All In: Student Pathways Forward
This podcast focuses on elevating community college student voices to shape inclusive higher education and workforce development policies, practice and partnerships that create economic mobility.
All In: Student Pathways Forward
Olive-Harvey College Rivian Technical Trades program graduate Kyle Johnson, Olive-Harvey College President Dr. Kimberly Hollingsworth & Illinois Community College Board Deputy Executive Director Jennifer Foster
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This episode features interviews with Olive-Harvey College Rivian Technical Trades program graduate Kyle Johnson, Olive-Harvey College president Dr. Kimberly Hollingsworth and the Illinois Community College Board Deputy Executive Director Jennifer Foster.
Kyle describes how the Rivian Technical Trades program met his needs as a returning student by providing accelerated training that led to an industry recognized credential in the emerging field of electric vehicles and a clear pathway to a job and career with Rivian in an apprenticeship program model that worked well for him.
Dr. Hollingsworth offers helpful reflections from Kyle’s interview and shares more on the responsive transportation, distribution and logistics programs at Olive- Harvey that include various supports and resources available to students such as Project Evolve, the college’s Workforce Equity Initiative program.
Deputy Executive Director Foster elaborates further on the Workforce Equity Initiative in its origins, design and goals to close historical opportunity gaps for African American students across the state of Illinois reducing potential barriers to enrollment and completion in community college quality non-degree credential programs.
The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon’s participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network and supported by the Lumina Foundation.
Welcome to the All-In Student Pathways For podcast, focused on elevating community college student voices, along with those of college executives, policymakers, and higher education advocates to take inclusive policies, practice, and partnerships. This is the host, Mark Goldberg, and this season the podcast features students of quality, career pathways, and non-degree credential programs. Thanks for listening in. This episode features interviews with Olive Harvey College, Rubian Technical Trades Program graduate Kyle Johnson, Olive Harvey College President Dr. Kimberly Hollingsworth, and the Illinois Community College Board Deputy Executive Director Jennifer Foster. Hall describes how the accelerated Rubyan Technical Trades Program met his needs as a returning student by offering training that led to an industry-recognized credential in an emerging field of electric vehicles, a clear pathway to a job and career with Rubyan, and how the program design and an apprenticeship model made it more feasible to enroll in complete. Dr. Hollinsworth offers helpful reflections from Kyle's interview and shares more on the response of transportation, distribution, and logistics programs at Olive Harvey that include different supports and resources available to students, such as Project Evolve, the college's workforce equity initiative program, that can help address the challenges students may face in completing quality non-degree credential programs. Deputy Executive Director Foster elaborates further on the Workforce Equity Initiative and its origins, design, and goals to close historical opportunity gaps for African American students across the state, reducing potential barriers to enrollment and completion in community college quality non-degree credential programs, as well as its impact statewide over the past six years. I'd like to welcome my featured guest to the podcast today. Kyle Johnson is a graduate of Olive Harvey College, one of the city colleges of Chicago. Welcome, Kyle, to the All In Student Pathways Forward podcast.
SPEAKER_03Thank you. I'm glad to be a part of what you have going here. I believe it's going to be a tremendous benefit for future students to come.
SPEAKER_02Well, I appreciate you taking the time in your schedule and wanted to start by asking you if you could talk about your journey to Olive Harvey College and why you chose to enroll in courses there.
SPEAKER_03It was an easy choice. I needed to solidify my automotive career, and they had a program that did just that. I was informed about the program through a friend who actually works at Olive Harvey. It's a high school friend. So I actually have 10 plus years of knowing each other. And I actually did work on his car a couple of times. And he called me up. He said, Hey, they got this program going, it looks great. And that's how I got my foot in the door. What I enrolled in was a technical trades program. It's actually called the Rivian Technical Trades Program. And it's a six-month course. And it certified me in electric vehicles and high voltage components. Also was offered a job placement after the program. And if you can believe it or not, I got paid to go to school.
SPEAKER_02Wow. So it was an accelerated program, six months, and it sounds like it included some industry certifications. And there was some means of supporting the cost of college and then a pathway to a job at the end.
SPEAKER_03Man, it was beautiful. It was kind of like I said, it was a no-brainer once I figured out all the details.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and you mentioned having worked on your friend's car in the past. So did you have some background in the field or experience? Yes.
SPEAKER_03One of the requirements for the program was two years of experience, whether that's out in the field or a classroom. I have been working on cars for as long as I can remember. How I got my start, which was on my first car, and being unable to afford repairs. And I had an uncle who's a body man, but he had mechanical experience. So that first repair was astronomical to me as a teenager. So he helped me take care of that. And it's been a wrap ever since I fell in love with it. I always been a tinkerer, like fixing things. My mom calls me a push a button. If there's a button, I'll probably push it, you know, keep me away from big red buttons.
SPEAKER_02But sounds like since that experience, maybe even um before then, you've been interested in how things work and repairing things. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. So you enrolled in the Rivian Technical Trades program and completed the six-month program and wanted to ask you what the biggest highlight of your experience at Olive Harvey College was as a student.
SPEAKER_03There are so many. So I started the program in November of 23 and I graduated in April of 24. So you just completed a short while ago. Yes, sir. Congratulations. Thank you. I appreciate that. I'm well off into my career path. It actually moved way quicker than I thought, but I'm forever grateful. But if I could say one of the major highlights of Olive Harvey, it would be the facility. It is literally a transportation hub. And I had no idea before I enrolled in classes what was going on, like right in my backyard. So they have training for diesel repair, they have CDL training. They also do aeronautical, they teach airplane riveting. So you can get certified to do that. They also have general automotive courses. And for each field that they offer, they have huge facilities and they just have all the latest technology. As a mechanic, it's like a dream. You never think that you would be able to go in a place this massive and learn.
SPEAKER_02And to be able to learn on the equipment and technology that you'll see in the industry, right? Exactly. Yep. It's crazy. And I would imagine, too, since you really highlighted the facility there at Olive Harvey, that that's probably a draw for a lot of new or prospective students. Seeing that, if you're interested in these careers and fields, it's got to pull you in.
SPEAKER_03Oh, yeah, for sure. Some days during class, we would have groups of students from high school coming taking tours of the facility. They wanted to learn about the program. So they were just full of questions. And we will just come out, show off some of the cars, and get them more interested and ready to go for their future. I can say if I would have been one of those students, I definitely would have been pursuing education at Olive Harvey, especially in Chicago and on the South Side. It is an eye-opener. Once you find out the opportunities that they have to offer, it's like, man, you gotta take advantage and get your foot in the door. That's exactly what I was able to do. Consider myself doing big things.
