Workforce Development Stories
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$4.6 million NSF grant to fund collaborative NexSTEM Program
The National Science Foundation has awarded $4.6 million to a consortium comprised of Illinois Wesleyan University, Illinois State University, and Heartland Community College to fund NexSTEM: A Community Assets Program that Fosters the Next Generation of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Leaders.
Over the five-year granting period, the three-school consortium will disburse nearly $2.8 million in scholarships and receive more than $1.8 million to involve the NexSTEM scholars in community-based research projects, to support the scholars’ classroom learning, to study new strategies for retaining students in STEM majors, and to keep the consortium running smoothly.
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BACC Nursing Program Continues to Grow
The Bloomington Area Career Center (BACC) Nurse Assisting Program continues to flourish and grow and, due to popular demand, has expanded for the 2018-2019 school year. The 2017-18 school year had BACC with 72 first year nursing students passing the CNA exam on their first attempt--a 96% pass rate. All students in our Nurse Assisting program were AED and CPR certified, as well as HIPAA trained.
Students attend clinicals two days a week at a community partner site. These partners are the key to success because they provide practical work based experiences that are vital to student’s success in the program. The community partners include Martin Health Center/Westminster Village, and Heritage Health: Therapy & Senior Care on Walnut Street.
The BACC also has 15 Advanced CNA students who attend clinicals four days a week diving deeper into their studies while allowing them to choose a particular field for more intense learning and hands-on training. The Advanced CNA clinical sites include OSF St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Illinois Cancer Center, as well as several different private practices. Overall, 98% of all students who attended the BACC Nurse Assisting Program in 2017-18 planned to pursue a career in the medical field. BACC is working to help fill the employment needs of our community.
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BACC Students Excel at SkillsUSA LEAD Conference
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The Bloomington Area Career Center (BACC) took 14 students to the
SkillsUSA LEAD Conference in Lisle, IL. This two-day leadership conference gives students the opportunity to learn, grow, and practice leadership and soft skills that will be used in their future careers. Students spent time learning about the 4 pillars of leadership, worked together in a project management atmosphere, and practiced soft skills through various activities including mock interviews. Students also had the opportunity to compete in leadership based competitions. Please help us congratulate the following students on their success:
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Promotional Bulletin Board - Sarah Welander and Hadley McKenzie
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Quiz Bowl - Caileigh Thayer
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Chapter Display - Matty Wenger, Samantha Churchey, and Matthew Merrill
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Business Procedure - Logan Norsworthy
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Job Interview - Austin Estes
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Promotional Bulletin Board - Yasimine Hamilton and Jennifer Smiciklas
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Business Procedure - Greg Carter
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Promotional Bulletin Board - McKena Spurling
The following students were also elected as new SkillsUSA State Officers:
Sarah Welander - High School Vice President
Hadley McKenzie - High School Historian
For more information on how to support students at SkillsUSA or for information about the BACC and its program, contact
Nicole Meyer.
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BHS Raiders Learn About the ISU Teacher Prep Program
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Students from Bloomington High School visited the Illinois State University College of Education to learn about careers in teaching. With a significant teacher shortage across the state and in McLean County, this program provided information and encouragement for students who are interested in pursuing a career in education. The students were mentored and accompanied by teachers Stacy Gardner and Jen Weaver, who provided an excellent career exploration opportunity that is so critical in helping students find their passion and learn how to prepare for the future.
Article provided by Julia Perez, Community Relations Coordinator, Bloomington Public Schools, District 87
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Career Link Offers Training Assistance to Local Employers
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Career Link offers several no cost services to assist local employers with developing and resourcing training programs such as Apprenticeship Assistance, Incumbent Worker Training, and On-the-Job Training.
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University of Illinois Extension Sponsors Trades Exploration
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McLean County 4-H and the Bloomington-Normal Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee work together in providing opportunities to educate and expose youth to skills and future careers in the trades. Youth ages 12 to 18 are invited to join!
Join us at the information meeting on
January 15th from 6 - 7 p.m. at the BNJATC Training facility at 2407 Beich Rd., Bloomington, IL 61704.
