SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–South Suburban College (SSC) continues its efforts to provide flexibility to college degree seekers interrupted by the pandemic with a wide range of online and in-person class options, as well as significant tuition and technology supports. Current and prospective students can learn more about the all of the advantages of becoming an SSC Bulldog at two Virtual Q&A Sessions next week on December 1 at 6 p.m. and December 2 and 12 noon. Faculty and staff will be available through Zoom to address a wide range of topics and answer questions about registration, financial assistance, programs, facilities and much more. Visit www.ssc.edu/info for access to the Virtual Q&A Sessions.

Spring Registration is now in progress online from ssc.edu. The 2021 Spring Semester begins the week of Monday, January 10, 2022. All current and prospective students are encouraged to register early to secure grant opportunities, their preferred course schedule and mode of classes delivery.

The New Year is an excellent opportunity for students to take a giant step in their success by customizing a class schedule at high quality and supportive institution. New SSC students should get started with the Online Application from ssc.edu. Once the application process is complete, new students will receive an SSC email account and a Self Service Username & Password via email which will allow access to student information and class registration.

SSC is a community college located in South Holland, Illinois serving 21 communities including parts of the Chicago Southland and northwest Indiana. SSC provides a variety of support services and leadership opportunities to its students in addition to a wide range of affordable academic programs.

Illinois Community College system accounts for $3.5 billion in economic output and more than 43,000 jobs throughout state.

 
SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – South Suburban College (SSC) continues to help drive the south suburban area economy and train a skilled workforce for critical industries throughout Illinois, according to a new statewide report analyzing the value of the Illinois community college system. Other data including successful student outcomes were proven through the work of Northern Illinois University’s (NIU) Center for Governmental Studies (CGS), contracted by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) from 2020-21.

Illinois community colleges claim a unique piece of their shared mission to support local workforce and economic development through employer and business engagement. SSC demonstrated its success in this endeavor in 2020, in part by interacting with 45 unique employers. Collaboration ranged from curriculum and apprenticeship development and review, contract training, internships, and professional development to job placement for graduating students. Further economic impact is demonstrated in raw numbers produced by SSC during fiscal year 2020:

• $31.7 million in operating expenditures
• $14.4 million in wages and benefits among SSC employees living in the region
• Approximately 427 jobs in SSC District #510 attributed to college operations associated with $59.4 million in economic output

These direct impacts rippled through the economy creating additional jobs, payrolls, and other economic activity.

“I believe our country has given greater voice in recent years to the significant impact community colleges have educationally and culturally, but often times the least understood and least measured effect is economically,” said Frank M. Zuccarelli, Chairman of the SSC Board of Trustees. “The detailed research that was conducted through this study revealed some amazing numbers relating to the positive economic value of community colleges in Illinois, and specifically here in the south suburban region.”

The report not only evaluates Illinois community colleges’ ability to meet the needs of business and industry, but also student outcomes and students’ return on investment. South Suburban College students aged 20 to 29 that completed a two-year program that was not focused on transfer to a 4-year institution are estimated to total nearly $525,000 in average increased lifetime earnings (compared to someone not attending community college). The study estimated this return on investment was 23.5%.

According to ICCB data, in recent years more than 70% of completers across all demographics of long-term certificate programs or Associate in Applied Science programs at South Suburban College are employed in career jobs within a year of graduation. Career job employment rates also typically improve for SSC completers over time. Among those who completed programs in 2009, 86.6% were employed one year after graduating, and 87.3% were employed in career jobs after 10 years.

“The study confirms what we already know to be true of community colleges – they are an accessible, attainable opportunity to change your life,” said Dr. Lynette Stokes, President of South Suburban College. “The data demonstrates this value everywhere, including within disadvantaged communities. By changing lives community colleges have the power to change communities.”

Statewide, the Illinois Community College System and ICCB are focused on creating, supporting, and expanding workforce training opportunities equitably in high-need communities. In 2019, Illinois started the Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) program, a grant program designed to increase workforce opportunities for African Americans which are severely underrepresented among Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Over the last two years, the WEI program has granted nearly $40 million to address education and unemployment gaps in the African American and other minority communities throughout Illinois. More information about WEI at South Suburban College can be accessed online from www.ssc.edu/wei.