SPEAKER_02Well, it sounds like it. And we'll get into where you're at now in a bit. And then you also touched earlier on the fact that you were paid during the program. And not every community college program has that set up. So that I would imagine makes a huge difference for so many students.
SPEAKER_03Yes, that was a big draw for me because I didn't have to worry about the everyday pressures of life or balancing school and work. I was actually able to make school my work and focus head first. That's why I guess it's an accelerated program. They take a lot of your distractions away with providing you with some pay. Yeah. And it was a $26 an hour as well. Wow.
SPEAKER_02Well, we'll come back to that in a bit. But thinking about the program overall, as you touched on highlights, also wanted to ask you if you could describe any challenges that you faced in pursuing your education.
SPEAKER_03I couldn't say that I had any challenges. The most difficult thing for me was getting back in the swing of school. Because it had been a while since I had taken any classes or even had to arrive early and pay attention. I'm used to arriving early, paying attention, and I'm starting swinging a hammer. Not sitting in the class, I'm used to being a hands-on guy and putting me back in the classroom after 10, 15 years, is like, hey, hey, you gotta snap back into it.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. And I would imagine too that there are the classroom hours, and then you're in the shop in that facility that you described. Oh, yeah, for sure. Oh, how how long for shop time? Yeah. Especially as someone who likes to tinker and has always been hands-on, like you said.
SPEAKER_03And that was also another uh amazing key point. Olive Harvey and Rivian came together, and we had about six to eight vehicles. So each student almost had their own vehicle to work on. What we did, we paired up to keep the learning safe and together. We got to learn these cars inside and out. That's great.
SPEAKER_02And I'm sure it makes a difference. I wanted to shift a little bit, and you talked about the program being a six-month program. And for the podcast, this season it's featuring students or graduates like yourself who've been enrolled in quality credential or certificate programs that, like the Rivian Technical Trades program, are shorter than an associate's degree and prepare students for job opportunities and even potentially further education in an accelerated manner. So, from your perspective, Kyle, what is a quality credential or certificate program? And how did the Olive Harvey Rivian Technical Trades program meet your needs as a student?
SPEAKER_03I would say that a quality credential or certificate program is one that sets me up for immediate success, one that would allow me to begin work, whether I'm supporting myself or my family immediately after completion. So Rivian, they over-delivered with that because not only did I receive a certificate from Olive Harvey, I am now also certified in electric vehicles. So if I wanted to take my talents elsewhere, which I don't ever plan on doing, I'm able to do that. But that was, I want to say, a show of trust from Rivian and definitely built some loyalty.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's amazing. And so having both a credential from the college, but also an industry recognized credential that's even broader than Rivian in electric vehicles opens up other possibilities if you choose that in the future. But sounds like you're pretty happy right now working with Rivian.
SPEAKER_03Oh, yes, sir. I'm pretty happy. But if I had to do anything, which probably would be for myself in the spirit of entrepreneurship, I'm definitely a certified and ready to go.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Coming back to the first part of that question, it sounds like for you, a quality certificate or credential program sets you up, as you said, for immediate success to begin work so that the skills that you gain in the classroom, in the shop, can lead you to a job and career immediately after you complete it.
SPEAKER_03Yep. Over this last decade, we have seen so many college graduates that are not working in their field. And it's a little perplexing and sometimes can be a little scary because it's like, man, you take out all that money, or whether you have scholarships or not, it's just like your time doesn't seem to be well vested when you come out of college and you're not working in your field.
SPEAKER_02It's a really good point. It's a student's time and it's their investment financially. Well, now I want to come back to this topic of the cost of college, which is related to what we were just saying. Many of us hear from students all the time that funding college can be a real source of stress. And so I wanted to ask you what resources within Olive Harvey College or even outside the college were most helpful to you in addressing the cost of college?
SPEAKER_03I would say that the Rivian Technical Trades program was a resource within itself because they actually paid for us to learn and get certified in electric vehicles. So at the start of the program, we were making $26 an hour. And in the middle of the program, we were able to travel to normal Illinois, where Rivian's manufacturing plant is. We spent about two weeks there. We were able to tour the factory and we were able to tour the main service center, and we learned so much. We learned so much. And they got to give us a glimpse forward of what our career would look like and the things we'd be doing and the money that we'd be making. So the program not only paid me to learn, it showed me where I would be and where I could be if I put my head down and did what I needed to do.
SPEAKER_02To have an income while you go to school that's for your experience in the program can make a really big difference for students because then you don't have to worry about working outside, right? Is that the case for you?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I didn't have to worry about outside income or getting off work and going to class or getting out of class and going to work, I was paid to learn. And that's an amazing opportunity. I don't think many people are providing an opportunity like that. And Olive Harvey, on the other hand, they took care of all the tuition with grants.
SPEAKER_02So that's an even more incredible partnership. So for the college to have grants that could cover the tuition and fees, if you have to see it's a believer, I say some things seem too good to be true.
SPEAKER_03Well, this was too good, but it was definitely true. If other colleges could learn something from Arivian at Olive Harvey, I think they could take things far because it definitely helped me and helped my other classmates to get settled in careers and quickly.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. So just thinking about your experience in the program, was there someone on the campus at Olive Harvey who helped you to navigate college systems? For example, how to enroll, how to access these resources, how to work towards the credential and complete the program. And if so, how were they most helpful?
SPEAKER_03Oh, yeah, I have two people. Well, actually a couple, but my first contact with Olive Harvey was my friend who's employed there. He put me in contact with the Department of Continuing Education, a Mr. Marcus Troutman. And I also was in contact with the dean, Mrs. Cheryl Freeman. Mr. Troutman was instrumental in introducing me into the program after my initial introduction for my friend. He's the one that sent me the actual application for Rivian. He's the one that sent me the contact information for the teacher, whose name was Jaime Martinez, my initial teacher. And once I actually was enrolled in the program, then the dean, Mrs. Freeman, I couldn't ask for a better dean. She was there, very supportive. Anything I needed, I could ask her. I can call, email, and she would be there. Whatever the program needed, or any student at Olive Harvey, she was there, able and willing. Oh, that's awesome.
SPEAKER_02And then also you talked about the instructor of the program, Jaime Martinez, right? Jaime Martinez.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Man, what a great guy. If it wasn't for him, like I said, I may not be here today. So many people that I can thank and just am appreciative of for helping me with this journey.
