JJC Blog

Joliet Junior College was founded in 1901 and is the oldest public community college in the United States. Throughout its 120-year existence, many students and staff have come through the doors to shape JJC’s rich history.  

Tags: Just for Fun, About JJC, Community, History

In planning your academic future, you’re likely exploring costs, plus federal and state financial aid assistance. For Joliet Junior College students, the window is now open to also apply for fall 2021 scholarships.

Scholarships are awarded through the JJC Foundation, with over 895 provided last year totaling more than $757,000 in support. Get the most out of your education at JJC and apply for fall 2021 scholarships by the May 1 deadline. Here’s how:

Tags: Financial Aid, Scholarships

We’ve seen a lot of unique ways to connect with people safely during this pandemic. That creativity has been on full display within the arts community, from local theatre to Hollywood cinema. The Joliet Junior College Fine Arts Department has maintained its commitment to educate students and entertain the community through a series of virtual offerings, with plenty still to come.

Tags: Student Voices, Online Learning, Theatre, Music, Fine Arts, Virtual, Art

As part of a three-year grant, Joliet Junior College is supporting local businesses and students by growing the number of registered apprenticeships. The $140,000 grant from the American Association of Community Colleges, with funding from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), aims to create 150 apprentices.  

Tags: In-Demand Jobs, For New Students, Careers, About JJC, Community

Black History Month is a time to celebrate the barriers that the Black community has broken, express pride in what it means to be Black and to honor the impact of Black Americans on U.S. history. February was chosen as Black History Month because the birthdays of abolitionists Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln fall during the month. It's also the month that the NAACP was founded. 

Tags: Just for Fun, Holidays, About JJC, Community

The spring semester is just getting started, so there’s still plenty of time to shape how you want it to go. Since the shift to primarily virtual services last year, many of us have gone through a period of adjustment. The new semester brings the opportunity to reflect on what went well and not so in 2020. It provides us a chance to develop new skills and learn alternative ways to tackle certain tasks. Plus, it’s a great time to take status of our emotional wellness. JJC’s Student Wellness Program – Mental Health can help!

It is easy to forget to take care of not only our physical self but our emotional self. Often during periods of change and adjustment, many will put themselves on the backburner and sometimes even forget to take care of their basic needs of nutrition, sleep, and activity. Here are 5 basic ways to take care of your emotional wellness, courtesy of JJC’s Student Wellness Program – Mental Health.

Tags: About JJC, JJC Experts, Online Learning, Mental Health

The coronavirus pandemic has affected employment in nearly every industry, some more than others. Fields like healthcare and technology are thriving, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projecting that jobs in these areas will increase from now through 2029. However, healthcare and technology aren’t the only fields that are seeing success, many business fields are expected to grow as well.  

Tags: In-Demand Jobs, Careers, About JJC, Majors, Healthcare

There’s no doubt 2020 has been a challenging year for everyone. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a lot of hardship, and that’s not lost on Joliet Junior College. Yet through all we’ve had to overcome, time and again our students, employees and local community reminded us that there’s much to be thankful for.

We dedicated a section of JJC’s Fall 2020 Connections Magazine to the heroes in and outside the classroom, and encourage you to follow their stories this month on social media through #JJCHeroes2020. Here’s how these groups and individuals have played a vital role in how we’ve managed 2020, and why their efforts will continue to offer hope into 2021.

Tags: About JJC, JJC Experts, Online Learning, COVID-19, MakerLab, #JJCHeroes2020

Joliet Junior College now offers nine guided academic pathways for students to choose from. But what is a pathway? Pathways separate career clusters into easy-to-understand groupings, allowing students to choose a major based on their interests and strengths. This allows students to complete their degree on time, save money and reduces duplication of courses if they change their major. It also helps with advising to make sure that students are on the right path to graduating on time.  

Tags: For New Students, Careers, About JJC, Majors, Healthcare, Radiologic Technology, Culinary

Figuring out how to pay for college can be a huge burden for many students; and doing so amid the economic challenges resulting from the pandemic can be even more stressful.  

Tags: Money Saving Tips, Financial Aid, FAFSA