>> WELCOME TO "AT ISSUE."

I'M H. WAYNE WILSON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

60% OF THE JOBS IN THE CENTRAL ILLINOIS AREA REQUIRE A CREDENTIAL BEYOND THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.

YET, IN OUR AREA, ONLY ABOUT 40% OF THE POPULATION HAS SUCH A CREDENTIAL.

THAT'S A CONUNDRUM THAT WE HOPE TO RESOLVE AND PART OF THE SOLUTION IS THROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND WE HAVE THE PRESIDENTS OF THE TWO LARGE COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS TO JOIN US IN HOW TO SOLVE THAT ISSUE.

AND MANY OTHER ISSUES RELATING TO COVID, RELATING TO ALL KINDS OF JOB TRAINING AND ADULT EDUCATION.

SO COVERING THE GAMUT WITH DR. SHEILA QUIRK-BAILEY, PRESIDENT OF ILLINOIS CENTRAL COLLEGE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND ALSO, DR. KEITH CORNILE IS HERE, PRESIDENT OF HEARTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL.

>> THANK YOU, PLEASURE BEING HERE.

>> SO LET'S START WITH THAT NUMBER, DR. QUIRK-BAILEY.

ABOUT 60% OF THE JOBS AND THIS IS NEW, I MEAN, THIS USED TO BE YOU COULD GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND GET A PRETTY GOOD PAYING JOB AND HAVE A CAREER.

NO LONGER THE CASE IN MANY INSTANCES.

WHAT ROLE DOES THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE PLAY IN TRYING TO INCREASE THAT 40% OF THE POPULATION WITH CREDENTIALS?

>> WE REALLY FEEL THAT THAT'S PART OF OUR MISSION AND HOW WE SERVE THE COMMUNITY IS TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.

THEY MAY NOT BE COLLEGE READY YET BUT WE MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE AND WE HELP THEM TRANSITION WITH ESSENTIAL SKILLS, WITH SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND SOME BASIC INDUSTRY CREDENTIALS TO HELP THEM TRANSITION OVER WITH THE CREDENTIAL WHERE THEY COULD EITHER ENTER THE WORK FORCE IN ENTRY LEVEL, FULL TIME, BENEFIT A JOB.

OR NOW THEY'RE READY TO TAKE ON A PROGRAM AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE ON THE CREDIT SIDE TO MOVE UP IN A CAREER PATH.

SO, YOU KNOW, IN SOME WAYS, AS DIFFICULT AS THIS SITUATION IS, IT COULD ALSO BE LOOKED UPON AS A BLESSING BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE HUMAN CAPITAL THAT WE CAN INVEST IN AND CREDENTIAL TO HELP OUR BUSINESSES GROW AND TO HELP OUR REGIONAL ECONOMY THRIVE.

SO WE DO VIEW THAT AS PART OF OUR MISSION.

>> AND SHE MENTIONED CAREER PATH AND THAT'S NOT JUST A JOB BUT A CAREER PATH YOU'RE TRYING TO DEVELOP FOR THESE STUDENTS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK DR. QUIRK-BAILEY SAID WHERE ARE PEOPLE AT?

THERE ARE SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT WE NEED TO TRY TO FOCUS ON GETTING THEM THE JOB AND THEN A BETTER JOB AND A CAREER.

IT'S DONE TO HELP TAKE CARE OF THE NEEDS OF THEIR FAMILIES SO SHORT TERM STACKABLE CREDENTIALS WORK READY TYPE PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE MOVE THEMSELVES INTO A JOB OR CONTINUE TO MOVE THEMSELVES FORWARD INTO A CAREER IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE ALL PLANNING.

>> AND THE CRITICAL IN MANY CASES, THE CRITICAL WORD IS FAMILY.

SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ALREADY HAVE A CHILD AND MAYBE TWO CHILDREN.

AND MAYBE THE MINDSET IS I GOT TO TAKE CARE OF MY SON OR DAUGHTER.

I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS.

