JJC Blog

Over 1,400 classes. That’s how many were transferred online in just two weeks as Joliet Junior College quickly moved to provide a safe environment for learning and teaching as the COVID-19 pandemic began to impact Illinois in mid-March. The process brought with it a lot of adaptation among JJC professors and creative modifications in order to provide the best learning methods possible for their students.

Many of these processes will continue this summer, as JJC continues online only learning. In the fall, all lecture courses will be held online, while in-person labs may be possible should conditions be safe for doing so. Let’s look back on how our professors modified their courses for online, methods that will only improve as the college continues remote course work.

JJC has six campuses and education centers that serve more than 27,000 students each year. With that many students and our abundance of degree and certificate programs, there's a lot of space to explore. While in-person tours are currently unavailable for prospective students amid the COVID-19 pandemic, visits to campus can take place virtually!  

These days may have you thinking a lot about how your academic journey may play out. Whether you’re a prospective or current college student, or want to return to school and grow your skills, Joliet Junior College is a great place to get started. Plus, with our dozens of university partnerships, there are great options for where to transfer JJC credits in order to seamlessly complete a bachelor’s or even a master’s degree. Learn more at www.jjc.edu/transfer, or fill out our transfer interest form to receive feedback based on your interests.

Our transfer specialists are available to assist you remotely at this time to walk you through the transfer process, including what four-year college or university best suits your needs. They’ve even created a new remote information series to better guide you in your decision-making. Transfer Talks, hosted by JJC Transfer Specialist Lauren Peerbolte, connects you with admissions specialists at many of JJC’s existing university partners. Below, we outline what these schools offer for JJC transfer students, and how else you can get the most out of your transfer experience.  

After their classes were transferred to an online only format, JJC students, and students across the nation, were forced to adapt to a learning style that many were not used to. Even during these difficult times our students have proved their willingness to learn and shared messages of positivity with our community.  

When JJC officially restarted its spring semester on March 29, we entered a new normal of online only classes and remote student services. We admit, it wasn’t an easy transition. But everyone pulled together to create the best possible learning environment for students amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

For one thing, JJC administrators, faculty, and our information technology team were able to transfer over 1,400 courses online in less than two weeks! Additionally, we’ve rolled out a one-stop shop for current students to access support services remotely, as well as routinely updated our FAQ page to provide answers to the common questions our offices are receiving during this time. As our students are learning from home, JJC employees are working from home to carry out these services.

"As we continue to serve students remotely, we are considerate that these are challenging times for many students," said Dr. Yolanda Farmer, vice president for student development. "Remaining committed to student success during these unprecedented times is the top-priority for faculty and staff. We are here to support students to stay on the path of success."

Through it all, we’re proud to have helped so many students virtually during this time. Here’s a breakdown of how we’ve done it, and where you can go for assistance.

Since classes have been transitioned to an online format due to COVID-19, students and faculty members must adjust to this new virtual normal. 

The spring semester has officially restarted at Joliet Junior College in an online only capacity. While we’re sad to be unable to interact with our students in person, we recognize this is the safest approach, and will continue to operate in a way that best protects our students and employees amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

That said, JJC faculty and staff are excited to offer over 1,400 classes remotely to our students, as well as an abundance of online support services during this time! Below, we’ve outlined some key dates, procedures, and pathways through which JJC students can thrive during the remainder of the spring semester and beyond.

The halls will be quieter this week, as JJC students are off for spring break. While we’ll miss the bustle of campus, we’re glad our students are getting some much-needed time to relax.

We reached out to several students on their plans for spring break, as well as their advice for fellow students during this time. Here is what 12 of them had to say.

JJC offers many extracurricular activities for students, including collegiate level athletics. Students can participate in 11 sports: wrestling, volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer and cheerleading.  

JJC not only provides an abundance of student services at Main Campus, but throughout its extended sites. At Romeoville Campus, new initiatives and enhancements to existing services have created even more opportunities for students, whether they are a part-time visitor or study exclusively at the location.

The Romeoville Campus, located at 1125 W. Romeo Street, opened in 1993 as a 35,000-square-foot facility. The college added another 49,000 square feet in 2015 to include more classrooms and science labs, a new campus bookstore, an open computer lab, a dedicated traffic school classroom, a collaborative classroom, a larger cafeteria, and much more. As of late, even more services have been added or improved. Here we inform you of 10 resources enhancing student success at JJC’s Romeoville Campus.