SPEAKER_02Thanks for talking about all those key individuals at the college that have supported you in your career path to get you to where you're at now, which is working in the field. And so I wanted to ask you if you could talk a bit about your current job and how did the Rivian Technical Trades program at all of Harvey College prepare you for it?
SPEAKER_03Currently, I am employed with Rivian. I have relocated from Chicago to Miami and I am a field service technician. I work at the Rivian Service Center here in Miami, Florida. And I've been here since June. So I graduated in April. Summertime in Florida. Yes. I love it. I'm actually doing exactly what they said I would do. That's awesome.
SPEAKER_02With all that, how do you feel like the program prepared you for the work that you're doing?
SPEAKER_03The Rivian Technical Trades Program has over-prepared me for the work that I am doing. You know, I don't want to brag and I want to stay humble, but I have a lot of knowledge and resources that others do not have or have not found yet. I want to say I'm just ahead of the curve going through this program compared to if I would have just applied for a job with review. So I would say even if you don't want to go to school, I would go to the program just because it's going to give you that edge you need, the hands-on, especially when the electric vehicle field is this new and still such a changing business that you never know which way is going to swing. So going through that program just gave me the hands-on edge I need. So where I can take my skills wherever, or I can adapt to new applications and things that are coming in the future. One of the reasons why I joined the program as well is because I knew the industry was changing and I didn't want to get left behind.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Just staying with your job there down in Miami. What do you like most about your current job at Rivian and how does it compare to other jobs you've had before in the field in terms of job quality?
SPEAKER_03I could say one of the main things that I enjoy about Rivian is that they are a growing company and forever learning. And while they learn, I get to learn too. So as they introduce new systems, as they change systems, as they upgrade equipment and things like that, whether it's tools or within the vehicles that they sell, I am also on the forefront learning and growing with them. So there is not one person I can't ask a question. My resources, I would say, are almost unlimited as far as the company goes. Whatever I would like to know about the company, there are ways for me to find it, or I can always ask somebody. So I would say I just like the openness and the corporation of the employees with the evolving of the company.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's awesome. And I'm curious. So for six months, Rivian paid your wages, so to speak, when you were a student, and what are the expectations then from the company having completed the program and now working for them?
SPEAKER_03This may seem weird or off, but there are no expectations. Of course, they want you to come work for them, and that's what they're training you to do, but there is no contract or hey, we need you to be here for this amount of time because we have provided you with these credentials. It is not that kind of situation. It is more of a we want to put you in a better position for your life. And with that, we are hoping that you will come and make us a better company. They're investing in the future, regardless. They are literally getting the workforce ready for the EV world.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's such an interesting model and design. And so I'm curious, as a new employee, how does that land with you?
SPEAKER_03It feels good. I guess it's human nature. If somebody holds you down, you want to get away. I don't even feel like if I did have to sign a contract that I would want to get away because they have provided such an incredible opportunity. But without that pressure, it's just even more amazing. And it just puts the drive in me to perform.
SPEAKER_02Well, appreciate Kyle you sharing your thoughts on this new opportunity. And I do want to come back to your experience as a student at Olive Harvey and ask you from your perspective, what type of college policies could make it easier for students to access and complete credential programs like the Rivian Technical Trades program, who may also be juggling work or, say, parenting or other family responsibilities with their own education?
SPEAKER_03I think one of the best policies would be to ask students what they're going through, ask where they need help at, and make it in a way anonymous so they don't feel embarrassed. A lot of people don't want to say that they're struggling. A lot of people don't want to say that they need babysitters, you know, or maybe they might even need an extra job while they're going to school. But if the leadership in the community college were able to ask the students what they needed, then I'm pretty sure they could better cater to their needs. A lot of people don't know what students are going through. Sometimes just having an ear is a weight off of a person. Had not someone told me that this was uh a paying program, I would have thought it would have to take me like a year and a half, you know, working and going to school.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and I'm glad you brought that up because that's also could be another policy colleges could think about is when it's a paid program that makes a big difference for students. You talked about this earlier that was a draw for you and made a difference. And so thinking about how colleges can create, in some ways, almost like an apprenticeship program where there's a salary while you're going to school. It doesn't have to be a formal apprenticeship, but just that model of being paid while you're building skills that lead to a job. Yeah, really good point. I'm gonna flip this question because I wanted to ask you what advice would you give to other students at Olive Harvey at City Colleges of Chicago or even any other community colleges from your own experience as a student?
SPEAKER_03If I can give advice to anybody, I would first say always try to keep a clear mind. That's first. And I say that because when you have a clear mind, you know what it is that you want to do. You're able to focus on your task in hand and hold on to your goals. Knowing what you want to do will help you see a clearer path for your future. Sometimes it may be hard. When we were kids, they call it imagination. And I guess as an adult, it's just called envisioning. So you just gotta see what you want and go for it. Keep a clear mind and just be open.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Very profound and helpful advice to students and beyond. So wanted to ask you, Kyle, how your experience at Olive Harvey College and the Rivian Technical Trades program has been impactful in your life.
SPEAKER_03This has been a huge impact on my life for me and for my family. I am my mom's only child. Before this program, I had moved back home with my mom, and who knew that I would be going back to school throughout that process. But I would say that my family is very proud, but at the same time, I think it was hard for them to let me go to Florida, you know, because I'm a big family guy, so I was a big piece of the puzzle for a lot of people. Now I'm a family mechanic and more the tech guy, the tinkerer that people call. So they are happy, they are glad I have this opportunity. They want me to pursue my education and keep growing in my career. But at the same time, it was a little sad for people when I had to leave. So it's a positive and a negative. Positive because I'm doing amazing things, taking strides that nobody in my family has. And negative, not really negative, just like being a human from an emotional standpoint. The distance is it's not the easiest. I mean, I'm a big boy, so it's nothing. But at the same time, everybody has their moments.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. And to be far away from family and community is tough, and it takes time and can see how that would be a mixed bag for sure.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, but still the program, I'm at a loss for words because it's done so much for me. I'm certified in electric vehicles. I have certifications of Olive Harvey. And I'm in Miami, Olive Harvey still continues to send me stuff about continual education. They still have programs that I can come and take and further myself. Even when I graduated, I was able to go back to one of the informational sessions that they have for Rivian and talk to some possibly future employees and or students that were coming into the program. But yeah, the impact it has had on me and my family is huge. It's got everybody on the go. Everybody's ready to get their foot into something.
