JJC Blog

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.  

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. 

3D printing is a popular hobby these days, but for someone just starting out it might seem overwhelming. What machine should I buy? What software do I use to create my prints? Luckily there are a lot of resources available for beginners. 

Unfortunately, flu season is upon us and illnesses spread quickly this time of the year. With some help from Joliet Junior College’s nursing faculty members, we’ve compiled a list of ways to help you, and the people around you, stay healthy this winter. 

Looking for something fun to do this fall? Take a non-credit class at JJC! JJC's continuing education courses are fun and interest-based, meant more for enjoyment than a grade. These classes, which are open to both students and community members, cover a wide range of topics which include local history, cooking, music, crafts and more. They are offered every semester.

Take a look at our list of 10 "just-for-fun" fall classes below, or browse the catalog yourself.

Visit jjc.edu/LLC to learn more.

Want to get into the workforce quickly?

JJC offers a number of for-credit certificates (check out our list of 15 JJC certificates you can earn in one year or less) that will help get you into the workforce fast, but for some careers, there may be an even quicker option. Below, we list five non-credit certificates, offered through JJC's Corporate & Community Services Department, that provide you with job-ready skills and a training credential.

Even though these classes do not provide credit toward a degree program, you can promote them on your resume to help you land a job. In most cases, these classes will provide the training you need to qualify to take certification exams. 

Non-Credit Programs vs For-Credit Programs
Non-credit programs are short-term (typically lasting one semester or less) and provide job-ready skills. They do not count toward a college degree or college certificate. For-credit programs are more traditional and count toward a college degree or college certificate. 

Questions about these programs or others not listed here? Contact Training Coordinator Chris Lester at dlester@jjc.edu or call (815) 280-1423. You can also visit trainingupdate.org.

Looking for something fun to do this summer? Take a non-credit class at JJC! JJC's continuing education courses are fun and interest-based, meant more for enjoyment than a grade. These classes, which are open to both students and community members, cover a wide range of topics which include local history, cooking, music, crafts and more. They are offered every semester.

Take a look at our list of 10 "just-for-fun" summer classes below, or browse the catalog yourself here.

Visit jjc.edu/LLC to learn more.

Attending community college is one of the smartest decisions you can make for your future. This is a sentiment that New York Magazine and Huffpost reporter Yashar Ali knows all too well. In a tweet from March 14, he asked other Twitter users to express their love for community colleges - and several of our very own JJC alums replied. 

See a few of the tweets below - and thank you to all of our wonderful alums for giving us a shout out! 

Did you know that JJC has its very own MakerLab?

Packed with cool equipment (most notably 3D printers), the lab is an environment for both students and the community to create almost anything they want using materials like filament, craft plywood, acrylic sheets, vinyl and more. Note: Anyone can tour or visit the MakerLab during regular hours, but to use the equipment in the lab, you must be a MakerLab member.

Wondering what you can make? Take a look below!

If you're a JJC student, there's at least one thing you have in common with the Lost Generation (those born 1883 to 1900): you attend the same community college as they did.

JJC has been in operation since 1901, and as the very first community college in the U.S., there's nearly 120 years of history in its grasp. Want to take a stroll down memory lane? Keep scrolling for seven interesting snip-its from the past, discovered in JJC yearbooks and other archives.