“It is clear that community colleges remain a solid return on investment for local communities and the students that use them,” said ICCB executive director, Dr. Brian Durham. “Our system plays a vital role in meeting the needs of Illinois’ workforce by providing quality training and education and gives students a greater opportunity to earn higher wages in countless industries throughout the state.”

When examining earnings one year prior to completion compared to three years after completion, African American student earnings increased 47 percent while Latinx students increased their earnings by 57 percent.

To review the full study, please visit https://bit.ly/iccbEIS.
 

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–It’s not too late to get registered and take advantage of a significant range of free resources at South Suburban College (SSC) this fall. In fact, returning to school or pursing one’s college dream for the first time is a “no-brainer,” according to college promotions.

“This is truly a unique time in our College history when most students literally are debt free, and in many cases plus direct financial assistance, and plus free laptops,” said Dr. Lynette Stokes, SSC President. “SSC has long provided comprehensive scholarship and tuition waiver packages to students, but this is much more and we want residents of our community to know they have an opportunity. We have worked really hard to secure and thoughtfully distribute multiple sources of funding to help our students manage this difficult year and be successful.”

Those additional funding sources available to students include CARES Act stimulus, several new grant initiatives, and Foundation-sponsored COVID-19 Impact Awards among others. In total, SSC has provided over $3,400,000 in tuition relief, personal checks and technology grants to students last fiscal year, and more is available.

Shanika Mack is a South Suburban College student who has made the best out of the challenges of the past year. “Losing my job forced me to step away and think about what’s important, like pursuing my bigger dreams,” said Mack, a 31-year old returning adult student who previously attended SSC immediately after graduating from Thornton High School. “The pandemic can take away my job but it can’t take away my education.”

Mack received a free laptop, free books, and will have her entire tuition balance waived at the end of the 2021 Summer Semester if she stays on track to receive a “C” or better. She is already enrolled for fall classes with plans to graduate with an Associate’s Degree in General Studies next spring. Mack hopes to pursue a Business Degree at Governor’s State University upon graduation.

According to SSC’s Business Office, 1,219 students have received $1,283,556 in tuition balances waived to date, and another 3,415 students received direct payments of $2,124,600 through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). An additional 141 students received $145,579 in debt relief and 415 students received $133,836 in technology – primarily laptops – through the CARES Act for the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEERF). The SSC Foundation awarded $66,221.17 in COVID-19 funding for tuition, books, technology, and living expenses in addition to its traditional annual scholarship awards. Most recently, SSC initiated a new Student Emergency Aid Program through the Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) to provide financial support up to $500 per student for short-term, nonrecurring emergencies.

New South Suburban College Student Trustee, Dion Rubin, wants to encourage more students to come back to school. Rubin received a free laptop, hotspot and $950 in direct aid to date. “I have complete confidence in South Suburban College – the faculty have done an amazing job and I have felt extremely safe returning to campus.”

Rubin received his High School Equivalency (HSE) before pursuing his college education in the Fall 2020 Semester during the height of the pandemic. “My goal is to make the student experience the best it can be and to promote a positive educational culture. Positivity can do great things.”

Other opportunities for career program funding at SSC include the Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) Grant, and the One Workforce Grant through the Calumet Area Industrial Commission (CAIC). The WEI grant provides wrap-around services including comprehensive financial assistance and academic support to participating students within a variety of program areas providing stackable credentials. Funding for the H-1B One Workforce Grant is provided by the US Department of Labor for tuition, fees and books in short-term advanced manufacturing programs with industry recognized credentials.

All of the funding, grant and programmatic information is available from ssc.edu. Fall classes will begin Monday, August 16, 2021, with the safety and flexibility of five modes of class delivery at SSC. Class schedules, registration services and a new “live chat” with staff are available at ssc.edu. Prospective students may also call (708) 210-5718 or email admissions@ssc.edu to get questions answered.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–South Suburban College will be offering a Cannabis Dispensary Operations Certificate Program starting in the Fall 2021 Semester. Illinois and many other states have made changes on the legality of Cannabis use. These changes have allowed for a developing industry of legal Cannabis companies to operate in Illinois, which allows for new jobs and business opportunities. This economic development is expected to continue to grow for many years.
The new program will assist people to successfully enter this new economic niche. The 18-credit hour (two-semester Certificate) will allow graduates to create new businesses and market themselves to existing businesses.