SPEAKER_02Thank you for sharing your reflection there on what this program has meant to you and also your family. So just in wrapping up, Kyle, anything else you'd like to share about your experience at Olive Harvey College for this conversation?
SPEAKER_03If I can share anything, I would just encourage people to explore Olive Harvey and their opportunities that they offer. Because if it wasn't for my friend, I would still be in the dark. So many different certifications. Just explore. Not even just Olive Harvey. See what your local community college has to offer because you never know.
SPEAKER_02Well, I just wanted to say thank you, Kyle, for sharing so much about your experience as a student at Olive Harvey and the Rivian Technical Trades program and how it's led you to this job and career down in Miami, and how the program has prepared you for that and what it's meant to you and your family. And then your recommendations for other students and also for college faculty, staff, and administrators to really think about how they can best support students and prospective students in achieving their academic and their career goals.
SPEAKER_03Oh, yeah, for sure. I'm glad that I could be a part of this. I appreciate what you're doing, and I appreciate sharing my experiences with everybody. I hope that it can be beneficial for us, students and faculty alike.
SPEAKER_02I know it will, and I've learned a lot from the conversation and just appreciate you taking the time as you're getting settled still in a new job and a new city. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I appreciate you, Mark. Thank you so much. I'd like to welcome my next guest to the podcast. Dr. Kimberly Hollingsworth is the president of Olive Harvey College in the city of Chicago. Welcome, Dr. Hollingsworth, to the All-In Student Pathways Forward Podcast.
SPEAKER_00Good morning, Mark. It's my pleasure. I'm super excited about today's conversation.
SPEAKER_02Well, thanks for taking the time. And with that, I figured I would start by asking you if you could share a bit more about Olive Harvey College for listeners that may not be familiar with the institution.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. So, you know, I would be remiss if I don't really start with talking a little bit about City Colleges of Chicago. Olive Harvey College is one of seven of the city colleges of Chicago. CCC is comprised of seven distinct campuses, all individually accredited. We serve over 60,000 students across the city of Chicago. 75% of that population is African American and or Hispanic. Olive Harvey College is located on the southeast side of Chicago in the Roseland Pullman area. And we are also considered the TDO hub. Every college has a specific center of excellence, and we are the transportation, distribution, and logistics hub. Just to give you a little idea of what our student population is like, annually we serve about 4,915 students. I said about, but that was very specific, right?
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00We are a federally recognized, predominantly black institution. So we are a PBI. We serve about 21.7% Hispanic students. So we are an emerging HSI. Over 37% of our students are first generation college students. Over 90% of our students receive some level of financial aid. The average age of our student population, although our high school population has grown substantially over the last few years, the average age is running about 30 years of age. 34% of our students are full-time and overwhelmingly, obviously, as a commuter community college. 66% of our students are part-time students. To talk a little bit about our TDL programs, we also offer a breadth of liberal arts programming, but TDL, obviously being our center of excellence, is prominently displayed across the campus as we just opened about five years a new state-of-the-art TDL center. And we offer everything from auto technology, diesel technology, forklift operator certification, aviation maintenance, aviation technology, EV repair, supply chain management and logistics. So we have everything sewn up almost in the TDAL sector as we are now having conversations with Union Pacific about rail above and beyond our credit bearing programs. We obviously have adult education. And I have the good fortune of being one of two city colleges that also has Olive Harvey Middle College, which is an alternative high school for those students who may have, for some reason, had to drop out of Chicago public schools. And so I have an on-site high school serving nearly 150 students. And I also serve babies. I have a child care center on campus serving children who are ages two to five. So, yeah, we run the gamut here. We can serve the community from, you know, babies all the way to seniors through our continuing education offerings. So just a little bit about our institution.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's really helpful. And I was gonna say it sounds very comprehensive and really serving the community needs and programs. I know Chicago some and know that transportation, distribution, and logistics is a really key industry sector.
SPEAKER_00Let me tell you, a lot of folks didn't really understand what supply chain was, which is one of our programs. And if one thing good that came out of the pandemic is that folks became very aware of how important it is to move goods and services and ultimately what supply chain is. And we called our programs like pandemic proof because you know, we still needed truck drivers and we needed folks to get goods and services even throughout the pandemic. And so those programs were still thriving. We had to find a way to deliver them more safely, but yeah, definitely really big, particularly here in Chicago.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and sounds like on the South Side serves the community well. Oh, absolutely. Yes. And with that, as we're talking about TDL, it brought me right to the conversation I had with Kyle Johnson, who's a graduate of Olive Harvey and the Rivian Technical Trades Program, wanted to ask you what your overall reactions were to the discussion I had with Kyle earlier in this podcast episode.
SPEAKER_00Oh, let me just tell you anytime you have an opportunity to hear the success story of a student, it's a good day. And so I felt excited. I was empowered, but more importantly, it reaffirmed how important this work is at the community college level. There are some amazing trade programs. But just hearing how this program changed the trajectory of Kyle's life, not just for him, but for his family, was really overwhelming. And to hear the level of excitement, yet the trepidation of having to transition from one city to the next was really inspiring and again reaffirmed the need to continue to develop these types of partnerships, relationships, and opportunities for our students.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. And as you said, you could hear from Kyle's conversation the impact for him as an individual and his family. And it was a really interesting time where he had just begun this new job and career with Rivian within a month or two.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, these students in the Rivian program, they apply from all over, not just the city of Chicago, too. Although obviously we encourage students within this sector to apply. And knowing that folks have left their homes, some people have set up residence and hotels during the duration until they're done because they had to leave their families. And then knowing now I may have to go move again because the service center that I'm placed in could likely be in another state, just really speaks to the resilience of these students and the need to be flexible. And if that's something I could tell students, you have to step outside of your comfort zone. Because if you do that, that really does limit your opportunities. And the fact that Kyle had enough faith in the program and in himself really speaks of his ability to make the transition. Although difficult, he's doing it really well.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I was also very inspired getting a chance to chat with him and his experience in the Review and Technical Trades program at Olive Harvey. And just building on that, I wanted to ask you, Dr. Hollingsworth, if you heard anything from the conversation with Kyle that highlighted work that the college is doing well and the value of your quality non-degree credential programs that meet students' educational and career goals.
