000)

Illinois Community College Board: Perkins Postsecondary. Through the Perkins Postsecondary Career and Technical Education Program, funding will support many activities. C.O.D. will pilot Math in CTE, a training program to help faculty develop units to strengthen math skills of students in CTE programs. Grant funds will support the outfitting of a new anatomy and physiology lab for the health care programs and will continue outreach to the community through expanded distribution of Career Focus, the CTE newsletter that provides information about regional career trends. Efforts will continue to develop 2+2 and 3+1 agreements for A.A.S. students with regional four-year colleges. Industry software for student practice in selected CTE programs, and additional software that enhances student success with web-based instructional and tutoring materials will be acquired. Capstone courses in CTE programs in which students demonstrate a broad range of industry-specific skills will be developed, enhancing program review processes. Perkins funding supports services to disabled students, as well as students seeking to enter non-traditional career paths. In addition, enhanced career counseling services to CTE students and community members are funded through the Perkins grant. Project Director: Meryl Sussman. (Funded: $592,830)

Illinois Secretary of State, Library Literacy Office: Leer es Poder (Reading is Power). To support Leer es Poder, a family literacy program in alliance with West Chicago District 33 and the West Chicago Public Library that will serve 25 disadvantaged families with preschool children. Project Directors: Pat Coleman and Carol Garcia. (Funded: $35,000)

Illinois Secretary of State, Library Literacy Office: People Educating People (PEP). To support the People Educating People initiative that engages more than 100 community volunteers to individualize instruction and provide tutoring for students in C.O.D.'s literacy programs, located at 24 sites in 18 communities.
Press Release
Project Directors: Pat Coleman and Joan Morris. (Funded: $40,000)

Illinois Center for Specialized Professional Support: Non-Traditional Careers Mentoring Program. To support program activities that match high school students from Technology Center of DuPage with college students enrolled in non-traditional programs. Industry professionals serve as role models, and counselors provide guidance and career awareness. Student awards and the reprinting of a guide book for educators and students will be provided through this grant. Project Director: Alison Greene. (Funded: $1,500)

Illinois Center for Specialized Professional Support: Finding the Way to Employment— DuPage Cares. To support a program that will establish an employer base to hire qualified individuals with disabilities. College of DuPage will educate DuPage County employers in disability awareness and emphasize the benefits of hiring persons with disabilities. Students will be provided with job acquisition training to better prepare them for community-based employment. Project Director: Steve Fry. (Funded: $1,500)

Illinois Arts Council, Partners in Excellence. To provide general operating support for the McAninch Arts Center's 2007-2008 season that will include Gahlberg Gallery exhibitions; more than 40 presented events; and programs produced by Arts Center Jazz Ensemble, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, DuPage Opera Theatre and New Philharmonic. Project Directors: Stephen Cummins and Roland Raffel. (Funded: $41,580)

Illinois Community College Board: Adult Education and Family Literacy. Current census data demonstrates that more than 90,000 adults in College of DuPage District 502 have less than a high school education, and more than 150,000 adults need to improve their English language skills. The Adult Education and ESL program at College of DuPage annually serve nearly 6,500 students in seven distinct instructional areas: Adult ESL; ESL Family Literacy; Adult Basic Education/Reading; English; Math; GED Preparation in English and Spanish; Citizenship and ESL for Citizenship. With 130 part-time faculty and 14 staff, the program exceeds the size of some community colleges. It is second only to the City Colleges of Chicago system in size, performance and funding. To date, the grant represents the largest competitive government award received by C.O.D. in more than six years.
Press Release
Project Director: Pat Coleman. (Funded: $1,523,485)