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PART NERS HIPS BUILDING A TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE POWERED BY CHICAGO COOKPARTNERSHIPS WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP OUR YOUNGEST (AND MOST IMPORTANT) PARTNERS Several times a year my office is overrun by some of our most important partners–students from area elementary and middle schools. The past year, more than a thousand youngsters have visited our campus through school tours, special events and participation in our summer InZone program. For most of those students, visiting Harper is their first college experience and you can feel their sense of awe and wonderment when they step onto our campus. It is our hope that they will have another feeling after their campus trip —a sense of belonging. For our community to move forward and thrive, it is President Ken Ender talks with students from Paddock Elementary School. essential for young people to feel that a post- secondary credential is not just an option, but outreach to elementary and middle schools, but it doesn’t take long before the sounds an essential and mandatory gateway to good especially those schools where the majority of laughter, clapping and shouting can be jobs and good wages. For that to happen, the of students qualify for the federal free and heard throughout the third floor of the Wojcik conversation about college needs to happen reduced lunch program. We’re increasing Conference Center. In inspiring all of our kids early and often, and we want to make sure we the number of school tours, assigning staff to go to college, that laughter is the sound do our part. That’s why we’re expanding our as liaisons to area schools, encouraging of success. adopt-a-college programs and making sure our summer InZone programs continue to “The conversation about college grow and thrive. needs to happen early and often, and we want to make sure I get a kick out of elementary and middle Kenneth L. Ender, Ph.D., President William Rainey Harper College we do our part.” school students visiting me at Harper. Visiting the President’s Office can be intimidating, 3 HIGH SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS = BIG GAINS IN MATH In 2011, Harper began an innovative who may be falling behind, and we’ve partnership with district high schools with developed new summer bridge a simple goal: ensure a college readiness programs to help at-risk students for all high school graduates. Research before they enroll at Harper. shows fewer than 25 percent of students who take a remedial course in college ever The results are encouraging. Enrollment “Harper and the three school finish their degree. in remedial math classes at Harper districts formed a consortium decreased by 21 percent from 2010 to coordinate their efforts and We started with math. Under a plan devel- to 2013 and the number of students provide students new ways to oped through the Northwest Educational taking dual credit classes skyrocketed overcome the math hurdle, and Council for Student Success (NECSS), high from 839 in 2010 to 2,382 in 2012, an created a template for success school students in Harper’s district are tested increase of 184 percent. This year, we’re that should be a starting point for other districts.” for college math readiness in their junior year developing similar high school partnerships -Daily Herald Editorial 2/15/2013 and are strongly encouraged to take math in English to make sure students who come in their senior year. Math faculty from Harper to Harper are fully prepared for the rigor of and high schools now meet regularly to make college classes. sure courses at our respective institutions are aligned with each other. We’re sharing data with high schools to better identify students Enrollment in remedial math classes decreased 184% by 21% from increase in 2010 to 2013 dual credit class enrollment 4 5 PARTNERSHIPS TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR SKILLED WORKERS IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING After years of decline, manufacturing is enjoying a resurgence. Since January On average, Chicago-area 2010, the manufacturing industry has added manufacturing salaries exceed the Luke Rohrbacher, a student in almost 600,000 jobs.* This means educated, U.S. average of $60,340 by 10%.** well-trained workers are in demand. Harper Harper’s Advanced Manufacturing College is helping to meet this need through [ ] program, began as an intern with partnerships with local manufacturers. one of Harper’s industry partners, Chicago White Metal Casting (CWMC). Through Harper’s new Advanced Manufacturing Luke was quickly hired and two years program, Harper students can connect with 83% of U.S. companies later, he heads up CWMC’s traffic more than 100 manufacturers. Many of reported moderate-to-serious department overseeing shipping these companies host Harper interns and shortages in workers qualified for logistics and inventory control. hire graduates. skilled production positions such as [ machinists and technicians.