News

February is a month that acknowledges some very well-known observances and holidays. Black history month, American Heart Association month, the birthdays of Lincoln and Washington, and even Valentine’s Day. However, it is also CTE Month®, which celebrates the value of Career and Technical Education! Why is CTE something we should celebrate? Because CTE impacts us all every day!

Waubonsee's observatory is a valuable asset to the college and surrounding communities. 

“Happy New Year” is a greeting we’ve heard and seen a lot during the past few weeks. While friendly and innocuous enough, the greeting can gloss over the fact that many of us are anything but happy during the cold, dark months of winter. With the holidays behind us, January is a good time to take stock of our personal mental wellness and that of our family and friends.

One of the most disappointing stories you can hear is that of a student who has had to delay or forego their education altogether due to a lack of resources. In some cases, these students may have not known about the scholarships available through the Waubonsee Foundation or may have just not taken the steps needed to learn about and complete the application process.

Thanks to our very generous and loyal donors, the Foundation has provided 405 scholarship awards totaling over $378,000 to 346 recipients for the 2019-2020 academic year.

“Well you’re just wrong.”

How many times have you heard that lately? Given our current climate of contention and spirited discussion…to put it mildly…you may have found yourself debating opinions with a family member, a coworker, or perhaps with someone you don’t even know in that most bedeviling venue of them all: the social media comments section.

Despite how noble the spirit of someone’s intent might be, they can often base their claims on what are called “logical fallacies.” These are concepts we sometimes learn about in high school or college, but such lessons can easily fade in memory. Flawed reasoning is everywhere, from our neighbors to the sometimes “fake news” story, so it’s good to review a few fallacies so you can spot when either a friend or a media pundit is making a shaky claim.

Whether you are a high school senior or a parent returning to school, navigating your funding options to pay for college can be cumbersome as you explore possibilities for education and training. If you plan on attending college starting in fall 2020, now is the time to start exploring ways to pay for college.

On the first day of class, I ask my criminal justice students, “Who wants to be a police officer?” Almost every hand goes up. I can sense their enthusiasm. They often tell me they want to help people and “make a difference”. As the semester progresses and we discuss some of the challenging issues facing today’s police, I ask the same question. Thankfully, many of the same hands go up. They are still enthusiastic; however, they are now beginning to understand just how tough the job of policing can be.

Recent research continues to reinforce that college completion leads to better career opportunities and higher earning power over the course of one’s working life. Whether a career-specific certificate or an advanced degree, the benefits of even the lowest level of college completion cannot be understated. Yet as we promote this as the best way to achieve one’s personal and professional goals, we must also acknowledge that the challenges of college completion frequently cause students to spend more time and money in pursuit of that degree than should be necessary.

Do you like computers and technology? Are you intrigued by the way things move and function? Are you creative? Do you like to work with your hands? Do you like to use your mind to solve problems? Do you want to earn a competitive wage and benefits? Do you want to avoid racking up thousands of dollars in student debt going to a 4-year university to earn a degree you might not even be able to benefit from? Look no further! A career in manufacturing may be exactly what you are looking for.

People who want to attend college start their academic journey at many different places. Not all students are prepared for the rigor of college mathematics courses. The state of Illinois and colleges across the state are working to help those students get ready for college so that they can be more successful there. Waubonsee Community College is contributing to this effort of preparing students by offering a Math Bridge Program.