Month: October 2016

South Suburban College Information Literacy Month Closing Event

Posted on by Webmaster

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – On October 25th, South Suburban College’s Library ended the month-long celebration of their 3rd Annual Information Literacy Month (ILM) with a visit from the Honorable Congresswoman Dr. Robin Kelly and other distinguished guests. The Congresswoman presented SSC’s Library with a gift of books from the U.S. Library of Congress’s Surplus Book Program. Librarian and Coordinator of ILM activities, Marilyn Wells, stated that the gift “is the first of its kind and will certainly be put to excellent use by our students and the campus community.”

Kelly, presented with an appreciation plaque, was gracious and accepting of the warm welcome she received from the student body. She entertained questions from the students and was extremely receptive in answering and sharing with them. She spoke about her relationship with the Obamas, a day in her life as a Congresswoman, and how she holds education close to her heart as a friend and supporter of South Suburban College and its mission to “Serve our Students and the Community through Lifelong Learning.”

The event also featured a Student Essay contest that was well received by students who wrote on the topic, “How Important is Reading and Comprehension to Information Literacy and Why?” The winner was Yolanda Arriola, an SSC student who began in the College’s Adult Education High School Equivalency program and is currently enrolled in English 101.

Lastly, guest speakers from the Afro American Genealogical & Historical Society of Chicago presented a workshop on “Know Your Heritage.” Researchers Angela McGhee and Paul Holmes presented information on how to conduct genealogical research that is widely popular today with the advent of research sites such as Ancestry.com and Family Search.org. From the number of students present, this workshop was a success.

You too can be successful in your educational journey and weigh your options for success. For more information about all of SSC’s programs, admissions and registration, please visit www.ssc.edu or contact the Admissions Office at (708) 210-5718.

Photo of guest speakers Paul Holmes, Angela McGhee and Congresswoman Robin Kelly.
Guest speakers Paul Holmes, Angela McGhee and Congresswoman Robin Kelly at SSC’s 3rd
Annual Information Literacy closing event.

Winter Preparedness Snow and Ice Conference Coming to Oak Forest

Posted on by Webmaster

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – South Suburban College is presenting a Winter Preparedness Snow and Ice Conference designed for Public Works directors, supervisors and operators on November 7 and 8, with a session for facilities and large parking lots on November 9. The conference will be offered in five sessions at SSC’s Oak Forest Center and feature award-winning presenters Chris Walsh, retired Director of Operations of Beloit Public Works; Mark DeVries, Application Expert of Vaisala, Inc. and the former Maintenance Superintendent of McHenry County DOT; and Stephen McCracken of the Conservation Foundation speaking on chloride reduction. The cost of theses workshops is just $32 per person.

Four Sessions for Public Works Operators, Managers and Directors: The Basics of Snow & Ice
Monday and Tuesday, November 7 & 8, separate sessions will be from 8-11 a.m. and from Noon – 3 p.m.
Every winter season needs to start out with the basics of preparing for winter operations. The workshops will cover snow and ice basics; safe, efficient, effective winter operations; environmental concerns and communications such as policies and procedures during winter operations.

One Session for Facilities, such as schools, hospitals, and large parking lots: The Basics of Snow & Ice
This session will be on Wednesday, November 9 from 8-11 a.m.
Includes planning, safety, alternative chemicals, environmental concerns, and operator preparation.
All sessions will promote sustainability including effective snow and ice control with reduced environmental impacts that balance winter operations and the environment, equipment use, alternative chemicals, and the concept of doing more with less.

This conference is sponsored by K-Tech Specialty Coatings, Inc. and Chicago Salt. For more information, please email Nancy Burrows at NBurrows@ssc.edu or phone 708-596-2000, ext. 3258. The Oak Forest Center is located at 16333 S. Kilbourn, Oak Forest, Illinois.

