College of DuPage was recently awarded $64,015 from the Illinois Community College Board through the FY 10 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Innovation Grant.
 

“We greatly appreciate the support from the state for this grant, which will generate outreach programming that directly benefits current CTE students at College of DuPage, as well as students attending area high schools who partner with the College,” said Glenda Gallisath, COD Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. “District-wide educational partnerships will work together to promote career exploration and create a seamless transition of knowledge for students from high school to college and into the workforce.”
 

Regional partners will include Choose DuPage, DuPage Area Occupational System, DuPage Area Partnership for College and Career Success Consortium, DuPage Workforce Board, Technology Center of DuPage, West Suburban Jobs Council, and many COD and high school faculty and staff.
 

“This grant provides funding for some incredibly unique, value-added programming that will directly affect student success, including a student’s marketability to employers upon graduation,” said Ann Marie Rosen, COD Director of High School Partnerships.
 

For example, the grant includes funding for the creation of a pilot program targeting employers, educators, parents and students to build awareness for National Career Readiness Certification. As part of this project, approximately 800 seniors at Technology Center of DuPage representing 24 area high schools, as well as 130 second-year students in designated Career and Technical Education programs at COD, will receive the opportunity to complete National Career Readiness Certification through this program. Using WorkKeys, the leading job skills assessment system in the nation, the National Career Readiness Certificate ensures employers that they are hiring the most qualified, trainable candidates, Gallisath said.
 

“Obviously, traditional credentials such as high school and college diplomas are still very important. However, in today’s workplace, it’s not enough to just say you have the necessary skills – you need proof of demonstrated competencies,” Gallisath said. “The National Career Readiness Certificate offers this proof to employers by verifying specific skill set competencies.”
 

Benchmarking data will be collected during the Career Readiness pilot program to track student progress and assist with future programming strategies, Gallisath added.
 

The CTE Innovation Grant will also assist with the production of a classroom handbook distributed to 10,000 high school students in District 502 that contains current postsecondary education and career information. In addition, the grant will fund several special events that highlight nationally identified career clusters and pathways. On April 13 and 14, for example, College of DuPage will host a “Career Clusters Majors Fair.”
 

“This event will provide information on groups of occupations and industries, or ‘clusters,’ that have in common a set of foundational knowledge and skills,” said Sue Martin, COD Dean of Student Services. “Cluster-level knowledge and skill sets are built on a common core required for career success in multiple occupations. The Career Clusters Majors Fair will provide students with an array of potential career pathways and will help them make informed educational choices so they can meet their future goals.”
 

For more information, call Gallisath at (630) 942-2690.