EFFINGHAM — Collaboration between local high schools, colleges, communities and businesses was highlighted at the Effingham County Chamber Kickoff to Education First Friday Breakfast.
The result of that is the Effingham Regional Career Academy. The collaboration is something Effingham County residents should be proud of, according to Lake Land College President Josh Bullock.
“Because it is not happening elsewhere,” he told chamber members.
ERCA was established to address the county’s need for skilled workers. To do that, ERCA helps school districts provide electives they otherwise could not offer and provides opportunities for direct employment, higher education or career advancement.
Starting Aug. 19, 57 students from seven school districts will be part of the inaugural class at ERCA at the Effingham Kluthe Center for Higher Technology. While the plan is for the academy to be housed on the main level of the new Effingham Technology Center, formerly Patterson Technology Center, that space is not ready. Bullock said he hopes work on that will begin this month.
“We are anticipating we will have the career academy spaces all available and ready to use by early spring of 2025. That may be sooner if we continue to work very constructively with our contractors,” he said.
Students will receive free dual-credit courses that will be taught by Lake Land instructors. Five areas were selected based on local business needs.
ERCA board chairwoman Norma Lansing said a big need is in massage/physical therapy. A CDL prep course is also among the course offerings. Others include Foundations of Nursing, Introduction to Agricultural Occupations, and Maps and Spatial Analysis.
According to Lansing, new classes are being developed for spring 2025. Future courses, she said, will include a combination of certified teachers and business experts. She noted that the curriculum will continue to evolve as businesses play a significant role in what students learn and how to put it into practice.
One course that has been introduced previously is Explore ERCA. The course allows students to explore different local employment opportunities. Students spend two weeks at local businesses observing different job duties.
“(Students) working in some of the facilities right alongside the workers just jumping right in, and it really opens some doors and opens their eyes to what opportunities are in Effingham County. Things they have never thought of,” said Explore facilitator Cassie Carpenter.
She gave the example of a student who did a rotation in the hospital’s accounting department and ended up wanting to pursue that rather than a health-based career.
“You wouldn’t think of accounting going to a hospital. It really gets them to see what else is out there,” said Carpenter.
Lansing said the Effingham Technology Center will have one of the most state-of-the-art educational facilities in Illinois. That includes a virtual reality lab with hands-on tools, where students will learn to change the oil in a car, for example.
The center will also have an augmented reality lab, which, as one example, is similar to apps that let users see how something they are considering purchasing looks in their home.
Another feature is the Makers Space Lab. She said students in nursing class may be able to use the Makers Space to turn an idea generated in class into reality.
With Lake Land College providing the facility and dual-credit opportunities, Lansing said the board can focus its efforts and funds on direct student learning.
“Our goal all along has been that ERCA classes will be offered at no charge to our students, because we don’t want anyone to not be able to participate because they can’t afford it,” said Lansing.
Eastern Illinois University also wants to ensure students from Effingham County can attend the university free of charge, as EIU and Lake Land offer more pathways for students through collaboration.
“We value our local students. They are the backbone of what we do here at Eastern,” said Ethan Osborne, east-central Illinois admissions counselor for EIU. “School should be affordable.”
Osborne said if a student from the community has an adjusted gross income of less than $100,000, resides in Effingham County and some other areas, is a first-year student, and has at least a 3.0 GPA, EIU will cover the student’s tuition and fees for all four years.
Osborne noted there has been a decline in enrollment at colleges.
“There is a gap between student achievement and student belief. Students – I’m sure some administrators, counselors, and teachers will tell you – there’s a lack of self-confidence in a lot of ways in how they believe in themselves,” he said.
EIU has partnered with local school districts in reversing that trend.
“Part of this program is direct access to all on-campus resources, use of our library, athletics, our student resource center, support services. There will be some automatic scholarships tied to this program as well,” he said, adding that there will be more outreach and communication efforts as well.
Lake Land College continues its partnership with EIU for transfer students, adding pathways this year in EIU’s English program, where students can transfer directly as junior status.
Lake Land has also partnered with local automotive businesses to launch its Tech 2 Day program, allowing students to go to school two days a week and work the rest of the week while still gaining on-the-job skills.
“They can also use their experience at the dealership to help them check off competencies,” said Bullock.