NIU and South Suburban College Create New Pathway to Degree

Posted on by Webmaster

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – A new agreement between South Suburban College (SSC) and Northern Illinois University (NIU) will make it easier for SSC students to earn college degrees that will set them on the path to career success.

In a ceremony today, the two institutions signed a new reverse transfer agreement that will allow NIU students who previously attended SSC to apply credits from the university toward the completion of their associate degree at the college.

“Students want a hassle-free transfer process and to receive credit for the work they do,” said NIU President Doug Baker. “This reverse transfer agreement does just that. It is a wonderful tool that allows students to demonstrate to future employers and graduate institutions their determination to excel, and it’s another example of how institutions of public higher education in Illinois can collaborate to deliver high-quality, affordable education.”

South Suburban College President Don Manning said that the agreement will have significant benefits for South Suburban College students that take advantage of it. “Every college credit counts,” Manning said. “This partnership gives students the ability to easily transfer credits back to South Suburban to earn a terminal degree – in this case, an associate’s degree – and enhances their opportunity for career success.”

A 2014 NIU Center for Governmental Studies report to the Illinois Community College Board found that an Illinois community college education increases earnings for workers, adds skills to the state’s workforce and boosts the state’s competitiveness. An Illinois community college graduate can expect a total lifetime earnings gain of over $570,000 – a 44 percent increase over the average total lifetime earnings of those not completing a community college program.

“Postsecondary education is a powerful force for career advancement, and a skilled workforce helps the region maintain its competitive advantage,” said NIU President Doug Baker. “Both NIU and South Suburban are committed to providing affordable access to high-quality educational opportunities, and we are delighted to partner with them on this initiative, which eliminates barriers and fosters innovative educational pathways between levels of higher education.”

NIU President Dr. Doug Baker, NIU Trustee Robert Marshall and SSC President Don Manning
NIU President Dr. Doug Baker (left), NIU Trustee Robert Marshall (middle) and SSC President Don Manning (right).

File Early for Financial Aid

Posted on by Webmaster

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – Beginning in October, 2016, financial aid applications (FAFSA.ED.GOV) will be available for the 2017-2018 school year. You will be using tax information from your 2015 tax return rather than 2016 tax information. Because of the change, students and parents will be able to complete their FAFSAs using information from a completed and accepted federal tax return. It would be best to use the IRS tax retrieval tool to transfer your information to FAFSA.

Don’t miss out on your opportunity for Financial Aid for the upcoming school year. To benefit from all available grants and scholarships, October, 2016 is the time to apply for 2017-2018 financial aid. The application is available online: www.fafsa.ed.gov (FAFSA online or for questions call 1-800-433-3243). The South Suburban College School Code is 001769.

Before Financial Aid can be processed you must have:

  1. Official High School Transcript on file with Admissions.
  2. Have all required Documents at the time of processing.
  3. Select a Degree Program at Registration

 

Dates for processing paperwork will be announced at a later date.

All student must meet SSC’s Satisfactory Academic Policy (PLEASE CONSULT THE SSC WEBSITE FOR GUIDELINES) www.ssc.edu Office of Financial Aid. For more information about all of SSC’s programs, admissions and registration, please visit www.ssc.edu or contact the Admissions Office at (708) 210-5718.

Nontraditional Student Fulfills Lifelong Dreams Through Community College

Posted on by Webmaster

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – For as long as Marshneil Gay can remember, she had two goals she wanted to accomplish with the pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters she deposited in coffee cans over the years. Now, at the age of 70, the Riverdale resident has fulfilled both of her dreams of achieving her college degree and visiting Paris, France.

“Getting a college degree has always been a sense of pride that I wanted to experience,” said Marshneil, a recent 2016 graduate of South Suburban College (SSC) in South Holland, Illinois. “My parents completed high school and provided me and my siblings with a good education, but high school was as far as they could see.”

Whenever Marshneil had the time and money, she would enroll in a class at whatever college was most convenient to her employment situation. For 47 years she worked to support her family that included five children, while putting her own goals on hold and changing plans many times along the way. As she prepared for her retirement, she decided to make good on a promise she made to herself many years before and enrolled in college.