SPEAKER_00There are so many nuggets that you can pick from Kyle's conversation. I'll start with this one. Obviously, just leveraging industry partnerships that provide work-based learning opportunities. That's critical. When, you know, I started talking about 90% of my students are on financial aid. Like folks can no longer afford to work for free. And for a long time, you know, these internships were great for that practical experience. It's just not the reality anymore. And I think if anything resonated with me in the conversation, is that partnerships really matter. And having a partner that respects the institution, that knows that we can deliver quality instruction and provide state-of-the-art facility really bodes well in our students' favor because they get the best instructors, the best instruction, the best facilities, and they're prepared when they walk out of our doors. It actually got me that thing. I was like, oh, we gotta can we engage, we gotta do more. And so I think these kind of conversations push the envelope for leaders. Like one person is wonderful, six folks in Rivian is great, but we want to impact the masses. And so after listening to his conversation, I was like, okay, we got Rivian. I'm gonna follow up with Toyota. And I know Tesla is calling us too. We gotta get more partners engaged. And we've had conversations with those other entities, but word of mouth and podcasts like this and the positive stories that students tell are probably the best marketing that we could ever imagine.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think where you started with the importance of work-based learning and not just an internship, but understanding the financial realities of anyone who's going to school. So the paid element of that really makes a difference.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. I think the industry is realizing that they have to really build their own, right? And create their own pipelines. And the return on investment is really worth it. You pay $25, $30 an hour, but what they're learning is like invaluable because now I can pick them up and take them and put them in any service center as my new employee with very little training required because they've been trained by me already. So let me tell you, Rivan pays really well. And our conversations with other partners where they have some work-based learning opportunity, we're like, look, you guys are paying $20 an hour. If my student has to decide between coming, going to class, doing work-based learning here at McDonald's, where I can just show up and leave and make the same amount. And so they're like, wait, they pay how much? And like, yeah, your wage isn't competitive. And they're like, oh my God. So we have been able to leverage some good partnerships and relationships to improve other relationships too.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. And hopefully help influence the job quality for those employers, both in a work-based learning opportunity, but even once they're hired permanently.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely.
SPEAKER_02I wanted to also ask you from Kyle's conversation that you listened into if you heard anything that could illuminate a new opportunity for the college that supports student success, especially for adult returning students like Kyle.
SPEAKER_00I think that this is probably my most favorite question. This was really reaffirming for me because it actually corresponds with the research that I did with my dissertation, particularly for African-American men and CTE programs. And Kyle spoke about, not in these terms, a social network. He heard about the program from a friend who worked here. He found someone that he could connect with in Marcus Troutman that would encourage him to do it and apply. He built these relationships with his faculty that were really instrumental to his success. And I think oftentimes we are so busy looking for the next best thing, the best innovation, and all these ideas around what retains and supports students when really it's making a connection to someone that goes a long way. And so what I gleaned from that is we have to do a better job of encouraging social networks. Let me just tell you, TDL students are in a separate building than our liberal art students. And so advisors and our wellness center and our food pantry are all in the other building. And so you have this industry building that emulates industry, but all of those ancillary support services aren't there. And we know that those students need it, but oftentimes they don't have the time to go and seek them out. So we have brought success coaches on board through one of our grants. So they go into the classrooms and they're able to ask the students questions. Do you need any help? Do you have transportation needs or, you know, whatever the case may be? They're sitting outside of their classes because they know that they're coming in and out because most of these folks work. And that has been hugely successful. Someone they can connect to. Yeah, these folks get an advisor, but when I did my research, you know, most of those students didn't see an advisor. They're not walking across the campus to go see an advisor. And so they built these social networks with each other as peers and with their coaches and their faculty. What I learned is we got to do a better job of creating successful social networks for our students.
SPEAKER_02I really appreciate that. And I think it's a great takeaway. And again, sounds like there's already a lot of work at the college to continue to build and identify how to create and support those social networks for students. So I want to shift a little bit and talk about the topic and the theme of the All In Student Pathways Forward podcast this season, and that's quality non-degree credential programs. So, how do Olive Harvey's quality non-degree credential programs and pathways such as the Rivian Technical Trades program support the college's student success agenda and overall institutional priorities? And what value do they bring to the broader community?
SPEAKER_00Obviously, there's always tremendous value when you can get folks skilled up in highly skilled jobs, making higher wages or even a living wage, because many of our students are not even at a living wage. And I just think that the work that we're doing, particularly in our trade area, really speaks to one of our sixth levers in our strategic plan, which is economic responsiveness. It is ultimately, in my opinion, the responsibility of the community college to ensure that we are offering programs and services that improve the trajectory of the life of the community that we serve. And that has been our focal point and our focus for some time now in ensuring that we are offering programs that are relevant, not just from a pedagogical standpoint, but even from a cultural standpoint. And just offering academic programs where students can come in quickly and be employed immediately upon graduation, and many of our students being employed prior to graduating from their programs. And so I think what it adds to the broader community, obviously, is that there is this level of respect for the work that they do. And now they have the sense of pride. And that shows within the community. We have some programs where we're intentionally looking for students within certain zip codes that border this community. They're able to take what they've learned, get these jobs, and now positively contribute to their communities. Not that they weren't positively contributing before, but now from a more economic standpoint, they can contribute. City Colleges of Chicago has some very lofty goals as it relates to getting students to completion by 2023, upwards to over 55%. And then we have very lofty retention goals. But when you have certificate programs that are short-term in nature, it's a little bit easier to get students in and completed than an associate's degree. And that doesn't mean that we are discrediting the value of an associate's degree because we also encourage students to complete an associate's degree. But if they can do a stair step and complete a certificate on their journey to an associate's degree, they can start seeing the financial impact sooner than later. And so we think that these short-term credential programs have tremendous value and they don't necessarily have to be credit-bearing like our Ribrian program. It is offered through continuing education. But because it is in demand, they're more interested in your ability to be able to effectively and efficiently do the job. And so it really speaks to our strategic lever of economic responsiveness, not just for the student, but for the greater college community.
SPEAKER_02It seems like from just listening to you, Dr. Hollingsworth, both the way that these programs can meet students where they're at, and as you said, get them quickly skilled up in whatever industry, sector, and occupation that can get them into the workforce, but also support their continued education if they choose that path, and then really support the needs of employers in the community who are looking for talent currently and into the future.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. Even those that are non-credit bearing, oftentimes you can parlay your work experience into credit. These are excellent opportunities for students who may be non-traditional, who may have already worked in industry and want to change, want to pivot, and they are paying really good livable wages. Offering these career based credentials that we oftentimes start off in CE, kind of like as a pilot, to make sure that we've got all the kinks worked out and alike and a perfect. Example, obviously, is Rivian because now our college will be branching out and developing an EV repair program that will be credit bearing. And so we will be offering a basic certificate, advanced certificate, and an associate's degree. We received a $100,000 grant from ICCB. And so we'll be developing our own curriculum. And this way we can scale this opportunity. We have learned a lot from Rivian. And so we're going to develop our own EV repair and EV charging station repair program because there's another need. And then looking for more partners who can again provide senior work-based learning opportunities for our students on the credit side, too.