>> MANY OF OUR ADULTS WHO NEED TO BE UPSKILLED ARE WORKING TWO OR THREE PART-TIME JOBS SO HOW DO WE PUT THE PACKAGE TOGETHER FOR SUPPORT AND FINANCES SO THEY CAN WORK LESS WHILE THEY'RE EARNING THAT CREDENTIAL BECAUSE ONCE THEY DO, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

IT'S ABOUT FAMILY NOT ONLY CHANGES THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR LIFE BUT CHANGES THE TRAJECTORY FOR THAT ENTIRE FAMILY AS WELL AS INCREASING THE WORKFORCE LIKE I SAID AND INCREASING THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC VIABILITY SO THIS REALLY IS A LYNCH PIN FOR MOVING INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY FORWARD.

>> SO IF I HEARD HER CORRECTLY, DR. CORNILLE, IT'S A CASE THAT THE CHILDREN WILL BENEFIT IF THE PARENT OR PARENTS GET A CAREER, THERE'S A ROLE MODEL TYPE SITUATION.

>> CERTAINLY.

>> SO WHAT KINDS OF PROGRAMS AND I KNOW THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, BUT WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THAT MIGHT BE CAREER ORIENTED THAT YOU CAN HELP AT HEARTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE?

>> WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT ARE CAREER TRACKED, AGAIN STACKABLE CREDENTIALS IN THE WAY OF ADVANCE MANUFACTURING AND IN THE WAY OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THAT WILL PRESENT TO US.

SO IT'S A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO MEET THE PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S SITTING DOWN WITH THE INDIVIDUALS.

IT'S LEARNING WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.

AND THEN IT IS ALSO ABOUT LEVERAGING ALL OF THE RESOURCES WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

WAYNE, YOUR EXAMPLE ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL THAT MAY HAVE A CHILD AND HAVE A NEED OR MAY NOT HAVE TRANSPORTATION, IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO WORK WITH OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARDS AND EVERYONE ELSE, OUR CITIES, OUR TOWNS, JUST THINK ABOUT HOW IT IS THAT WE WERE COLLECTIVELY IN LEVERAGING THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE TO MOVE PEOPLE FORWARD.

WE CAN'T DO IT SIMPLY BY OURSELVES AS COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

WE NEED TO HAVE ALL THOSE PARTNERS INVOLVED WITH US SO WE PUT, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, YOU'RE WRAPPING THOSE SERVICES, THOSE SUPPORTS AROUND STUDENTS SO THAT WHEN THEY'RE SITTING IN THE CLASSROOM, THEY CAN FOCUS ON WHAT THEY NEED TO AT THAT MOMENT BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEIR CHILD HAS CHILDCARE AND IS TAKEN CARE OF AND THEY KNOW THAT THOSE OTHER THINGS ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF.

WE CAN'T DO THAT SIMPLY BY OURSELVES AS COMMUNITY COLLEGES AT ALL.

THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO BE PARTNERING WITH THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARDS AND EVERYONE ELSE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> YOU WERE JOTTING DOWN A NOTE WHILE HE WAS TALKING.

>> YES.

>> I WAS TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THAT NOTE.

>> I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH WHAT KEITH CONTRIBUTED THERE AND ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT WOULD BE THE WORKFORCE EQUITY INITIATIVE.

SO THE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES THERE ARE ACTUALLY PROVIDED BY OUR COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.

THEY EXIST IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

THEY KNOW WHO IS STABLE ENOUGH TO MOVE ON, TO REACH TO CREDENTIAL.

AS OPPOSED TO RECEIVING THAT GRANT MONEY AND GOING OUT AND HIRING SIX PEOPLE AT THE COLLEGE, RIGHT, TO ACT AS THE SUPPORT SYSTEM, WE WORK WITH AND SUPPLY MONEY TO THE URBAN LEAGUE, TO GOOD WILL, RIGHT?

TO SIX DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN PEORIA AND THEY LIVE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES AND HELP US SUPPORT THOSE STUDENTS.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WHEN THEY'RE IN THE CLASSROOM.