“I knew right away that I belonged at South Suburban College,” said Marshneil. “With the advantage of so many programs and so many people who wanted to help me, there was no reason for me to fail. My goal was to study hard, ask questions, and earn good grades. I am proud to say that in May I graduated from SSC with honors and as acting president of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.”

What Marshneil didn’t know was that her hard work in the classroom and as a peer leader would help her to achieve another lifelong dream. One day while studying in the Honor’s Lounge at SSC, she noticed a flyer for Study Abroad Scholarship Programs with one of the destinations being France.

“I immediately began completing the necessary application and essay, obtained references, and prepared for the interview,” said Marshneil. “To my surprise and delight, the program coordinator called me to say, ‘Marshneil, you can stop saving change, you will be going to France this summer.’ Being awarded a scholarship to study abroad was an opportunity of great magnitude, and I was humbled.”

Traveling among a cohort of students some 50 years younger, Marshneil immersed herself in all aspects of the program with her peers. “I learned first-hand the traditions, the culture and the hospitality of a great people. I saw famous works of art and places I have only viewed in textbooks or online. It was truly the adventure of a lifetime.”

Marshneil said she speaks constantly to her children, grandchildren and others “young and old” about the importance of education. You see, Marshneil has always believed in giving back to her community. She currently serves as the Civil Service Chairperson to the Village of Riverdale among many other community roles held throughout her life.

Marshneil added, “It feels so empowering when you have education – it opens your mind to the possibilities.”

Marshneil Gay received her Associate’s Degree in Community Health Sciences and hopes to help seniors with her knowledge. She is already making plans to further her education through the Community Health Worker certification program.

SSC’s Study Abroad and other scholarship programs are made possible by the South Suburban College Foundation (SSCF). The SSCF provides scholarship assistance each year to many students who otherwise would be unlikely to begin or complete their college education. Whether for a high school graduate, an unemployed resident looking for a career change, or a returning adult pursuing their college degree for the first time, the SSCF offers scholarship assistance to all traditional and nontraditional students. The Fall Scholarship Donor Drive is currently in progress. Learn more or donate online at www.ssc.edu/foundation.

 

SSC graduate Marshneil Gay gives a presentation at Student Forum
SSC graduate Marshneil Gay, 70, of Riverdale, gives a presentation at the annual Study Abroad Student Forum last month.

Art Works by Joe Rejholec To Be Shown in South Suburban College’s Thiel Gallery

Posted on by Webmaster

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – The Art & Design Department of South Suburban College (SSC) is presenting a memorial exhibition of Art Works by Joseph “Joe” Rejholec – colleague, mentor, friend, artist and faculty member of South Suburban College, in the college’s Thiel Gallery from October 25 through November 22, with a reception on Thursday, October 27th from 4-7 p.m.

A friend and inspiration to many artists, Joe was born in Nyack, New York, He was part of the New York Art Students League, went to Syracuse University on a hockey scholarship for a semester, and later attended Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO, to study history where he became interested in pursuing art and earned a BA. He attended Northern Illinois University for his MA in Fine Art. Joe was our longtime Art & Design department chair, and a dedicated teacher and gallery director at South Suburban College for forty years. He was a tireless supporter of the arts who served on numerous arts panels and selection committees, and he was inspirational in the lives of many students and professionals. He resided in Crete, IL where he worked from his home studio until 2016.

Influenced by Abstract Expressionism, Jazz, African Art, the smell of burning metal, Camel cigarettes, and coffee, Joe was “Old School” in so many ways. He epitomized the artist as maker, using the sweet poetry of his welded steel sculpture’s two-dimensional line and mass in the service of framing space in the tradition of David Smith, Jacques Lipchitz, Arshile Gorky, Franz Kline and others. His work flies in the face of the flattening elements of Pop Art & Minimalism, transcending stylistic impulses into the realm of the sculptor’s true passion for the framing of the real space of his world.