The first class, Introduction to Cannabis 101, is an 8-week online class that does not require a textbook. The course begins with the biology of the Cannabis plant and continues to cultural, historical, and medical uses of Cannabis. You don’t need to be in the program to take this fun and informative class.

First Semester Credits include: CNB 101 Introduction to Cannabis, CNB 102 Dispensary Operations, BUS 108 Introduction to Business, MIS 101 Computer Literacy & Applications, and CNB 103 Cannabis Law.

Semester Two Credits include: ACC 130 Computerized Accounting and CNB 110 Science of Cannabis (Biology and Pharmacology).

For questions, please call (708) 210-5706 or email ahelwig@ssc.edu. Fall Classes begin Monday, August 16, 2021, and class schedules, registration services and a new “live chat” with staff are all available online from ssc.edu. Future SSC students should get started at admissions.ssc.edu.

Program plans for growth, new LPN bridge curriculum in development.

SOUTH HOLLAND-South Suburban College honored its 2021 graduates of the College’s Associated Degree Nursing (ADN) Program with a special pinning ceremony last week. The graduates received their nursing pins from senior nursing faculty and class of 2021 advisor Naomi West. This year, 18 students successfully completed the ADN program. They will now prepare to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Registered Nurses (RN) this summer.

The NCLEX is a standardized exam that each state board of nursing uses to determine whether or not a candidate is prepared for entry-level nursing practice. SSC’s graduates have enjoyed five consecutive years above the annual national average pass rates including multiple 100% passing graduated classes since the program reopened in 2013. SSC was recently named the #3 Ranked Nursing Program in Illinois by RegisteredNursing.org – a nursing advocacy organization. RegisteredNursing.org recently released its annual list of Best RN Programs.

“The graduates’ hard work and resilience was inspiring, especially with the challenges of the past year,” said Dr. Linda Brown-Aldridge, SSC’s Dean of Nursing. “I am very proud of the way our faculty and students remained focused and adapted well to a blended learning environment. I have no doubt the future is bright for the class of 2021 and they will provide excellence in nursing to our community for many years to come.”

Dr. Brown-Aldridge brings more than 30 years of experience to SSC’s Nursing Program, previously working in hospitals and schools in many roles including nursing, teaching, administration and serving as the Chief Nursing Officer at Provident Hospital. She will enter her third academic year as the Dean of Nursing this fall with more than 50 students in the program. Under her guidance, the program has undergone a major transformation, from revitalizing curriculum to providing innovative new student support systems and cutting-edge technology.

While the fall admission cycle is closed, new prospective students are encouraged to begin their prerequisites as early as this summer by creating a plan with an SSC Counselor. The College has plans for launching an LPN-RN bridge pathway this year and has made progress towards its state-of-the-art Allied Health & Nursing Center at its Main Campus in South Holland, Illinois.

The SSC Nursing Program is approved by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulations (IDFPR) and the college is accredited by the North Central Higher Learning Commission (HLC), both critical components to proper credentialing and certification upon graduation. It is a two-year Associate in Applied Science curriculum that provides learning experiences directed by faculty in local hospitals and health agencies to focus on the direct nursing care for patients of all ages.

For more information about Nursing and other Allied Health Programs at SSC, please visit ssc.edu/success or call (708) 596-2000, ext. 2260. Email CounselingCenterQuestions@ssc.edu for information about prerequisites and scheduling.
 

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL—The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) announced this week the appointment of South Suburban College (SSC) student Jaleel Harris to its 2021-22 Student Board. Candidate review and voting from the pool of nominations was recently conducted by the ICCB Student Advisory Committee.

Harris, a 26-year old resident of Chicago, first enrolled at SSC after graduating from Homewood Flossmoor High School in 2012. He is currently studying Business Administration.

“I am honored to serve my students and community through the amazing opportunity,” said Harris. “Here at SSC, our Mission is to serve our students and community through lifelong learning. With pleasure, this is a mission I will honor throughout my professional journey and one I will cherish when performing my responsibilities with the ICCB.”