HOW CAN WE MAKE THEM STABLE ENOUGH AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE ONE PART-TIME JOB TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS WE ACTUALLY PAY $10 AN HOUR WHILE THEY'RE TAKING THE CLASS.

NOW, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TO LIVE ON.

IS THAT ENOUGH TO GIVE UP ONE OF THOSE PART-TIME JOBS FOR THOSE 12 WEEKS, 16 WEEKS, WHATEVER IT IS.

SO WE CAN GET YOU CREDENTIALED SO YOU CAN GO OUT AND EARN THAT WAGE.

AND DR. CORNILLE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THAT FIRST STEP IS INTO A JOB.

AND THEN WE WANT TO REENGAGE WITH YOU AND TRAIN YOU FOR THE NEXT JOB AND EVENTUALLY GET YOU ON A CAREER PATH.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT YOU'VE GOTTEN SOMEONE INTO THE $17 AN HOUR JOB WITH BENEFITS AND THEY'RE DONE FOR THEIR LIFE, RIGHT?

THAT'S A HUGE STEP FORWARD FOR THAT FAMILY AND THEN YOU CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON THAT.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND THE BATTERY STORAGE PROGRAM.

YOU RECEIVED A STATE GRANT TO DEVELOP THAT.

NOW, YOU DON'T HAVE A BUILDING YET THAT'S GOING TO START THE PROGRAM ALREADY.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE PROGRAM?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

SO THE PROGRAM IS KIND OF IN -- IT'S ABOUT ELECTRONIC VEHICLES AND ENERGY STORAGE COLLECTIVELY.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE STARTING THE PROGRAM LOOKING AT ELECTRIC VEHICLE TECHNICIAN OR TECHNOLOGY AND STARTING WITH A COHORT OF 16 STUDENTS HERE THIS FALL, AND THEN BUILDING THE PROGRAM OUT FROM THAT, WE WILL THEN START TO ADD IN THE ENERGY STORAGE IN THE NEXT COMING AROUND THE NEXT SEMESTER, SPRING SEMESTER.

SO AS YOU HAD MENTIONED WE RECEIVED THE $7.5 MILLION GRANT SPECIFICALLY FOR CAPITAL EQUIPMENT AND A BUILDING.

BUT THE JOBS ARE NEEDED AND THE TRAINING IS NEEDED NOW.

SO WE WENT OUT AND LEASED SPACE AS WE'RE DEVELOPING THAT FACILITY IN ORDER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OTHER TYPE OF E-VEHICLE COMPANIES.

>> THE FORMER EDUCATION DEPUTY SECRETARY SCOTT STUMP VISITED SOME COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES INCLUDING COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

THAT WAS A YEAR AGO.

AND HE SAID THAT WE'VE SHIFTED -- THAT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HAVE SHIFTED TOO FAR FROM TECHNICAL SKILLS IN THE LAST -- AND I THINK HE USED THE 40-YEAR WINDOW BUT WE'VE GONE TOO FAR FROM TECHNICAL SKILLS AND THAT LEADS TO A GAP IN SKILLED WORKERS.

SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT AT COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEVEL.

BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT YOU SERVE SO MANY DIFFERENT -- YOU WEAR SO MANY HATS.

YOU SERVE SO MANY DIFFERENT ROLES, ADULT EDUCATION WITH CREDENTIALS FOR DIESEL MECHANICS, ETC., MAYBE GETTING TWO YEARS UNDER A STUDENT'S BELT BEFORE GOING TO BRADLEY OR I.S.U.

WHO ARE YOU SERVING?

>> WELL, WE'D LIKE TO THINK ABOUT WE'RE SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND WE'RE SERVING EVERYONE WHO COULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM THAT CREDENTIAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR LIVES.

I'M REALLY GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP TRANSFER BECAUSE ALL OF THIS SUPPORT AND FOCUS ON THE WORKFORCE DOES NOT MEAN WE HAVE GIVEN UP THAT MORE TRADITIONAL ROLE.

THERE ARE MANY FAMILIES IN THIS COMMUNITY WHERE THEY KNOW THEY NEED THAT CREDENTIAL IN ORDER TO EARN THE FAMILY SUSTAINING WAGE, RIGHT, AND MANY OF THOSE JOBS REQUIRE A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE.