Joe once said, “To be a sculptor, one must have a good sense of humor. An artist takes a lot of ribbing…from those who do not understand the work.” The public is welcome to visit this art exhibition and reception at no charge. The Thiel Gallery is on the fourth floor in the Art & Design hallway and is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

SSC is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois. Call (708) 596-2000, ext. 2445 or ext. 2300 for more information.

Untitled, welded steel
Untitled, welded steel, circa 2000.

SSC Honors Tutors on “Make a Difference Day”

Posted on by Webmaster

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – On Saturday, October 22, volunteers from across the country will come together with a single purpose: to improve the lives of others. In its 25th year, Make A Difference Day is one of the largest days of community service worldwide. Make A Difference Day shows that anyone, no matter their age or background, can make an impact on their community.

At South Suburban College, our Adult Volunteer Literacy Tutoring Program is making a difference in the lives of many in need of basic literacy skills. If anyone is interested in volunteering we do have an upcoming new tutor training session that will take place at the Main Campus in South Holland on October 25th & 27th and November 1st & 3rd. The tutor training is an 18-hour program that culminates with literacy training certification. We also offer online training as well. Illiteracy is an issue that can be debilitating in so many ways for adults who never received the proper instruction. Adults who are unable to read have a much more difficult time with many daily activities that others may take for granted, along with a clear disadvantage in today’s competitive job market.

SSC’s tutors donate their time to become one-on-one tutors for adults in need of skills and instruction in basic literacy that includes the development of phonetic reading skills combined with communication skills. South Suburban College would like to honor those volunteer tutors and encourage others to join us on making a difference in the lives of adult learners.

If you would like to register for volunteer tutor training class, or if you know someone who could benefit from tutoring services, please contact Raylynn Stokes, Literacy Coach of the Adult Volunteer Literacy Program, at (708) 596-2000, ext. 2558, or email rstokes@ssc.edu. South Suburban College is located at 15800 S. State St., South Holland, Illinois.

Registration in Progress for Spring 2017 Classes at South Suburban College

Posted on by Webmaster

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – Open Registration for the Spring 2017 Semester at South Suburban College (SSC) is in progress. Spring classes begin Monday, January 17, at the college’s Main Campus and Oak Forest Center. The deadline to submit an application for financial aid for the Spring semester at SSC is January 3, 2017.

Apply online at www.ssc.edu to begin the enrollment process. New students will receive an SSC email account and a “My SSC” Username & Password via email which will allow access to the online schedule and class registration. The “My SSC” portal also allows students 24-hour access during college closed periods.

Current and prospective students are encouraged to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov using institution code 001769. Students who wish to use financial aid as payment for fall classes must have an official high school or GED transcript on file. Official transcripts must have a school seal and graduation date on them. Transcripts can be hand-delivered to the Admissions Office or mailed to: Office of Admissions (15800 South State Street, South Holland, IL 60473). If a transcript is hand-delivered it must be in the original sealed, unopened envelope.

Contact the Office of Admissions at (708) 210-5718 for enrollment information. SSC’s Main Campus is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois. The Oak Forest Center is located at 16333 South Kilbourn Avenue, Oak Forest, Illinois.

SSC Celebrates National Information Literacy Month

Posted on by Webmaster

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – On October 1, 2009, President Barack Obama’s issued the first national proclamation establishing October as National Information Literacy Awareness Month. This was the first time this important 21st century skill set received federal attention at the national level. In today’s digital world, people who are information literate know how to find, access, and critically evaluate information to improve their health, their environment, their education and workplace performance. Having that skill set empowers them to interpret and make informed decisions about their lives, in essence, taking more responsibility for their own individual welfare and that of our nation.