Please contact Emily Saddler at 309-663-8306 or esaddler@illinois.edu with questions.
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COMPACT Committee Updates
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Employer Engagement Committee
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Heartland Community College and COMPACT Prepare to Pilot Essential Employability Skills Training
Addressing employer demand for improved soft skills in the workforce, COMPACT chartered HCC to develop a training program to help employers fill those needs. After a summer of development and planning, HCC and COMPACT are almost ready to start the program.
We maintain that employees are our most valuable asset, and the sting of turnover certainly brings those words to life. The Society for Human Resource Management found it costs about 38% of an employee’s annual earnings to replace them when considering recruitment, training, the separation process, and losses in productivity because of workflow disruptions.
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And why so much churn? Employers report workers often have the necessary technical skills, but lack key soft skills needed to thrive in the workplace. Five soft skill priorities were identified in the BN Advantage survey completed by more than 145 McLean County employers.
In response, Heartland Community College, COMPACT, and BN Advantage are launching the Essential Employability Skills workshop series in January. Each session includes practical tools and strategies participants can immediately apply on the job related to:
Practicing Professionalism at Work
Communicating Effectively
Using Effective Tools for Decision-Making & Goal-Setting
Navigating Challenges and Stressors
Understanding Customer Service Essentials
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Program Development & Alignment
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College and Career Connections
Unit 5, District 87, Olympia High School, the Bloomington Area Career Center, COMPACT, and Heartland Community College held the first two in a series of College and Career Connections events, at Heartland Community College. The events are designed by high school leaders to provide a forum for high school students to learn more about the career areas they are most interested in and to gather information to make intentional and informed decisions about college and career choices.
Each event in the series is focused on a specific BN Advantage industry and brings those students who are interested in that specific area directly to the employers. College and Career Connections is aligned with the six industry clusters designated in BN Advantage: agriculture, information technology, business and finance, transportation and logistics, health services, entrepreneurship.
The first events, focusing on IT, finance, and health services, were supported by over 60 local employers who were able to provide relevant and practical information to students, parents, and educators in their respective fields. "Until you see it and participate in an event like this, it is hard to see the impact and the importance to the students.", said Dr. Mark Daniel, Superintendent of Unit 5 Schools. "When you see the students and employers interacting and having a meaningful discussion about the future and careers, that's the light bulb moment."
For information on how to connect your business, contact
Andy Bender.
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STEMPosiums Connect Rural Communities to STEM Opportunity!
BNSTEM partnered with PowerSurge Robotics to bring a STEMposium to Leroy High School on November 1st. STEMposiums are designed to bring the excitement and access of STEM programming to the rural school districts whose students may not normally get the opportunity to travel to Bloomington-Normal for larger STEM events. The November event in Le Roy brought together several members of the local STEM community with over 100 4th-8th grade students and families to participate in a variety of STEM exploration activities. Participating organizations included:
https://www.facebook.com/PowerSurgeRobotics/videos/1340248022778780/
SMARTPath Education Services LLC
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PowerSurge Robotics
PowerSurge Robotics is a 4-H SPIN Club in Central Illinois that focuses on teaching youth technology through creative robotics projects.
Read more
www.facebook.com
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HEALTHY OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME TRAINING
The research in Out-of-School (OST) has proven that students who get the nutrients they need and stay physically active are better learners, stay on task, and have better attendance. Come discover how your Out-of-School Time program is positioned to play an essential role in impacting the health and wellness of the students you serve. You will learn about the CDC’s Whole School, Whole Child, Whole Community Model (WCSS), where OST fits into it, and the impact your program(s) can make in Illinois' collaboration with schools and communities. We'll also explore national healthy eating and physical activity standards and how your OST program can get started implementing policies and practices that support those standards.
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For information about COMPACT or information in this newsletter contact
Andy Bender, Manger for Workforce Development.
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Is there someone in your network that might be interested in COMPACT or workforce development? Please forward and share!
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Andy Bender | McLean County Chamber of Commerce | (309) 829-1185
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