SPEAKER_02That's great. And as a former workforce development dean and associate VP, hearing you describe that continuing at as a place to pilot and to test out. And really, it can be the research and development arm of the college to then come forward.
SPEAKER_00It is the RD arm. Oh my God. We did the exact same thing with our aviation program. Started off in CE, went a couple of years, tested the waters, made sure students were getting jobs, tested it against some of our competitors, and then were able to transition it over to a credit bearing program. Now students are going on, completing the associates' degree, going into AMP. It is absolutely the RD arm of the institution.
SPEAKER_02Even more examples there. So building on this again, while these quality non-degree programs create those pathways for students to careers with economic mobility, as we've talked about, we know too it can be challenging financially for students to cover the costs of these programs in terms of tuition, books, fees, transportation, and even basic needs at times, such as food and housing. And I wanted to ask you if you could talk about resources such as the Workforce Equity Initiative at Olive Harvey that help address these costs so students can access and complete these impactful training programs.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. So there are so many opportunities. You mentioned our workforce equity initiative, and God bless the Black Caucus for this innovative idea. Our term for our workforce equity grant is Project EVOV, and Project Evolve offers about 13 short-term certificate program scholarships for students. And as long as a student can become credential ready in three semesters or less, then we will pay for the entire program. We just launched a one-year and out associate degree program, which is an accelerated program in partnership with Chicago Police Department. And those students are able to use Project Evolve WEI for that. But in addition to tuition, students can get transportation cars, they get child care funds. It has really helped them promote equity in areas and fields where students of color would have been left out. And then subsequently ensuring that they are getting jobs that are above a living wage because that's one of the requirements of the grant. So our WEI grant has been tremendously impactful for the population that we serve within our community. But above and beyond that, we also have our Career Grow Chicago grant, which is in partnership with the Department of Family and Support Services. Now, this is specifically for students in disinvested, underemployed zip codes. And so it's very specific to certain locations: pays tuition, books, they get tutoring, on-the-job training, career coaching, mentorship, professional development. And then City Colleges offers what we call future ready. If you're a Chicago resident, students can participate in our future ready short-term certificate program, and we will pay that because we want to be the economic engine for the city of Chicago. And so those are just a few of the funding opportunities and resources that we offer.
SPEAKER_02Those are tremendous. I think what is incredible is the depth and breadth of those resources.
SPEAKER_00That first step of completing that certificate has really grown over the last four to five years, especially with the support of our WEI grant. Another population that we really haven't talked about, being a TDL sector-driven institution, our programs are justice involved friendly. So those who may have had previous encounters with the justice system can still access these opportunities and this funding. I think that's central to our mission for all of our citizens and opportunity to be educated. And so we're just thankful to have these funding sources available.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and appreciate you touching on that population of folks who've been justice involved in ensuring that they have the same access and supports. I wanted to come back to the topic of employer partnerships. And I know that the Olive Harvey Rivian Technical Trades program to me is a great example and a model of a quality program designed in strong partnership with an employer that has co-invested in the program. And so I wanted to ask you, Dr. Hollingsworth, how does the college develop these effective industry partnerships and responsive programs that create pathways to quality jobs and careers in the local community?
SPEAKER_00I think it really starts with people, right? And making the connection with the right people. And I have to be honest, we have the right people here. Our deans over our programs are extremely competent. Our faculty, our subject matter experts who have worked in the industry for years and are bringing that firsthand knowledge into the classroom. And so our dean has been very diligent about formally and personally reaching out to potential partners and inviting them into our space. Once you come visit this building, you will one be wowed. But we can't do it without our industry partners, and we know that. Is there a work-based learning opportunity for our students? And so that has been instrumental. We were awarded the Good Jobs Challenge grant. And again, we are the hub for it. So those conversations are constantly happening between us and industry in Chicago.
SPEAKER_02Oh, that's amazing. And I'm sure it wouldn't have been possible if there wasn't the quality of the program, the facility, the leadership to receive that funding and to be that hub for the community. Thanks for sharing that as well. So the focus of this podcast is student voice and listening to students like Kyle and learning from students like Kyle in their experiences, their insights, their recommendations. And I wanted to ask you what are some ways that all of Harvey College is also elevating student voices, especially returning adult students to shape policies and programs leading to student success?
SPEAKER_00You know, it's easy to talk about student government association. On most campuses, your SGA is the student voice, but we've been really wanting to talk more directly and more intentionally to our students, not just through SGA. So each semester we have pizza with the president, and every student from adult education to continuing education, our credit students are invited in the cafeteria. So we meet students where they are because that's where all our students go, right? In the height of the noon hour, and there's an open mic, and folks are able to ask questions, identify opportunities for improvement. Obviously, we do get a few compliments here and there, but it has been really, really valuable to get the qualitative data that is necessary to impact change and policies, processes, and practices. Also, as part of some of the work in our ATD action planning, is to amplify student voice even more through focus groups. So very intentional conversations with students around very critical aspects of their college experience and then using that data to inform change. We're constantly amplifying student success stories throughout the college and through our marketing efforts so that folks know you can't have a positive educational experience here at Olifarby College or at any of the city colleges. We just got to amplify that more publicly.
SPEAKER_02Thank you for sharing those. I didn't realize that you're all active with Achieving the Dream, and that's part of your action plan. Focus groups, too, it seems like would be a more intimate way to still get that qualitative insight, but not with a microphone and a big cafeteria. It's just another way to listen and then respond too, right? Thank you for sharing those great examples. I think that's a good way to wrap up. I did want to ask you, Dr. Hollingsworth, if there's anything else you'd like to share for this conversation.
