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thePeorian.com
ICC quality,
reputation
considered solid
by Paul Gordon
T
here is a stigma attached
to community colleges
that is not flattering. TV
comedies and comedians per-
petuate it, as do some collegians
in prestigious four-year institu-
tions of higher education.
The stigma is not deserved, say
educators and education experts,
as it is such schools that produce
many of today’s workforce as
well as making sure students are
adequately prepared for those
four-year institutions.
Illinois Central College is one
of those community colleges and
its reputation in central Illinois
and beyond is solid. The reason
for that is simple: “We do things
right here. We know what we
are doing and we add a definite
value to the post-secondary
education needs of the region,”
said Kay Sullivan, dean of public
service and community outreach
at ICC.
ICC, she said, offers an array of
classes and programs. Students at
its three campuses include those
who chose not to go straight to
a four-year college from high
school to those pursuing a career
change, whether by choice or
necessity. It also offers courses
for people whose jobs require
continuing education.
ICC also offers specialized
training through its Professional
Development Institute, par-
ticularly in all steps of computer
training.
Age makes no difference as the
typical ICC student may just as
well be a person in their 40s or
50
s as it is someone right out of
high school.
“
We are a comprehensive ju-
nior college,” said Sullivan from
her office at ICC’s North Campus
on North University Street in
Peoria. She also is dean of that
campus. By being a comprehen-
sive school its graduates may be
able to transfer to four-year col-
leges to continue working toward
a bachelor’s degree.
“
If that is their intention our
academic advisors will help them
make sure they are taking the
courses they will need to transfer
for their chosen field,” Sullivan
said. All the basic, general educa-
tion courses will transfer to any
four-year college in Illinois be-
cause of the Illinois Articulation
Initiative, which is a statewide
agreement between the schools.
The Present
Kay Sullivan, dean of public service and community
outreach at Illinois Central College.
