Lynette D. Stokes, Ed.D., Named Incoming South Suburban College President

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – The South Suburban College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Lynette D. Stokes, Ed.D., the incoming President of South Suburban College.

Dr. Stokes will be the first woman President in SSC’s history.

Stokes, currently serving as Vice President of Academic Services at SSC, will officially assume leadership of the college when the current President, Donald Manning, retires on October 1, 2018.

“The entire Board of Trustees and I believe that Lynette is exactly the kind of leader our college requires as we move forward,” Chairman Frank Zuccarelli said. “She is experienced, energetic and collaborative and places a high value on partnering with the community.”

Asked to describe her purpose in life, Dr. Stokes offered a quote that has always served as an inspiration and guiding light throughout her life: ‘the purpose of life is not to be happy, but to be useful, honorable, compassionate and to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.’

“That exemplifies who Lynette Stokes is, Zuccarelli continued. “She has been a youth advocate in the child welfare system – passionately involved with Ada S. McKinley Foster Care Services, an elementary school teacher and active in equal rights organizations.”

“Her commitment to lifelong learning led her to return to school herself – earning both Master of Arts and Doctoral Degrees from Roosevelt University in Public Administration and Educational Leadership. Dr. Stokes has dedicated her life and career to structuring and sustaining strong educational institutions and making a real difference in people’s lives. Every Trustee on the Board and I are enthusiastic about working closely with Lynette to advance our mission and serve our community,” Zuccarelli concluded.

In addition to her vast experience and accomplishments in higher education and child welfare, Dr. Stokes was the recipient of Roosevelt University’s ‘Most Outstanding Dissertation of the Year Award” in 2005, the “Kathy Osterman Award for Outstanding Public Service Supervision” and the 2014 Chicago Defender’s “Women of Excellence Award.” Dr. Stokes resides in South Holland with her family.

Stokes will succeed President Donald Manning, who led the college for the past six years and who announced his retirement last March. Manning assumed leadership of the college in 2012 – overseeing increased academic programming options and the transformational revitalization of the college’s Oak Forest Campus.

“I am confident that in Lynette Stokes, the Board of Trustees has chosen a person with the right approach to educational leadership and management and who will lead a renewed commitment to our mission,” Manning said. “Lynette will advance a bright future for this important and critical institution serving the needs of the South suburbs in so many ways.”

Chairman Zuccarelli thanked President Manning for his thirty-one years of exemplary service. “Don has been an indispensable part of our college family and I believe I can speak for all the Trustees and everyone at SSC in saying that we will miss Don’s energy, expertise and dedication. The entire Board and I want to extend our best wishes to Don, as he and his wife Jill move on to this new chapter in their lives. Don, thank you so much for your work, your leadership and friendship.”

Photo of Dr. Lynette D. Stokes, Ed.D.
Dr. Lynette D. Stokes, Ed.D.

Print of College Publications

Please quote us your net cost on the following:

Printing of College publications. Sealed bids will be received up to the hour of 10:00 AM on July 25, 2018, in room 2115. Bids will be opened at that time in the President’s Conference Room, 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois. This is a public bid opening.

Anticipated Award Date: August 9, 2018

South Suburban College to Host Paralegal Open House at Oak Forest Campus

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – South Suburban College will be hosting an Open House for its Paralegal Program on Thursday, August 9, 2018, from 7:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. in Room 5190 at the Oak Forest Center.

Attendees will learn about an exciting career that is expected to grow 18% through 2020 according to the US Department of Labor. Information will be provided about SSC’s Paralegal/Legal Assistant curriculum, including the Associate Degree and certificate programs. In addition, former students from the program, working as paralegals, will be present to answer questions.

The curriculum prepares students to work in a variety of legal environments including civil and criminal litigation, insurance, banking, public and governmental agencies, law offices and corporate legal departments. Emphasis is placed on the development of core skills in legal research and writing techniques including compilation and analysis of data, understanding legal vocabulary, law office technology, and preparation of legal documents.

