Community Service - John Wood Community College

The Continuing Education program provides working adults with a variety of ways to keep up to date in their occupations. Seminars, conferences and workshops are designed to provide ample and varied opportunities for training and acquiring new information that will meet the special needs of community interest groups.

Early childhood continuing education programs offered in cooperation with West Central Child Care Connection provide courses, seminars and workshops for individuals who seek to upgrade their skills or maintain their licensed status with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Many of these offerings are also suitable for parents.

Para-Education - The State Board of Education has endorsed four assessment options for establishing a candidate's qualifications as a paraprofessional educator under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). One of the options includes the ACT WorkKeys test of Applied Mathematics, Reading for Information and Writing, and the ACT Instructional Support Inventory. In order to assist paraprofessionals in fulfilling these requirements, JWCC, as an ACT Certified Center, hosts the ACT WorkKeys exam. The exam is administered and timed by a JWCC official. For more information, visit the ACT Web site.

Cosmetology continuing education programs are developed in cooperation with the Quincy Cosmetology Association, an affiliate of the Illinois Cosmetology Association. The State of Illinois requires that all licensed cosmetologists and cosmetology instructors continue their education by attending seminars and workshops designed to keep them up to date in the field of cosmetology. These workshops and seminars are designed to meet those needs.

The health professionals' program is responsive to the educational needs of health professionals and other professionals involved in the delivery of health care. Newly emerging concepts of health care and research findings which will enhance the professionals' knowledge base and enable practice at increasingly higher levels of excellence are presented. Many health professionals are now required to meet mandatory continuing education requirements for relicensure or recertification; Continuing Education Units (CEU's) are granted on a contact-hour basis for all JWCC programs and have approval from appropriate authorizing agencies.

Non-credit Online programs are offered in cooperation with Education to Go, a national provider of personal interest online classes. Students read lessons, complete assignments and interact with the instructor and other students through any computer that has access to the Internet, any time of the day or night that is convenient for them. Some classes may count as a Continuing Professional Development Unit for teacher recertification.

Online Healthcare Programs: Gatlin Education Services offers online healthcare programs for individuals who want to switch career paths, obtain advanced training and certifications or for first-time job seekers who need specialized training. Go to www.gatlineducation.com/jwcc for complete information.

Children's College, offered each summer in Quincy and Pittsfield, is designed to be a hands-on educational enrichment program for area children who have completed grades one through six. The classes provide children with unique and enjoyable educational activities different inform and content from regular classroom activities. In the past, classes have included art, science, mathematics, gymnastics, foreign language, sign language, musical theater, scrapbooking, crafts, animals, computers, and many special topics.

Trips and tours with an educational focus are offered for adults on an ongoing basis. Destinations may include museums, historical sites, points of local interest, cultural events, gardens, and theaters.

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
217/641-4902

The health professionals' program is responsive to the needs of health professionals, including licensed practical nurses, EMT's, radiological technologists, IL Licensed Social Workers, Dietary Managers, Registered Dietetic Technicians, Registered Dietitians, National Board of Certified Counselors, IL Professional Counselors, Clinical Professional Counselors, Activity Directors, Funeral Directors and Embalmers, certified alcohol and other drug abuse professional counselors, and nursing home administrators, relative to their expanding role in the delivery of health care. Newly emerging concepts of health care, principles, theories and research findings which will enhance the professionals' knowledge base and enable practice at increasingly higher levels of excellence are presented. Many health professionals are now required to meet mandatory continuing education requirements for re-licensure or re-certification. Continuing Education Units (CEU's) are granted on a contact-hour basis for all programs, approved by the appropriate authorizing agencies.

The Health Advisory Committee assists the JWCC Health Education staff in developing, implementing, and operating programs which will meet he needs of community residents.

OLDER ADULT PROGRAMMING
217/641-4961

The College recognizes the special needs of retirees of the District and strives to provide appropriate programs for them. It sponsors the Adams County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), whose purpose is to engage persons aged 55 years and older in volunteer service to meet critical community needs and to provide a high quality experience that will enrich the lives of volunteers. The program currently has more than 500 active volunteers who serve in 70 agencies and organizations throughout Adams County.

The College also offers classes and seminars of special interest to older adults. These classes are taught in locations accessible to the physically challenged. An advisory committee of older adults develops ideas for classes and is instrumental in planning the annual Lifelong Learning Conference for mature adults.

The College has a special reduced tuition rate for District residents who are 60 years of age or older enrolling in JWCC credit courses. Senior citizens whose income level makes them eligible for a Circuit Breaker may apply for a full tuition waiver, provided available classroom space exists and students paying full tuition constitute the minimum number required for the course. The College is unable to offer a discounted rate to seniors for noncredit courses, as it is not assisted by state funding for these courses.

The Lifelong Learning Advisory Committee meets 3 to 4 times a year and assists in planning for courses each semester and in the planning and implementation of the Lifelong Learning Conference. This is a great way to have input on the educational offerings. plank@jwcc.edu

For further information, please call the phone numbers listed above or write to the Office of Community Services at:

John Wood Community College
Office of Community Services
1301 South 48th Street
Quincy, IL 62305