SOUTH HOLLAND, IL– Prospective students are encouraged to register now for Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) classes starting at South Suburban College (SSC) March 15th and later. The WEI grant supports qualified participants through the completion of short-term educational opportunities leading to employment. Benefits of the grant include financial and technology assistance, tutoring, academic and employment advising, and more.
Three, short-term courses are still available this spring as 8-week classes starting March 15th and later:
Solar Photovoltaic (Solar Panel) Installers
BLD-299 661, Solar Core may be taken on Mondays OR Wednesdays from 6:30-8:20 p.m. beginning on March 15th.
Instruction in the special skills to both install and maintain solar energy panels for residential, commercial, and agricultural customers. Basic installer earnings are approximately $48,900 per year with post-apprenticeship earnings over $100,000 on average. The employment growth of 63% is expected by 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more information, please contact Eugene Damiani, program coordinator, at (708) 596-2000, ext. 2292 or email edamiani@ssc.edu.
Forklift Operator Training
Forklift Operator Training is a one-day course on either March 30, 31 or April 1st from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Illinois requires all forklift operators to obtain a license to avoid OSHA sanctions and possible penalties. Individuals who wish to pursue a new career or to ensure a safer, compliant workforce are encouraged to attend. This course provides the basic forklift driving skills needed to obtain the Forklift Operator Certification. A certification card from the National Safety Council will be issued to the student upon successful completion of the program. According to BLS, entry level operator earnings are approximately $38,500 per year on average. For more information contact Gervaise Edwards at (708) 225-6032, or email gedwards@ssc.edu.
Contact Tracing
CHW–250 will be offered virtually beginning on March 15th.
This course provides an overview of contact tracing to meet the demand of the growing public health workforce for contact tracing investigators. It will provide training on the basics of disease transmission and the principles behind case isolation and quarantine of contacts as a public health measure. Curriculum will also focus on the ethics around public health data collection and use, risk communication, cultural sensitivity, health equity and the basics of data collection for COVID-19 and other communicable diseases where contact tracers are needed. For more information about contact tracing, please contact Cynthia Williams at (708) 596-2000, ext. 2421 or email CWilliams@ssc.edu.
For more information about free tuition and other WEI benefits for these and other short-term career programs, please email workforceequity@ssc.edu or visit ssc.edu/wei.