The South Suburban College Library began celebrating October as Information Literacy Month in 2014 and this year marks our 3rd Annual Celebration. This year the Opening Day event was held on October 5, 2016 in the Library. The agenda included Welcome remarks, an Overview of the month events, the beginning of the Student Essay Contest, a Guest Speaker and Quizzes with prizes for completion.
Our Closing Day Event will be held on Tuesday, October 25th, 2016 at 1:00pm in the Library. Our honored guest speaker will be Congresswoman Robin Kelly, who will be making a donation of Books from the Library of Congress. The Essay Contest Winners will be announced, and there will be a presentation by Ms. Angela McGhee and Mr. Paul Holmes of the Afro-American Genealogical & Historical Society of Chicago to close out the month long celebration. Refreshments will follow.

For more information on the South Suburban College library, visit: http://libguides.ssc.edu/libguideshome or email Marilyn Wells, Senior Librarian and coordinator of Information Literacy Month at mwells@ssc.edu. For more information about all of SSC’s programs, admissions and registration, please visit www.ssc.edu or contact the Admissions Office at (708) 210-5718.

Lean Workshops to Improve Productivity & Quality Coming to Oak Forest Center

Posted on by Webmaster

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – If you’re searching for training that helps you implement solutions to frequent issues you have, but you face time and cost restraints that prevent you from implementing big training projects, these trainings will narrow down the issues and then provide solutions to your most basic problems. Come to these workshops or schedule with us to customize the training for your company!

South Suburban College is presenting two workshops designed to improve your company’s productivity and quality. Each workshop will be held at the South Suburban College Oak Forest Center from 8:15am to 4:15pm. Both workshops will be offered on a choice of dates.

Lean Problem Solving Workshop
Friday, October 14 or Thursday, December 1 – 8:15am to 4:15pm
The early part of the day will be spent learning the tools and techniques. The second part of the day will be event driven – implementing the problem solving strategies learned, thus solving real issues and situations. How often have you felt you were facing the same issues over and over again, never quite getting to the stage in which you can turn the problem on and off? If this is the case, this workshop will help you reach resolution.

Who Should Attend:
This course is open to no more than 15 participants, each of whom should be attending the course with their own organizational issue/situation. Product-line managers, team leaders, task managers, functional managers, six-sigma black belts /green belts, improvement champions, operations and engineering managers, process owners, design engineers, and all others with responsibilities for improving the customer experience.

Statistical Process Control for Operators, Supervisor and Managers Workshop
Friday, October 28 or Thursday, November 10 – 8:15am to 4:15pm
A successful SPC program requires Process Operators who understand not only the “what” of SPC but also the “why.” This workshop provides participants with the hands-on application they need to understand the benefits of SPC, how to use the tools, and most
importantly, how to interpret and analyze the results of control charting and capability studies in order to control and reduce variation in their processes.

Who Should Attend:
Everyone who will be using SPC in their workplace and needs to understand why SPC is being used, as well as how to apply the tools and techniques for controlling and reducing variation.

About our Presenter:
Albert Lettman is a facilitator with extensive experience as a Problem Solver. He has over 20 years of experience in Lean principles, ISO 9000/Malcolm Baldridge assessment, Six Sigma and Shainin. He is a certified Shainin journeyman, a Six Sigma Master Black Belt, as well as a Certified Lean facilitator. Albert has synthesized the tools he has learned in his many years of consulting and employment with major manufacturers and suppliers into
his own unique blend, which when combined always allows him to solve mysteries quickly. This is your chance to learn and use these tools. His passion and skill in working with people and organizations helps them to continuously improve. Together, BCI and Lettman will work with you to find the best operational approach for your company, from the planning stage through implementation stages, using Lean principles that will be best aligned with the strategic direction of your company.

Each workshop is $195 per person (includes lunch). Send three people and third person is free. For more information or to register, please call Nancy Burrows at (708) 596-2000, ext. 3258 or email NBurrows@ssc.edu. The college’s Oak Forest Center is located at 16333 S. Kilbourn, Oak Forest, Illinois, with convenient access from I-57, I-80, and I-294.