SPEAKER_00We've talked about a lot. I don't think that I can express enough how proud I am to lead such a comprehensive community college that is so driven to meet our students' needs. We talk about being a student-ready institution and not assuming that our students already have it figured out before they walk through our doors. If there's anything that I would want the listeners to take note of is that it's never too late. I talked about how the average age of our student population is 30. Sometimes you have to go out, experience life, and sometimes life gets to life, and I understand that. And you have to pivot, but know that open door institutions like a community college is definitely a viable option, particularly if you're looking to upskill and improve your economic mobility. And don't close your eyes to the trade programs. Again, a pathway that has really grown by leaps and bounds over the years and let people know that it's definitely a viable option.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's a great way to end on that note. I just wanted to thank you, Dr. Hollinsworth, for taking the time for sharing so much about Olive Harvey College. It's inspiring to hear everything that you have going on for students and the programs and support and how it's all tied to the needs in the community with employers and making sure that the college is accessible with the types of programs and resources that students can be on a pathway to careers with economic mobility.
SPEAKER_00You're welcome. I also like to just commend you for this work. I wasn't aware that this even existed. And I would love to have this playing throughout our campus because of the way that you are amplifying a student voice. So I'm probably even more indebted than you are because now I have a resource to refer my students to, and we'll make sure that we listen in.
SPEAKER_02Awesome. It's an honor to get the chance to talk to students and talk to college executive leaders who really share that passion towards equitable student success and mission of the community college overall. So I appreciate you and thank you again for having this conversation.
SPEAKER_00You're welcome.
SPEAKER_02I'd like to welcome my next guest to the pod today, Jennifer Foster, who is the Deputy Executive Director at the Illinois Community College Board. Welcome, Jennifer, to the All in Student Pathways Forward Podcast.
SPEAKER_01Thank you. Thank you so much for having me.
SPEAKER_02Thanks for joining me. And I wanted to start by asking you if you could share a bit more about the Illinois Community College Board and how it has been focused on equitable student success.
SPEAKER_01Yes, the Illinois Community College Board is the coordinating body for the 48 community colleges in 39 districts throughout the state of Illinois. And our primary responsibility is to oversee the programmatic aspects and to make certain that we are working with our colleges to provide the services that are necessary to all of the students or individuals within the districts that they're in. Our board has had a huge investment in making sure that students have equitable access because we want to make sure that everyone can have that same opportunity. That equitable student success is something that is so important. How do we give students that opportunity to make certain that they can have access to high-quality educational services and supportive services that will help them to be able to live out their dreams and look at family sustaining wages?
SPEAKER_02Thank you for sharing that. And with that, it's a good transition to a question I wanted to ask you, which is what role non-degree credentials of value play in the work that the board leads across the state and why are they an important strategy?
SPEAKER_01When you talk about a community college, oftentimes we think of high school students that transition or come to a community college, but our average age of our students within a community college system is 27 years of age. So you're looking at that working adult. So individuals, for whatever reason, have to stop out, or maybe the industry that they've chosen before actually closed down, and now they're coming back in order to earn a credential. And I think those credentials allow an individual to come in, get a basic or an advanced certificate or some sort of industry recognized credential, go to work so that they can take care of their families, but also be able to come back in. And I think that's the most important when you're talking about the value of a credential. Some jobs don't require a four-year, some jobs don't require a two-year, but they may require some sort of post-secondary education, be it an industry-recognized credential or a certificate. That's why we take a look at labor market information because it helps us to understand. People say jobs of the future, but no jobs of right now, because there are a lot of jobs that are available, and we need to make certain that we're getting folks into those jobs that will yield a family sustaining wage. So I think pathways, development of pathways is so, so important because, you know, life happens and our students have things that come up. And sometimes they can't go two years or four years. I think it's so important that we try to give folks those stackable credentials that will be able to assist them in getting back on that pathway.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's helpful to hear how non-degree credentials of value or career pathways fit in, the value, why they're important. And with that, I wanted to ask you if you got the chance to listen to my conversation with Kyle Johnson, who's a graduate of the Olive Harvey College Rivian Technical Trades Program.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_02And what your reactions were to our conversation.
SPEAKER_01One of the things that I thought about is that our career and technical education system is so, so important. And as I was listening to Kyle, I just thought he's talking about some of the key things that community colleges offer. That supportive atmosphere, supportive services, those wraparound supports are so, so important. When he talked about he actually got paid to go to school, and he didn't have to think about the whole life challenges that he had to endure because he could focus wholeheartedly on his education, his program being six months in length. He could see a future there. And listening to him talk, that connection with Rivian really excited him. And I liked how he said that not knowing the specific words he used, but he is just like that it man. And he's the one that could tinker on this and he could tinker on that. But now he could take all of that knowledge that he had before. And it was obvious to me that he had a lot of prior learning and understanding of the automotive area, that he was able to take those skills and move those into the electric vehicle space. And so listening to him, he really talked about the great aspects of what we do as community college. We look for the demand, we look to partner with employers, we look to make sure that there are a variety of educational opportunities that exist for our student population. And I think he is that student that we are looking to focus on. Individuals that have been out there, they've worked, but then now it's time for a career change or a career move. And the ability of his friend to help him, that was absolutely wonderful that he could tap back into some resources that he had previously. And I think our community colleges can adapt to each of our students. And what works for me may not work for Kyle or any other student, but in the end, that's what we want, the success of our students from an administrative point of view. Kyle is the reason why we do what we do. That's the passion. And I'm sitting here, I'm getting chills just thinking about him and his story because he didn't give up. He had people there to support him, to give him the tools that were necessary in order to help him to become a success. I think that's just absolutely wonderful. Great opportunity for Kyle.
SPEAKER_02Couldn't agree with you anymore, Jennifer. And you started with CTE, is this work-based learning model that's paid that can really address any of the financial challenges. So he didn't have to, and he talked about this, go out and find another job or try to balance school and work in a way that we know can be really challenging for many students. And so I think all of that, including one thing he talked about too, and you referenced this earlier, is the industry-recognized credential, right? So he talked about the value and how much he believes and wants to work for Rivian.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_02But just in case, he's got this industry-recognized credential in electric vehicles that can take him elsewhere if he chooses or needs to down the road. And that to me all touches on these elements of quality for a credential program that it seems is really true for this example at Olive Harvey.
SPEAKER_01In developing a program such as this, our community colleges work very closely with the employers to make certain that we have the right things that are a part of the curriculum, because then we're making certain that we're embedding those industry-recognized credentials as a part of the educational pathway for the student. And I think the more credentials a student can obtain, the more marketable they are, not only to Rivian and Kyle's case, but to other employers as well. And those essential skills are so important. Although he didn't speak about essential skills as I was listening to him, it was obvious that the work that the college is doing was helping to prepare him for the job that he currently has. So that to me was phenomenal. And I think that as a community college, the more we can include employers in what we do in terms of development of either the curriculum or the courses to make certain that they're relevant and that the individual is on a pathway to a career. And that I think is very important.