“Whether you are looking for a change in your career path or looking to begin a career, this is an excellent opportunity for anyone who has an interest in the law,” says Jason Cieslik, J.D., Coordinator for the Legal Studies Program.

SSC has the only American Bar Association (ABA) approved paralegal program in the Chicago Southland region, giving graduates a huge advantage when entering the workforce. The college also requires that all of the instructors in the program are lawyers or judges to ensure the quality of instruction.

While the majority of the paralegal classes are offered at the Oak Forest Center (conveniently located at 16333 South Kilbourn Avenue), some classes are offered online and some are offered at the Main Campus in South Holland.

For more information, please contact Mr. Jason Cieslik at (708) 596-2000, ext. 2579 or email JCieslik@ssc.edu.

Photo of Oak Forest Center

Upcoming Court Reporting Open House at SSC’s Oak Forest Center

OAK FOREST, IL – South Suburban College (SSC) is hosting a Court Reporting Open House on Thursday, July 26, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., in Oak Forest Center Room 5190. The Open House will showcase this profession which offers a wide-open job market and excellent income potential.

Court reporting is an interesting, challenging career which offers a flexible work schedule, and excellent income potential ($64,672 average yearly income). Broadcast captioners can earn $70,000+ and may work out of their homes. The use of sophisticated computer equipment has broadened the nature of the profession. Our program focuses on the theory behind it all, with an emphasis on Judicial Reporting.

There is a severe shortage of reporters in the Chicago area. The Court Reporting Open House is the perfect opportunity to get an overview of SSC’s Court Reporting/Verbatim Technology program, certified by the National Court Reporters Association. You will be able to talk with a certified court reporter and see a demonstration of real-time writing.

To RSVP or for more information call (708) 596-2000, ext. 3217 or email LCooke@ssc.edu The Oak Forest Center is located at 16333 S. Kilbourn, Oak Forest, Illinois.

Photo of Oak Forest Center

Fall Registration is in Progress at South Suburban College

College-Wide Open House coming to South Holland August 2nd and a Free Class also is now available to first time credit students.

 
SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – Open Registration for the Fall 2018 Semester at South Suburban College (SSC) is in progress. Fall classes begin Monday, August 20th at the college’s Main Campus and Oak Forest Center. The schedule is available online at www.ssc.edu.

SSC will also host a College-Wide Open House on Thursday, August 2nd from 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. featuring tours, demonstrations, and information about the college’s wide range of options, programs and student services. Prospective students 18 and over will be entered in an Open House Raffle for: 1st prize iPad, 2nd prize $200 Visa Gift Card, 3rd prize $100 Visa Gift Card.

Representatives from our new Latino Help Center will be available to offer excellent customer service to prospective and current students and parents by providing interpretation (English/Spanish).

SSC is now offering a Free Class to first time credit students who reside within South Suburban College District 510, qualify for our Lake County, IN or work for an employer within South Suburban College District 510. The Free Class applies to tuition only, and does not apply to courses of more than 5 credit hours. More information is available at www.ssc.edu/freeclass

Our Dual Credit option saves parents and students time and tuition money. Your child can earn credit for both high school graduation and college credit at the same time. Dual Credit at SSC is completely free and is a great opportunity for your child to get a jump start on their college education. Dual Credit is only available for specific high school courses. For more information, please contact your child’s high school counselor.

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.

Prospective students should complete the Online Application Form 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.

The complete upcoming open house schedule at SSC is as follows:

  • Court Reporting Open House, Thursday, July 26th, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Oak Forest Center Room 5190, Lcooke@ssc.edu
  • SSC College-Wide Open House, Thursday, August 2nd, 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Main Campus, www.ssc.edu
  • Paralegal/Legal Assistant Open House, Thursday, August 9th, 7:00 – 8:15 p.m., Oak Forest Center, Room 5190.

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.

Photo of the SSC Main Campus

One Million Degrees Student Supports and Volunteer Opportunities Open at South Suburban College

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – One Million Degrees (OMD) Chicago, a nonprofit organization that empowers low-income, highly motivated community college students to succeed in school, in work, and in life—is expanding to South Suburban College (SSC). The organization is currently recruiting Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) residents who will be enrolled full-time at South Suburban in fall 2018 to enroll in the OMD program.