Harris said he has future plans to further his education in Sociology with the goal of starting a foundation focused on the needs of at-risk youth.

“My experience here as both a student and student employee has taught me a variety of values. Most importantly, I have learned the significance of acquired knowledge and service.” Harris added, “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once stated, ‘life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?’”

Harris represents the second South Suburban College student elected to serve on the state-wide board. Dr. Lynette Stokes previously became the first SSC President named to the Illinois Community College Board in 2020.

SSC is a community college located in South Holland, Illinois serving 21 communities including parts of the Chicago Southland and northwest Indiana. SSC provides a variety of support services and leadership opportunities to its students in addition to a wide range of academic program options. For more information about SSC, please visit www.ssc.edu.
 
Pictured: College student Jaleel Harris, pictured at South Suburban College.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – The South Suburban College Board of Trustees approved the hiring of its first ever Barber College faculty Bobby Mattison at its November 12th Board Meeting. Chairman Frank M. Zuccarelli and the SSC Board first announced the establishment program last December. The college subsequently received full approval from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) this year as well as its licensure from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Construction for the new, fully equipped barbering facility has already been completed at the college’s Main Campus in South Holland.

Mattison will begin leading the program effective January 4, 2021 as SSC readies to open for the spring semester. A licensed barber and barbering instructor, Mattison was instrumental in growing and licensing a Barbering Program at Statesville Correctional Center, and most recently at Cook County Juvenile Detention Center. He also opened a private business called Legacy Barber College with a partner in Glenwood, IL, for which he was featured on ABC News.

Mattison says he looks forward to creating new opportunities for others to become barbers and is excited to get started in his full-time role at the brand-new barber shop/lab at SSC. “You have to find something you love and would do it for free but find a way to get paid for it,” said Mattison. “Barbering is that for me and I know it can be for so many others.”

The SSC Barbering program was established in part by a Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) grant the college received through the Illinois Community College Board which included funding for several new in-demand programs. The WEI project is designed to create, support and expand short-term workforce training opportunities in high need areas within SSC District #510. Through expanded access, opportunity, and support services, the project is anticipated to yield impactful outcomes for individuals, families, communities, local businesses.

The Barbering curriculum is a 17-month credit program leading to professional certification. SSC will be offering a 41-hour Barber Technician (BT) Certificate and a 60-hour Associate of Applied Science Degree in Barbering track for students seeking a college degree as a part of the program. Both tracks will include preparation and testing for National Barbering Written Licensing Examination, which is essential to applying for licensure in Illinois.

“South Suburban College’s Barbering Program will be the only active public Barber School in the state,” added Matt Beasland, Dean of Adult & Continuing Education and administrator over the Barber College. “It will provide our constituents with quick access to a career credential that can lead to family sustaining wages.”

According to BLS data, the average salary for a Barber in Illinois is $42,930, or $20.64 per hour with an increase in demand of 9% by 2026. In the Southland area, there are currently 286 new job openings for barbers.

For more information about Barber School and the WEI programs at SSC, please call (708) 596-2000, ext. 2413, email workforceequity@ssc.edu or visit www.ssc.edu/wei. Most SSC courses will continue to be offered through the virtual classroom model during the Spring 2021 Semester, with exceptions for some programs such as Barbering. Social distancing and PPEs will be used as appropriate for in-person classes.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–South Suburban College’s Adult Volunteer Literacy Program is hosting a virtual Family Reading Night event on Wednesday, November 18th beginning at 6:00 p.m. live from the South Suburban College Facebook page. The public is encouraged to join SSC for this free event to learn more about community literacy while enjoying stories and live presentations.

Illiteracy is an issue that can be debilitating in so many ways for adults and children who never received the proper instruction. Adults who are unable to read have a much more difficult time with many daily activities that others may take for granted, along with a clear disadvantage in today’s competitive job market. SSC’s Adult Education Department administers the Adult Volunteer Literacy Tutoring Program in addition to High School Equivalency (HSE/GED), English as a Second Language (ESL), and Adult Basic Education (ABE).