SPEAKER_02I'm glad that you brought up the essential skills as well, in addition to the technical skills. I do want to come back to the supportive services since we talked about that. And I know that Illinois has been extremely innovative and student-centered by investing significant resources for colleges statewide to provide those holistic student supports that aim to close equity and opportunity gaps and improve college completion. So I wanted to ask you, Jennifer, if you could talk more about the workforce equity initiative, how the board designed it and implemented it, and how colleges like Olive Harvey and city colleges of Chicago have utilized this investment to support students.
SPEAKER_01Thank you for that lead. Because one of the things that the Workforce Equity Initiative does is just what Kyle experienced as a part of the trades program that he was a part of. And the way the Workforce Equity Initiative came about is the Illinois Black Caucus took a look at some of the data and really looked at the challenges that were facing students, particularly African American students throughout the state in terms of completions, whether that was a degree or some sort of a credential. And it was observed that African Americans were not on a level where they were obtaining a credential at the same rate of whites, Hispanics, and others. So the Black Caucus took a look at that and said, you know, we really need to make certain that we're focusing our efforts in on this population of students. And so that's how this workforce equity initiative began. The sponsor of the Workforce Equity Initiative representative, Jahan Gordon Booth, who is out of the Peoria area, wanted to make certain that we were looking at credentials that were 30% above the regional living wage. That was a high threshold. So it caused us to sit down and really work with the colleges to identify what those in-demand occupations are, looking at Bureau of Labor Statistics, taking a look at their local workforce data, taking a look at local chamber data. And so it was a competitive process. So colleges had to look at some of the communities that they were serving, really trying to focus in those communities that either had high SNAP recipients, unemployment rates, free or reduced lunch. Those were some of the factors that had to be considered as a part of the process. That helped us to determine which colleges would be able to provide the services and also identify both their internal and external partners as well as employers. And we looked at four basic objectives or five, I'm sorry. All programs must be one year or less and be a part of an educational career pathway. They could either go into a non-credit or credit type program and also to make sure that embedding those industry recognized credentials. Another objective was to make certain that 60% of the participants that are served by a college had to be African American. The third objective, I talked about 30% above the regional living wage or must be on an educational pathway because we know that there's some entry-level things that have to happen and it might take a little while. Also, because workforce is the first word in the workforce equity initiative. We want to make sure that we were meeting an employment rate of 70%. We wanted folks to get employed. So that meant we had to make certain that there are some partnerships with employers that were actually going to hire the workers. The next thing that I mentioned earlier is essential employability skills, making certain that folks have whatever they need, if it's a resume, interviewing skills and techniques, work-based education. Those things are definitely important. And again, making certain that we have the partnerships because that's what's going to make this successful. We can't do everything. So we have to partner to make sure that there are services for students on the local workforce boards, utilizing community-based organizations. There may be certain services that those community-based organizations can provide, whether they're mental health services, help with transportation, childcare. What are those wraparound supports and making sure that we talk with students and interview students to make certain that they're getting what they need to get? We also can look at how do we develop stackable credentials to support completion and transition into employment. We can pay for things such as the development of a new curriculum, looking at a pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship type program. So currently we have about 18 colleges that we work with in different communities. They propose a grant, those in-demand credentials, those wraparound support services that are necessary to reduce barriers. And we have over a hundred different programs that students actually participate in. I think the key that has made it what it is, number one, those wraparound supports, as Kyle mentioned, also making certain that you have top-level support at your institution and making sure that that institution has a vision for the equity piece and trying to close equity gaps among this particular population, the African-American population. It has been a phenomenal journey. We are starting our sixth year with the Workforce Equity Initiative, and I really love it. I really love this program because we can see that lives are being changed. We are now approaching a little bit more than 12,000 students that we have served. And some of the colleges have stated that when looking at their African-American population, WE High has made a significant impact on being able to bring more African-American students into their college.
SPEAKER_02I really appreciate you sharing more details on the Workforce Equity Initiative. I hope that listeners from other states will be as inspired as I am and consider designing or replicating that model at the state level or even at the institutional level.
SPEAKER_01Couldn't agree more. You know, it's very rare that you get a legislator or legislators to say, okay, here you are. You have $18.7 million to distribute to colleges, and you get to develop it the way you want, and you get to provide the supportive services and the wraparound supports, and students can be provided with the opportunity to go. So, how phenomenal to be able to just design the program the way you want it to happen. And our average grant ranges from 400,000 to about 1.2 million in fiscal year 24. And if anybody is interested, you can always go to www.illinoy.org. And there is a lot of information there about the students, the colleges, and some of the programs that they offer.
SPEAKER_02Well, thank you for elaborating on the workforce equity initiative. Before we wrap up, I wanted to ask you if there's anything else that you would like to share for this conversation.
SPEAKER_01I would just add that it is very important that we get that student voice. It's very important that all colleges take a look at processes from now and then. Sometimes we can get stagnant in the things that we do, but it's always good to re-examine what it is that we're doing to make sure that we're meeting the needs of the consumer of the product that we're trying to sell, which is education, that is important, whether it's a non-degree credential or an associate's degree, or if students are progressing on to a four-year degree. I think equity is important and access is important. And I appreciate the opportunity to participate and share knowledge about Illinois, our workforce equity initiative. And I thank you for the opportunity of sharing Kyle's story with me. And I think that's motivation in itself. That's the reason why community colleges do what we do. And I say we because I came from a community college and I feel a part of the system as a whole. And I think it's important to make sure that everyone knows that community colleges, our mission is to make sure that all individuals have access to educational opportunities, no matter what population you come from. It's important to everyone to have that access.
SPEAKER_02What a perfect way to wrap up here. And I just want to thank you, Jennifer, for sharing your expertise in the ways that the board has led across the state and supported colleges with equity and access and economic vitality in supporting students. I continue to learn from your leadership and the board and what community colleges in Illinois are doing and really hope that listeners will gather as much. So thank you for taking the time.
SPEAKER_01And thank you, Mark. I appreciate the opportunity to share.
SPEAKER_02That will do it for this episode of the All In Student Pathways Forward podcast. We'll be back soon with another episode centering community college student and graduate voices to shape inclusive policies, practice, and partnerships. This is the host, Mark Goldberg. Thank you for listening in and for being all in on student success.