Students (“scholars”) enrolled in the OMD Program receive access to the organization’s comprehensive on-campus supports, including free tutoring, monthly mentoring from a volunteer professional, career development services, and up to $1,000 annually in cash stipends.

There are limited spots available so current and prospective SSC students are encouraged to apply today at www.onemilliondegrees.org/apply or contact Neal Spann at nspann@onemilliondegrees.org. Eligible students must be HACC residents or voucher recipients, have a 1.8 GPA or higher, be enrolled full-time in fall 2018, apply and receive the Pell grant, and qualify for in-district tuition at SSC.

To work with the expanded student populations at SSC, OMD is recruiting volunteer mentors (“coaches”) to provide monthly in-person professional guidance and supports. OMD Coaches provide one-on-one and small-group professional and personal support throughout the academic year, while helping broaden scholars’ horizons of career aspirations and possibilities. Coaches are supported with ongoing training by OMD, and also have opportunities to connect with fellow coaches to expand their own professional networks.

Coaches give just a few hours each month and make a profound difference in the lives of OMD Scholars. “I have loved my mentee and everything about my mentoring experience at OMD,” said coach Neha Gupta, HR Specialist at PwC, “The two hours I spend monthly with my mentee are easily the two most meaningful hours of my month!”

Current and retired professionals from a variety of fields are encouraged to apply today to become a volunteer coach, which has a one academic year (September – May) commitment. Applications are now open at www.onemilliondegrees.org/coach.

OMD provides a variety of holistic supports—financial assistance, mentoring, academic interventions and professional development—to hundreds of community college students each year. It is one of the only organizations in the country working directly with low-income community college students. OMD Scholars graduate from college at over two times the national average. Upon completion, its scholars transfer to four-year colleges and universities to earn their bachelor’s degrees and enter the workforce in high-demand fields, such as health care, IT and engineering. OMD Scholars build better futures for themselves, their families and their communities, while helping to strengthen the local and national economy. In the 2018-2019 academic year, OMD will serve up to 850 scholars across all of its program locations including South Suburban College.

One Million Degrees believes that when given a solid system of support, every student has the ability to reach his or her full personal and professional potential. Since 2006, One Million Degrees has provided critical supports to help empower hundreds of community college students to succeed in the classroom and beyond. One Million Degrees Scholars are equipped with the skills necessary to help them reach their full potential in school, in work, and in life. To learn more about One Million Degrees, please visit www.onemilliondegrees.org.

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.

SSC Offering Free Highway Construction Careers Training Program

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–South Suburban College will be offering a Free Highway Construction Careers Training Program this fall at their Oak Forest Campus. Orientation and Assessment Testing will be July 31-August 2, 2018 at the Oak Forest Center, with the program set to begin on August 27, 2018.

The Highway Construction Careers Training Program has been implemented to increase the number of minorities, women, and disadvantaged individuals working on IDOT highway construction projects. The training consists of an intensive 12-week program to learn the skills necessary for acceptance into the highway construction trades and gives the opportunity for a career with high wage potential.

Career Opportunities Include:

  • Cement Mason
  • Electrician
  • Pipefitter
  • Carpenter
  • Laborer
  • Equipment Operator

Requirements:

  • Valid driver’s license
  • 18 years or older
  • High School diploma/GED
  • Drug Test
  • Interest working in the Construction Trades

Construction will always be needed for new buildings, roads, bridges, and other structures. Some of the more skilled construction careers such as engineer require higher education while others such as cement masonry can be learned as an on-the-job apprentice.

For more information, please visit our website at www.ssc.edu/hcctp, or call (708) 596-2000, ext. 3219, or email hcctp@ssc.edu. Para Información En Español Llame: (708) 210-5740. All orientation and assessment testing will be held at the Oak Forest Center located at 16333 South Kilbourn Avenue, Oak Forest, Illinois 60452.