SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–South Suburban College (SSC) is pleased to announce that Gateways to Opportunity has approved South Suburban College as an entitled institution for the ECE Credentials, levels 2 and 3. As an entitled institution, students at SSC will now have the opportunity to qualify for these credentials as they take courses or complete their degree through the college’s Teacher Aide/Child Development Program. SSC is entitled for these Gateways to Opportunity Credentials through 2019.

“I am so excited that our students will have the added benefit of earning credentials while completing their education,” said Dr. Donna Walker, SSC Program Coordinator. “These credentials will greatly increase their employability in the childcare field.”

Gateways to Opportunity, Illinois Professional Development System, is designed to provide guidance, support and recognition to practitioners who serve children and families in Illinois. SSC is among a select group of institutions in Illinois to be entitled for the Gateways to Opportunity Credentials. All Gateways to Opportunity Credentials have competencies that reflect multiple professional standards, including National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards. The Teacher Aide/Child Development faculty at SSC worked diligently to align their courses with the Gateways to Opportunity competencies.

In a time when Early Childhood Education is defining itself as a field that promotes professional development, SSC has become entitled to help further this goal by graduating students ready to provide quality care and education to young children.

SSC’s Teacher Aide/Child Development Program awards short-term certificates and an Associate Degree track, as well as preparing students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. The program combines hands-on application and classroom experience using up-to-date curriculum, texts and new sources for field work. Two semester internships also provide students with valuable practical field experience. Admission requirements are detailed in the college catalog and online at www.ssc.edu. All of the Teacher Aide/Child Development instructors are educators with real experience, and all are credentialed with Masters or Doctorate Degrees.

Gateways to Opportunity is administered by the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (INCCRRA). Visit the Gateways to Opportunity website at www.ilgateways.com today to learn more.

For additional information about the Teacher Aide/Child Development Program, please contact Dr. Walker at (708) 596-2000, ext. 2659. SSC is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–South Suburban College will be hosting an Allied Health & Career Programs Open House on Thursday, March 5^th from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. in the Atrium of the Main Campus in South Holland. Instructors and students will be on hand to answer questions about the curriculum, program requirements, field of work and job outlook.

The Allied Health & Career Programs Open House will showcase SSC’s wide range of health-related programs that can lead to rewarding careers in two years or less. These programs include Child Development, Community Health Worker, Coding Specialist, Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Ultrasound), Echocardiography, Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Medical Technician, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Medical Assistant, Nanoscience Technology, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Phlebotomy, Radiologic Technology, and Speech Language Pathology Assistant.

For more information about the Allied Health & Career Programs Open House, please call (708) 596-2000, ext. 2258 or email GRaimbault@ssc.edu. South Suburban College’s Main Campus is located at 15800 S. State St., South Holland, Illinois. Visit SSC online at www.ssc.edu or contact the Admissions Office at (708) 210-5718 to schedule a campus tour.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL –The Art and Design Department of South Suburban College is currently displaying its 20th annual SSC Regional High School Student Art Exhibit through the closing Art Festival Day on February 27th.

The exhibition includes 22 regional high schools districts from Illinois and Indiana. Approximately 300 pieces of student artwork is on display in the galleries and display cases of the Art and Design Department on SSC’s Main Campus. In addition to the high school student artwork, the high school art faculty will be displaying their artwork for their bi-annual High School Faculty Exhibition in the Lee E. Dulgar Gallery, located on the first floor.

The exhibitions will culminate on Friday, February 27th with all of the participating high school students and teachers on campus for a visiting artist lecture, a gallery crawl reception, and demonstrations in various art studios. The festival begins in the Performing Arts Center at 10:00 a.m. with opening remarks, followed by guest artist Tim Arroyo, a Chicago photographer, who will provide a presentation of his artwork and life experiences in the art world. Special remarks will also be given by Jocelyn Prue, Director of White Ripple Gallery in Hammond, IN. Ms. Prue is the juror of this year’s High School Art Exhibition. An awards presentation for the high school students’ artwork will follow. Several businesses, including Jimmy Johns of South Holland, Dick Blick Art Materials, Inc., and Great Lakes Clay, Inc. are sponsoring the awards. Additionally, two art merit scholarships from the Offices of the President and Vice President of Academic Services of South Suburban College will be presented.

Afternoon activities include a gallery reception crawl for the high school students with Mr. Arroyo. The SSC Art Faculty will also conduct demonstrations in the Digital Graphic Arts Studio, Painting Studio, Ceramics Studio and bronze casting in the Sculpture Atelier. The day’s events will conclude at 2:00 p.m.

The Art and Design Department of SSC is located on the fourth floor, Northeast section of the South Holland campus. The Dorothea Thiel and Photo-Four Galleries are both located within the Art and Design studio complex. The public is cordially invited to attend the exhibition and festival free of charge. Regular gallery hours are Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The galleries are closed on weekends and college holidays.

For more information, contact Jack Kirkpatrick, Chairman of the SSC Art & Design Department at (708) 596-2000, ext. 2445.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–The South Suburban College Foundation (SSCF) 2015 Scholarship Books and Applications are now available in the President’s Office (Room 2134), the Financial Aid Office (2355) and online at www.ssc.edu/foundation. The SSC Financial Aid Office is also encouraging all prospective and current students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) soon to increase opportunities for funding assistance; visit www.fafsa.gov using school code 001769.

The primary SSC scholarship application deadline is Friday, March 27, 2015, while graduating high school seniors can continue to apply for “SSCF High School Scholarships” and “SSC Board of Trustees Scholarships” throughout the spring and summer months. The scholarships may be used for next summer, fall and spring semesters at SSC. The application process is a simple one that only requires a completed scholarship application, one letter of recommendation, a short essay, and a copy of the applicant’s high school or college transcripts.

A wide range of scholarships are offered for incoming high school students, current SSC students, and returning adults with qualifications that may be related to academic achievement, community involvement, place of residence, program interest, and much more. Last year the SSCF awarded over $100,000 in scholarships and has now awarded over $1.6 million since 1989. In addition, SSC offers a variety of tuition waivers.

For more information, please call (708) 596-2000, ext. 2463, or email foundation@ssc.edu. South Suburban College’s Main Campus is located at 15800 S. State St., South Holland, Illinois. SSC’s Oak Forest Center is located at 16333 S. Kilbourn, Oak Forest, Illinois.