For more information about Family Reading Night or the Adult Volunteer Literacy Program, please contact Raylynn Stokes, coordinator, at (708) 596-2000, ext. 2558, or email rstokes@ssc.edu. This event is sponsored in part by the SSC Foundation.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL—The National Network of Health Career Programs in Two-Year Colleges (NN2) announced last week the appointment of South Suburban College’s Jeff Waddy, MCHES, DrPH, Dean of Allied Health & Careers, to its board. Dr. Waddy is one of just three new board members elected at large from the membership in 2020. NN2 is the only interdisciplinary professional organization serving two-year colleges and programs. Its purpose is to promote and encourage innovation, collaboration, and communication among two-year colleges sponsoring health career programs.

“It is an honor to join the NN2 Board,” said Dr. Waddy. “SSC and NN2 will continue to strive to find new strategies for dealing with challenges in health care. Professional advocacy and clinical placement are pressing concerns during the pandemic. We must work together to resolve these challenges to allow our allied health students back into hospitals, clinics, and other institutions to make a positive impact.”

Jeffery J. Waddy graduated from Albany State College in 1998 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology/Chemistry. While pursuing his undergraduate studies, Waddy was a participant in the Multidisciplinary International Research Training (MIRT) Grant. This opportunity presented Waddy with the ability to perform scholarly research at the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin, Germany. Prior to joining the Master’s Degree program at Southern Illinois University, Waddy worked for J Leek & Associates as a microbiology technician. After completing his Master’s in Health Education/Gerontology, Waddy relocated to the Chicagoland area to work with the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council (MCHC). Founded in 1935, MCHC is composed of more than 140 hospitals and health care organizations in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Dr. Waddy joined SSC as Dean of Allied Health in 2005. He earned his DrPH Degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago’s School of Public Health in 2017. He currently leads 12 health care programs at SSC.

SSC is a community college located in South Holland, Illinois serving 21 communities including parts of the Chicago Southland and northwest Indiana. SSC provides a wide range of academic program options. For more information about SSC, please visit www.ssc.edu.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL– In accordance with the implementation of the new election day closure provisions of Public Act 101-0642, the South Suburban College Board of Trustees enacted the college’s recognition of November 3rd as 2020 General Election Day at its August 13th Board Meeting. SSC’s Main Campus and Oak Forest Center will join all other Illinois community college campuses in closing for classes and to the public on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, for the benefit of community health.

Public Act 101-0642 states in part: Notwithstanding any other provision of State law to the
contrary, November 3, 2020 shall be a State holiday known as 2020 General Election Day and shall be observed throughout the State pursuant to this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly. All government offices, with the exception of election authorities, shall be closed unless authorized to be used as a location for election day services or as a polling place.

Protecting the health and safety of Illinoisans is among the most important functions of State government. COVID-19 presents a severe public health emergency, and the World Health Organization, the United States government, the Governor of Illinois, and the General Assembly therefore declared it necessary and appropriate to make modifications to the administration and conduct of the elections for the November 2020 General Election. The State holiday is for this year only and expires on January 1, 2021.

For information about serving as an election judge or other role in the 2020 General Election in Suburban Cook County, please email Elect.Judge@cookcountyil.gov or call (312) 603-0965. Participants will be required to certify in writing to the election authority the political party the judge chooses to affiliate with.

Dr. Aldridge-Brown appointed to UC Ingalls Memorial Community Advisory Council.

 
SOUTH HOLLAND-South Suburban College recently honored the 2020 graduates of the College’s Associated Degree Nursing (ADN) Program with a special socially distanced ceremony. The graduates received their nursing pins from Dr. Tasha Williams, Vice President of Academic Services, and Dr. Linda Brown-Aldridge, who completed her first full academic year as the Dean of Nursing at SSC.

This year, seven students successfully completed the ADN program. One of the graduates, Shautavia Meeks-Gill, has already passed National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Registered Nurses (RN). Her fellow graduates are awaiting their test dates. The students were given the opportunity to attend the mid-year conference of the National Student Nurses Association (NSNA) in October 2019. With their attendance included the membership in the NSNA, which inspired the students to establish a local chapter at SSC.