BUT THEY JUST CAN'T SEE GOING INTO THAT DEBT LEVEL TO COMPLETE A DEGREE SO THEY THINK COLEGE ISN'T FOR THEM.

AND ONE WAY TO GET THROUGH THOSE FIRST TWO YEARS WITHOUT DEBT IS THROUGH YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

AND THAT CAN LEAD TO WHATEVER UNIVERSITY YOU WANT IT TO LEAD TO AND ON TO SUCCESS.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO DO EXPAND OUR FOCUS ON THE WORKFORCE THAT THIS COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THAT WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE NOT TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE AND GO ON AND GET THAT BACCALAUREATE DEGREE BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL CHALLENGES.

WE CAN HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> AND ADULT EDUCATION IS PART OF YOUR ROLE.

>> ADULT EDUCATION IS PART OF THE ROLE, YES.

HELPING PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT HAVE YET A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, FOR EXAMPLE, AND HELPING THEM GET THROUGH THAT THRESHOLD SO WE CAN TAKE THEM TO THE NEXT THRESHOLD AND SO ON AND BEYOND.

E.S.L.

LEARNERS, PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THEN THOSE THAT MAYBE HAVE BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL FOR A WHILE AND NEED TO GET SOME REFRESHER, IF YOU WILL, IN ORDER TO BE PREPARED FOR THEIR COURSES.

YOU KNOW, DEPUTY SECRETARY STUMP WAS AT OUR CAMPUS, WE HAD THE CONVERSATION ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, THAT BALANCED APPROACH TO WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES OFFERING THOSE WORK READY OR THOSE CAREER IN TECHNICAL EDUCATIONS.

BUT ALSO, STILL COMMITTING OURSELVES TO THE TRANSFER PROGRAMS AND RETHINKING HOW THOSE PROGRAMS INTERFACE WITH THE OTHERS SO THAT WE CREATE THE WORKFORCE THAT WE NEED FOR TOMORROW.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

>> HOW MUCH COOPERATIVE EFFORT IS THERE BETWEEN COMMUNITY COLLEGES SPECIFICALLY YOUR TWO COMMUNITY COLLEGES BUT OTHERS IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT YOU PROVIDE -- I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

YOU HAVE A DIESEL MECHANIC COURSE.

>> WE DO.

>> DO NOT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> MY PERSPECTIVE, IT WOULD SEEM FRUITLESS FOR YOU TO GO INTO THAT WHEN THERE'S A GOOD PROGRAM HERE.

LIKEWISE, YOU HAVE SOME PROGRAMS THAT I.C.C.

MIGHT NOT OFFER.

DO YOU COMMUNICATE WITH ONE ANOTHER AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS HERE WHILE YOU FOCUS THERE?

>> YEAH, I THINK WE DO.

BETWEEN OUR TWO INSTITUTIONS, WE MOST CERTAINLY DO.

BUT EVEN BEYOND OUR TWO INSTITUTIONS, WE DO IT WITH THE OTHER COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN OUR AREA.

THOSE THAT ARE IN YOUR VIEWING AUDIENCE.

LET ME GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE.

ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY WAS WORKING ON AN INITIATIVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE TRAIN TEACHERS FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES.

WE SAT DOWN WITH THEM -- BOTH OF OUR INSTITUTIONS, SPOON RIVER, WE ALSO HAD CARL SANDBERG AND ILLINOIS VALLEY.

WE SAT DOWN TO TALK ABOUT HOW IT IS WE DO THAT COLLECTIVELY.

NOT JUST THE UNIVERSITY BUT ALL OF US BECAUSE A NUMBER OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL ANSWER THAT QUESTION ABOUT BEING TEACHERS IN THE REAL COMMUNITIES LIVE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THEY'RE WORKING IN THE SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO TO THE UNIVERSITY.

SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP A REALLY SOLID PLAN THROUGH ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY IN COOPERATION WITH THOSE FIVE COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN ORDER TO MEET A NEED FOR OUR REGION.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO GROW AS COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

WE NEED TO STOP THINKING ABOUT OUR DISTRICTS IN LARGE PART.