* ] Because of our success, the U.S. Department of Labor awarded Harper $12.9 million to expand our Advanced Manufacturing program Harper is recognized as to more than 20 Illinois community colleges. an American Welding Society SENSE By partnering with area manufacturers and (School Excelling through National Skill peer institutions to develop curriculum, create Standards Education) Level I and opportunities and identify resources, Harper [ Level II program. ] College is seeking to ensure that the future of U.S. manufacturing is a bright one. *Manufacturing Institute **Crain’s Chicago Business 2/25/13 “ I never planned on going into a field like manufacturing because I was never exposed to it, but it’s a perfect fit for me.” –Luke Rohrbacher Harper College Advanced Manufacturing program participant 6 7 PARTNERING TO BRING JOB TRAINING CLOSER TO HOME EXTENSION CENTERS: In the Village of Hanover Park, at the Harper College Learning and southern end of Harper’s district, we’ve Career Center opened a new extension site through a 1375 S. Wolf Road partnership with Elgin Community College, Prospect Heights, IL the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership and the State of Illinois. The Education Harper Professional Center and Work Center in Hanover Park will serve 650 E. Higgins Road the area’s fast-growing immigrant population Schaumburg, IL with classes such as English as a Second Language (ESL) and Adult Basic Education Education and Work Center (reading, writing and math.) GED classes will 6704 Barrington Road also be offered in both English and Spanish. Hanover Park, IL By sharing costs and resources, the Education and Work Center in Hanover Park serves as Rendering of the new entrance to the Harper College Palatine Opportunity Center Learning and Career Center in Prospect Heights. a template for how government entities can 1585 N. Rand Rd work together to provide opportunities and Palatine, IL bring a college campus closer to home. Through unique partnerships and Harper College outreach, Harper is making higher education Rolling Meadows more accessible to residents who live on the 2274 Algonquin Parkway edges of our district. On the east side of our By sharing costs and East Park Apartments service area, we have revamped programming resources, the Education and Apartment 2274 and added staff at the Harper College Learning Work Center in Hanover Park Rolling Meadows, IL and Career Center to better serve residents serves as a template for in Prospect Heights and Wheeling. The how government entities changes come after a yearlong educational can work together. needs analysis and discussions with nearly 70 community and business leaders. The feedback led to expanded programs in fast- Dr. Ken Ender helps break ground on the Education and Work Center in Hanover Park. Also pictured are growing job fields such as phlebotomy, Diane Hill, Chair, Harper College Board of Trustees and State Representative Fred Crespo. certified nursing assistant (CNA), information technology and computer-based manufacturing. 8 9 FEDERAL PARTNERSHIPS LEAD TO GRANTS FOR INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES Harper’s efforts to develop Because of Harper’s success in building partnerships have attracted attention not relationships, U.S. Commerce Secretary only in Illinois but throughout the country. Penny Pritzker appointed President Ender Harper has been awarded more Lawmakers and policy leaders in Washington, to a prestigious White House panel working than $16 million in federal grants to D.C., have pointed to Harper’s collaborative to solve the shortage of skilled workers for the expand programs beyond the district’s model as a best practice for making higher manufacturing industry. She also accepted the boundaries and to pilot promising education more efficient and cost-effective. College’s invitation to be our spring graduation new partnerships, practices Their praise has gone beyond words. Over speaker and receive an honorary degree. Her and programs. the past three years, Harper has been advice to graduates was simple: “relationships awarded more than $16 million in federal matter.” We couldn’t agree more. grants to expand programs beyond the district’s boundaries and to pilot promising new partnerships, practices and programs. MAJOR FEDERAL GRANTS AWARDED TO HARPER COLLEGE 2012-2014 $12,939,459 U.S. Department of Labor grant to develop Advanced Manufacturing program at community colleges throughout Illinois. $1,151,774 U.S. Department of Labor grant “My friendship with President Ender to develop programs for Supply Chain Management reminds me of one of the lessons that in partnership with 10 other colleges and Northwestern University. I have learned in business and in life: relationships matter.” $2,000,000 U.S. Department of Education grant - Penny Pritzker to develop student tracking and progress software U.S. Commerce Secretary including Student Portal, Student Analytics, MyPlan and a mentorship software program. U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker speaking to Harper College graduates during the 2014 Spring Graduation Ceremony. 10 11 Last spring, Harper College conferred graduates (see box below), we need more 3,743 degrees and certificates, well ahead students to finish what they start at Harper of our 2014 target of 3,054.