“The graduates’ dedication, hard work, and resilience is inspiring, especially with the challenge of COVID-19 during the spring semester,” said Dr. Brown-Aldridge. “The faculty and staff worked hard with the students to provide the needed support for their success during the pandemic.”

When she joined SSC in spring of 2019, Dr. Brown-Aldridge brought more than 30 years of experience working in hospitals and schools in many roles including nursing, teaching, administration and serving as the Chief Nursing Officer at Provident Hospital. She has worked hard with Dr. Williams and her team to position the revitalized program for significant growth. The program admitted 42 new first year Nursing students for the Fall 2020 Semester, the largest class in several years.

“I am dedicated to growing this nursing program to address the health disparities and nursing shortage for our community,” added Dr. Brown-Aldridge. “The decision to come to SSC was life changing for me. Working with the great administration, faculty, staff and students this past year has been very rewarding and fulfilling.”

Dr. Brown-Aldridge was also recently appointed to the University of Chicago Ingalls Memorial Community Advisory Council (CAC). UC Ingalls Memorial recently announced the creation of its first CAC to seek community input on health issues of importance to its primary service area and surrounding communities. Following a rigorous review process, Ingalls leadership selected 15 council members to serve.

The next admission cycle opens October 1st 2020 to March 1st 2021 for the class to begin Fall 2021. SSC’s ADN Program is a two-year Associate in Applied Science program that provides learning experiences directed by faculty in local hospitals and health agencies to focus on the direct nursing care of patients of all ages. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX.

Fall classes will be offered in virtual, online and blended instruction methods beginning August 17, 2020. For more information about the ADN program, please visit ssc.edu/success or call (708) 596-2000, ext. 2260.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL—The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) announced last week the appointment of South Suburban College (SSC) President, Lynette D. Stokes, Ed.D. to its board. Dr. Stokes was one of just two new statewide appointments along with Dr. Larry Peterson, former President of Shawnee Community College, whom upon confirmation from the Senate will serve terms through June 30, 2021.

“It is truly an honor to be chosen by the Illinois Community College Board and a privilege to represent South Suburban College and my colleagues statewide during this critical time,” said Dr. Stokes. “I would like to thank the ICCB for the opportunity, as well as Governor J.B. Pritzker and Deputy Governor of Education Jesse Ruiz for their tireless efforts on behalf of education. They understand the critical role of community colleges, such as South Suburban College, in providing equitable opportunities to our community. I look forward to getting to work over the next year to address the challenges of the times and to advocate for our students.”

Having worked in public service for over 20 years, Dr. Stokes joined SSC in June 2013 as the Vice President of Academic Services and was named President on October 1, 2018. She has the distinction of being the first female President in the college’s 91-year rich history. Dr. Stokes has served as an advocate of youth in the child welfare system, taught elementary and community college education, and worked for equal rights organizations. Wanting to fulfill her desire to make a positive impact on the education of adult learners, Dr. Stokes earned her doctorate degree in Educational Leadership and Organizational Change at Roosevelt University in 2004. This academic credentialing, coupled with the skills she gained while working at the then Operation PUSH, Community Mental Health Council and Ada S. McKinley Community Services, provided the foundation to propel her career into higher education as Dean of Adult Education and Dean of Instruction at City Colleges of Chicago, where she served for nearly 12 years prior to moving to South Suburban. In addition to serving as a presenter for several professional development events in Higher Education and Child Welfare, Dr. Stokes is the 2005 recipient of Roosevelt University’s Most Outstanding Dissertation of the Year; the 2009 recipient of the Kathy Osterman Award for Outstanding Supervisor given to public service employees in the City of Chicago; and 2014 recipient of the Chicago Defender’s Women of Excellence Award. In 2018 she was honored with the Egretha Education Award for Excellence in Education and the Illinois Committee on Black Concerns in Higher Education (ICBCHE) Trailblazer Award. In 2020 Dr. Stokes was awarded the MLK Excellence in Education Award by the Southland Ministerial Health Network.