WE HAVE TO START THINKING ABOUT REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES AND HOW WE COOPERATE AND COLLECTIVELY DEVELOP THINGS FOR INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT?

THE INDIVIDUAL DOESN'T CARE.

THEY JUST NEED THE TRAINING TO GET THE JOB.

THEY DON'T CARE IF IT'S AT ILLINOIS CENTRAL OR HEARTLAND.

THEY NEED US TO BE THERE FOR THEM AND GET THEM THEIR TRAINING.

SO IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO WORK ACROSS LINES.

>> AND TO REACH OUT TO PLACE BOUND STUDENTS.

>> MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES YOU FACED IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF AND THAT'S THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT DID IT HAVE ON YOUR TWO COLLEGES WITH REGARD TO ENROLLMENT?

>> SO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE COMMUNITY COLLEGES WERE DOWN 10%.

SO WE WERE DOWN -- WE BEAT THE AVERAGE.

WE WERE DOWN ABOUT 6.8%.

STILL NOTHING TO BRAG ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT TIME.

YOU HAD FACULTY WHO WERE TEACHING ON LINE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

YOU HAD STUDENTS WHO WERE LEARNING IN THAT MODALITY FOR THE FIRST TIME.

AND IT'S NOT FOR -- IT'S NOT FOR EVERYBODY.

WE ALSO HAD PEOPLE WHOSE PLANS WERE TO TAKE CLASSES WHILE THEY WORKED AND THOSE JOBS -- THOSE PART-TIME JOBS OFTEN COME IN RETAIL AND IN RESTAURANTS, RIGHT, SO THEY'RE REPRESENTED WITH CHALLENGES OF THEIR OWN WHICH WOULD CAUSE THEM NOT TO CONTINUE ON IN SCHOOL.

SO OUR HOPE WOULD BE WE HOPE PEOPLE RE-FIND THEIR FOOTING.

WE WERE HOPING THIS WAS BEHIND US AND WE'RE CURRENTLY 4% DOWN GOING INTO THE FALL.

AND I THINK WITH THE VARIANT REARING ITS UGLY HEAD, PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WELL, IF I'M, AGAIN, WORKING A PART-TIME JOB WHILE I GO TO SCHOOL AND I CAN'T COUNT ON THAT JOB, HOW MANY CREDITS DO I REALLY WANT TO TAKE?

SO WE ARE STILL MAY TAKE US ANOTHER YEAR TO RESTABLIZE BUT WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD WITH THE FUNDS WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT STUDENTS, SHORE THEM UP, HELP THEM WITH THEIR TUITION AND EMERGENCY NEEDS TO TRY TO KEEP AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE STILL ENGAGED BECAUSE WE KNOW IT DOESN'T REALLY CHANGE THEIR LIVES UNTIL THEY GET THAT CREDENTIAL AND MOVE ON.

>> AND THAT MONEY CAME FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> HOW IS THAT BEING USED AT HEARTLAND?

>> WELL, WE'VE USEED IT FOR A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

PART OF THAT MONEY, MOSTLY ABOUT HALF OF THE MONEY, THAT WE'VE RECEIVED HAS TO GO DIRECTLY TO STUDENTS TO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH THE CRISIS.

SO IT COULD BE IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS FOR COMPUTERS TO PURCHASE OTHER TYPES OF RESOURCES THEY NEED.

BUT AT THE COLLEGE, WE ALSO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME OF THE INSTITUTIONAL DOLLARS THAT WE WERE GIVEN IN ORDER TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH ANY OBSTACLE TO OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLE THEY MAY HAVE WHETHER IT BE FINANCIAL, WHETHER IT BE AN EMERGENCY FUND BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, A COMPUTER BECAUSE THEY NOW HAVE BEEN THROWN INTO REMOTE LEARNING.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE COMPUTER AT HOME.

THEY DON'T HAVE ANY INTERNET CONNECTION.

THEY DON'T HAVE A HOT SPOT.

ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ARE, I THINK, HOW MOST ALL THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES HAVE MOVED FORWARD.

>> ENROLLMENT DOWN AT HEARTLAND?

>> WE ARE SITTING RIGHT NOW AT JUST SLIGHTLY A POSITIVE, ABOUT A 1% POSITIVE FOR THE FALL IN OUR CREDIT HOURS.

BUT OUR -- THE BETTER PICTURE IS THAT OUR NEW STUDENT, OUR HEAD COUNTS, IF YOU WOULD LOOK AT THEM THAT WAY IS UP BY MUCH MORE THAN THAT AND IT IS IN NEW STUDENTS.

AND THAT'S A POSITIVE SIGN LEADING TO THE FUTURE BECAUSE THAT CREATES A LARGER END FOR US OF STUDENTS THAT TEND TO CONTINUE TO RETURN.

>> SO IS THERE ANY REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE ON CAMPUS GOING TO CLASS IN PERSON IN TERMS OF MASKS, IN TERMS OF VACCINES, ETC.?

>> SO OUR REQUIREMENT IS FOR MASKS WITH THE FALL SEMESTER.

IN FACT, THAT GOES INTO EFFECT ON MONDAY.

SO ANYONE ON CAMPUS IN ANY OF OUR BUILDINGS WILL BE MASKED WHETHER THEY ARE -- WHETHER THEY ARE VACCINATED OR NOT.

WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO REQUIRE VACCINES.

>> AND AT HEARTLAND?

>> WE'RE IN THE SAME PLACE AND I THINK THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE, AGAIN, OF WHERE WE HAVE DIALOGUE CONTINUOUSLY BEFORE A DECISION WAS MADE AT EITHER CAMPUS, WE PICK UP THE PHONE AND TALK TO EACH OTHER.

SO IT DOESN'T SEND A CONFUSED MESSAGE ACROSS THE REGION.

>> YES.

>> THERE'S A REAL POSITIVE THING HAPPENING AT ILLINOIS CENTRAL COLLEGE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

IT'S CALLED THE DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM.

>> YES.

>> AND YOU HAD YOUR FIRST GRADUATING CLASS.

COULD YOU EXPLAIN, I MEAN, THIS -- WHEN I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAD ADVANCED COURSES, ADVANCED BIOLOGY, ADVANCED MATH.

I'M GOING TO TELL HOW OLD I AM.

THERE WAS NO COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

SO THE DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM.

>> SO THE DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM IS A WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND IT'S ABOUT STUDENTS WHO AT THE END OF THEIR SOPHOMORE YEAR TEST COLLEGE READY.

SO AS OPPOSED TO HAVING THEM JUST TO CONTINUE TO TAKE HIGH SCHOOL COURSES BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T FINISHED THE FOUR YEARS YET, THOSE STUDENTS ATTENDED OUR PEORIA CAMPUS AND COMPLETED AN ENTIRE ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN THOSE TWO YEARS ON OUR CAMPUS AND GOT DUAL CREDIT FOR THOSE.

THOSE CREDITS COUNTED TOWARDS EARNING THE DEGREE AT I.C.C.

AND COUNTED TOWARDS FINISHING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE.

SO THOSE STUDENTS BACK IN JUNE GRADUATED FROM PEORIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS WELL AS GRADUATED FROM I.C.C.

WITH AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE.

THEY ARE GOING ON TO, I THINK ONE WENT TO THE MILITARY.

ALL ARE GOING ON TO THEIR FOUR YEAR, RECEIVED ALL OF THAT FOR NO COST.

SO NOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THEY ARE TWO YEARS AWAY FROM A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE AND HAVE NOT EXPENDED A PENNY YET.

>> SO THEY ENTER FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE AS A JUNIOR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND THE DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM DOESN'T COST THEM ANYTHING IN TERMS OF TUITION?

>> IT DOES NOT.

THOSE -- THAT COST WAS PICKED UP BY A PEORIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> AND THEN YOU HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH DUNLAP?

>> WE'RE ALSO MOVING FORWARD WITH DUNLAP AND WASHINGTON WITH MORE AGREEMENTS.

