Christine J. Sobek, Ed.D. President, Waubonsee Community College

Today’s college students have many reasons for selecting a community college as their choice for higher education – with faculty, program choice, location and cost weighing heavily in the decision process.  What our students report after their experiences at community colleges, is that community college faculty are among the best in higher education.

Rich, real-world experiences, subject matter expertise, and a passion for teaching are the hallmarks of community college instructors.  Coupled with the personal attention students receive in smaller class sizes, our faculty at Waubonsee Community College set the stage for exceptional learning opportunities and help foster student success.

The outstanding teaching and learning taking place at Waubonsee occurs across the curriculum. However, sometimes a single academic course can demonstrate the depth and breadth of innovation and dedication.  Waubonsee’s new sustainability course, Survey of Environmental Studies — Water, is an excellent example. This unique multidisciplinary course features eight faculty members who provide their perspectives from the disciplines of biology, business, chemistry, economics, earth science, philosophy and psychology.  With this combined experience, students are able to fully see how issues relating to water, and our environment, impact nearly every aspect of our lives.

Waubonsee faculty members regularly pioneer new programs. In addition to the sustainability course, our faculty recently developed new programs in legal interpreting, peace studies, health information technology, disability studies, and health care interpreting.

Health care interpreting is on the leading edge in meeting the needs of our local community and creating jobs for our graduates.  Health care interpreters are bilingual employees who facilitate communication in hospitals, clinics and other health care settings.  Waubonsee’s program focuses on English/Spanish interpreting and was the first of its kind in Illinois when it debuted in 2006.

The National Council of Instructional Administrators recently honored the college with its top award for Waubonsee’s role in establishing the Health Care Interpreting Educational Network. The network provides resources, networking, professional development and continuing education for health care interpreters. 

Waubonsee’s automotive programs -- automotive technology and auto body repair -- are also leaders in their field.  Both programs boast a strong record of placing graduates into well-paying careers.  Recently our automotive technology program was recognized as the top program in the nation by two professional industry organizations.

Several “green” innovations are also underway in these two programs.  The Automotive Technology faculty recently developed a course that focuses on automotive recycling, which uses environmental best practices to recycle everything from parts to electronics and to safely dispose of fluids and switches. The Auto Body Repair program is using a new water-based paint process, an environmentally friendly solution to the traditional paints used in the industry – and helping students apply green solutions to the workplace.

Ultimately, the measure of a faculty member’s success is the educational outcomes gained by his or her students. Waubonsee students and alumni routinely achieve many accomplishments because of the solid educational foundation they experience in the classroom and the college’s emphasis on teaching and learning.

Across the nation, and locally at Waubonsee, community college faculty members routinely inspire students’ passion for learning, provide excellent instruction in a supportive atmosphere, and assist students in achieving their dreams.