SSC is a community college located in South Holland, Illinois serving 21 communities including parts of the Chicago Southland and northwest Indiana. SSC provides a variety of support services and leadership opportunities to its students in addition to a wide range of academic program options. For more information about SSC, please visit www.ssc.edu.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL– South Suburban College has been chosen as a COVID-19 testing site by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). Illinois Governor JB Pritzker visited the site today along with South Suburban College Chairman Frank M. Zuccarelli and President Lynette D. Stokes, Ed.D., on its opening day of testing. The testing tents were set up near the college’s Fitness Center, utilizing the spacious parking lot and secluded roadways for drive-thru testing.

“I was glad to visit our newly-relocated south suburban state testing site this morning in South Holland, and I thank the Illinois National Guard and South Suburban College for standing it up so quickly,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Widespread testing is central to our strategy to beating this virus and restoring our state, so if you’re experiencing any symptoms or are more at-risk, please visit a site near you. It’s on all of us to protect our communities.”

The site will be open daily from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and testing is available to anyone with COVID-19 concerns. The drive-thru route will be limited to south side of campus near the athletic fields. Employees, students and visitors will access the Main Campus through 158th Street, and north lots and entrances.

“South Suburban College looks forward to providing a convenient, safe testing resource to our community,” said Chairman Zuccarelli. “As a community college, our mission of service to the community extends far beyond the classroom and we have always taken pride in stepping up to do our part when we are needed.”
Phase 3 of Restore Illinois is expected to bring approximately 700,000 Illinoisans back to the workplace, and with that comes the restoration of additional state services. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has resumed vehicle emission testing at the Markham Community Based Testing Site, prompting the COVID-19 testing relocation to SSC.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be able to provide this critical support in collaboration with IEMA and the National Guard,” added Dr. Stokes, President of SSC. “The testing will pose no disruptions to our community on campus. Our institution has also made an outstanding pivot to a virtual classroom model for our residents and college students that may be displaced this summer and fall.”

All individuals with symptoms are encouraged to seek testing at these Community Based Testing Sites. Symptoms include but are not limited to fever, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and new loss of taste or smell. Additional accommodations have been made for the following individuals with or without COVID-like symptoms:

• Healthcare workers
• First Responders
• Employees of Correctional Facilities
• Individuals exposed to confirmed COVID-19 patients
• Employees that support Critical Infrastructure (grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, gas stations, public utilities, factories, childcare and sanitation)
• All local and state government employees
• Individuals with compromised immune systems, chronic medical conditions

SSC is a community college located in South Holland, Illinois serving 21 communities including parts of the Chicago Southland and northwest Indiana. SSC provides a variety of support services and leadership opportunities to its students in addition to a wide range of affordable academic programs. Visit ssc.edu or email registration&records@ssc.edu for more information.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–In honor of Earth Awareness Day, South Suburban College is pleased to announce its 2019 Tree Campus USA® recognition. Tree Campus USA, an Arbor Day Foundation program, honors colleges and universities and their leaders for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation. SSC was one of just 20 schools in Illinois to be recognized at the time of the award notification.

In a statement from Arbor Day Foundation, “to obtain this distinction, SSC met the five core standards for sustainable campus forestry required by Tree Campus USA, including establishment of a tree advisory committee, evidence of a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and the sponsorship of student service-learning projects. Your entire campus community should be proud of this sustained commitment to environmental stewardship.”

If ever there was a time for trees, now is that time. Communities worldwide are facing issues with air quality, water resources, personal health and well-being, and energy use. SSC and its Sustainability Committee continue to work to do its part. The SSC Sustainability Committee was established in 2011 to coordinate SSC’s efforts in sustainability leadership within its community. Its number one goal is to educate staff and students about how to practice environmental stewardship at home and in the community.

SSC’s Main Campus has a diverse range of beautiful tree and plant species. The Main Campus is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois. Visit ssc.edu for more information.

You can now fill out your census form at home either ONLINE or by phone to (844) 330-2020 or (844) 468-2020 for Spanish. Be prepared with the letter you have received and follow the instructions on the U.S. Census website. Cook County will continue to conduct virtual outreach to make sure everyone is counted.

Why Does it Matter?

• The Census impacts every individual and community in Cook County.
• The data is used to distribute billions in federal funds to local communities in areas such as transportation, healthcare and affordable housing, to name a few. One example is the Community Development Block Grant Program.
• An accurate census helps ensure fair representation at all levels of government – congressional districts, commissioner districts and wards.