>> IS HEARTLAND LOOKING AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> WE DO.

WE STARTED A PROGRAM A FEW YEARS AGO, A SMALLER KIND OF PROGRAM.

WE GRADUATED OUR FIRST 10 STUDENTS THROUGH THAT THIS PAST SPRING.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH UNIT FIVE IN OUR DISTRICT.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH STATE FARM AND WITH COUNTRY FINANCIAL BECAUSE OUR FOCUS RIGHT NOW IN OUR INITIAL PROGRAM WAS I.T.

AND SO IT'S A PATHWAY PROGRAM WHERE THEY CAN RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM COUNTRY FINANCIAL IF THEY NEED IT, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT 87.

AND STATE FARM HELPS TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM AS WELL.

SO THEY ARE TRACKED FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL.

THEY GET OUR DEGREE AND THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND GO DIRCTLY INTO ILLINOIS STATE.

THEY HAVE A CLEAN PATH INTO ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY INTO THE I.T.

PROGRAM, SHOULD THEY WISH.

>> THAT'S FOR BLOOMINGTON SCHOOLS?

>> WELL, UNIT FIVE, BLOOMINGTON, OLYMPIA ARE THE ONES THAT ARE IN THE PROGRAM RIGHT NOW AND WE'LL EXPAND THAT PROGRAM BEYOND I.T.

INTO ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS EVENTUALLY.

>> OK.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT FUNDING.

STATE FUNDING HAS DIMINISHED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

AND THAT AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THAT MEANS TUITION AND PROPERTY TAXES ARE THE RESULT IN TERMS OF HAVING TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.

HOW MUCH OF A STRESS HAS THAT BEEN ON ILLINOIS CENTRAL COLLEGE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY A STRESS ON EVERYONE WHEN THE STATE PUT THE ORIGINAL PLAN TOGETHER, IT WAS A THREE LEGGED STOOL, RIGHT?

A THIRD FROM THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF TAXES.

A THIRD FROM THE STUDENT, A THIRD FROM THE STATE.

WE'RE DOWN TO 11% OF OUR FUNDS COMING FROM THE STATE RIGHT NOW.

SO AFTER YOU TAKE THAT 11% OFF, THE REST IS EQUALLY DIVIDED BETWEEN THE STUDENTS AND THE -- AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

SO IN TERMS OF IT JUST MAKES EDUCATION THAT MUCH LESS ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WHO MAYBE IT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, 20% CHEAPER.

WE HAVE GOTTEN VERY CREATIVE IN TERMS OF GRANTS, RIGHT, IN TERMS OF HOW WE STRUCTURE PROGRAMS, IN TERMS OF THE -- THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S DIRECTLY TO STUDENTS.

SO BOTH FOUNDATIONS PROVIDED US WITH $430,000 SPECIFICALLY FOR STUDENTS OF POVERTY TO RETRAIN AND CREDENTIAL IN MANUFACTURING WHERE WE KNOW THERE ARE JOBS WAITING.

SO EVERYONE HAS TO PITCH IN, LIKE HE SAID EARLIER, IT IS REALLY ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.

IF WE ALL PITCH IN, WE CAN BUILD THE KIND OF COMMUNITY THAT WE WANT AND CHANGE THOSE LIVES.

BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN WAITING FOR THE STATE TO PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES NECESSARILY.

>> PART OF THE WORKFORCE EQUITY INITIATIVE?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT IS I HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO REPRESENTATIVE GORDON-BOOTH.

THAT WAS HER BRAINCHILD.

WE PUT THAT TOGETHER IN TERMS OF WHAT WOULD REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE SO IN ORDER TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THAT PROGRAM, YOU ARE CURRENTLY A PERSON OF POVERTY.

WE ONLY OFFER PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE CREDENTIALS THAT PAY 30% ABOVE A LIVING WAGE.

AND CAN BE COMPLETED IN A YEAR OR LESS.

SO WE CAN GET PEOPLE ON THEIR FEET FULL TIME BENEFITED JOBS.

