JJC Blog

Joliet Junior College faculty and staff are committed to ensuring students have the right resources to succeed. In the months since JJC switched to online learning and remote services amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot has been learned on how to best work and learn from home. We shared many of our professor’s unique remote teaching methods in a previous blog.

Fall classes at JJC begin Aug. 17, with lecture classes online and face-to-face labs if the state remains in Phase 4 of its Restore Illinois plan. Whether you’re already enrolled for the fall semester or still considering your options, know that remote learning will continue to be common for some time. Consider these tips from JJC faculty and students to get the most out of the online learning experience.

Sure, the stores are now stocked with a variety of face masks that help protect us amid the COVID-19 pandemic. That doesn’t mean you can’t still create your own, especially if you’re looking to fill any free time this summer with some new projects.

Need a blueprint to follow? Students in JJC’s costume class, under the direction of Fine Arts Professor Julie Giampaolo, not only sewed their own masks from home this spring as part of remote course work, but donated them to community members! Over 500 masks were distributed to eight different medical facilities, as well as to JJC employees and students.

Whether you’re sewing by hand or using a machine, you can create your own mask with some fabric, thread, and by following these steps.

Cure your summer boredom by taking a non-credit class at JJC! JJC's continuing education courses are fun and a great way to pick up a new hobby or skill, plus there’s no pressure to get a good grade. These classes, which are open to both students and community members of all ages, cover a wide range of topics including local history, photography, finance, gardening and more. Since JJC’s physical campus is closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these courses will all be held online.  

Joliet Junior College launches its fall semester on Monday, Aug. 17. While we’d love to have returned to normal operations by this time, the college will continue to provide most of its services remotely amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. That includes offering all fall lecture courses online. However, students taking lab courses may be able to do these in person on our campus should conditions be safe for doing so.

Below, we answer many of the common questions the college is receiving at this time, including how to navigate the registration process, steps to complete once you’ve registered, and what to expect when classes start.

At JJC, it’s Your College. Your Journey.

Summer weather is finally here! You’ve likely been spending a lot more time at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are anxious to get outside, spend time with your friends and family and take a break from your summer courses. While gatherings of 10 or less people are now permitted, we still need to be mindful of COVID-19 preventative measures still in place.  

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.