THEY HAVE TO START AT LEAST $17 AN HOUR.

WE HAVE MANY THAT ARE MAKING, YOU KNOW, IN THE HIGH 20'S COMING OUT OF THESE PROGRAMS.

AND THEN WE HELP THEM CONTINUE TO STACK AND MOVE THE WAY UP AND IT JUST CHANGES LIVES.

>> THE FUNDING ISSUE AT HEARTLAND NOT DISSIMILAR FROM ILLINOIS CENTRAL COLLEGE?

>> NO, NOT REALLY.

I THINK WE'RE AT 9% AS OPPOSED TO 11% FROM THE STATE BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD GREAT STAFF AND FACULTY THAT HAVE REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT THE FISCAL PLANNING AND OUR ABILITY TO KEEP STABLE FOUNDATION UNDERNEATH US AS WELL AS A BOARD WHO HAVE BEEN VERY COMMITTED TO WATCHING THE INCREASES ON TUITION AND THEY'VE MADE A COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING THE TAX RATE IN OUR DISTRICT FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

SO WE'VE NOT INCREASED THE TAX RATE AT ALL IN OUR DISTRIC IN FIVE YEARS.

>> WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT FEDERAL FUNDING AND THE U.S. HOUSE HAS PASSED A BILL, HAS NOT PASSED THE SENATE.

HAS NOT BEEN SIGNED BUT THERE IS MONEY IN THERE FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS INCLUDING A PROGRAM THAT, I THINK YOU ALREADY HAVE UNDER WAY.

AND THAT'S TO HELP DEMONSTRATE TO FIRM COMMUNITIES THE WATER RECLAMATION, SOIL CONSERVATION PROGRAMS THAT IF YOU CAN DO IT, YOU CAN SHOW HOW IT'S DONE AND THEN PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, THE FARMER CAN DO THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO I THINK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ESPECIALLY IN AG IS LOOKING AT COMMUNITY COLLEGES AS A DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR BOTH NEW CREDENTIALS AND PRACTICES ON FARMS SO WE ARE ONE OF 11 COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN THE COUNTRY THAT'S GETTING DIRECT FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR APPLIED RESEARCH ON OUR CAMPUS THROUGH NCRS.

AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND THINK THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD EVENTUALLY BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL COMMUNITY COLLEGES WITH AG PROGRAMS.

IT'S CHEAPER THAN OUTREACH AND AS THE OUTREACH PROGRAMS AT THE UNIVERSITIES HAVE SORT OF BEEN CUT WITH THEIR FUNDING CUTS, YOU ALREADY HAVE A BUILT-IN DELIVERY SYSTEM WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES.

>> AND THE BILL THAT PASSED THE U.S. HOUSE ON THE 29TH OF JULY, THAT'S ADDITIONAL MONEY TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM?

>> THAT WOULD BE ADDITIONAL MONEY TO EXPAND THAT.

>> UH-HUH.

SO THE FUTURE FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE, DR. CORNILLE, DO YOU SEE IT CHANGING IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT WE'D ALL AGREE THAT FROM THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE PERSPECTIVE THAT PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE HIGHER EDUCATION, THIS TYPE OF EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> AND WITH THAT, WE WILL CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION HERE IN OUR STUDIO.

YOU CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION AT HOME.

LET ME SAY THANK YOU TO DR. SHEILA QUIRK-BAILEY, PRESIDENT OF ILLINOIS CENTRAL COLLEGE WHO FIVE YEARS AGO CAME TO US FROM WILLIAM RANEY HARPER COLLEGE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND THERE'S A CONNECTION TO BRADLEY UNIVERSITY THERE.

>> THERE IS.

>> LOOK THAT UP.

AND TO DR. KEITH CORNILLE AND CAME FROM MADISON TECHNICAL COLLEGE, PRESIDENT AT HEARTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US ON "AT ISSUE."

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT TIME WITH AN UPDATE ON THE CORONAVIRUS SITUATION IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS.

THE HEAD OF THE PEORIA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTOR WILL JOIN US NEXT TIME ON "AT ISSUE."