Illinois Central College Celebrates Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month

East Peoria, IL (02/01/2022) — Illinois Central College and its Career and Technical Education (CTE) division proudly celebrate the Association for Career and Technical Education's annual CTE Month. Each February, a nationwide public awareness campaign takes place to celebrate the value, achievements, and the accomplishments of CTE programs across the country.

"Nearly two-thirds of Illinois community college graduates earn a CTE degree or certificate. At ICC, these programs provide students a pathway to high-demand, higher-wage jobs. The programs offer flexible scheduling, work-based learning, and stackable credentials for both recent high school graduates and adult workers looking to upskill and uncredentialed adults looking to certify for the first time." said ICC President Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey.

CTE is education directly preparing students for high-wage, high-demand careers. It covers many different fields, including health care, information technology, advanced manufacturing, hospitality and management, and many more. It encompasses many different types of education, from classroom learning to certification programs to work-based learning opportunities outside the classroom.

"ICC is well connected with local employers and industry partners, and provides students opportunities for job shadowing, mentoring, internships, apprenticeships, and other Earn and Learn programs," said Dr. Quirk-Bailey. "Our Earn and Learn programs allow participants to split their time between the classroom and the workplace as they gain real-world knowledge, hands-on experience, and often a paycheck. This experience provides an outstanding foundation for individuals to transition directly into jobs upon graduating."

ICC offers 45 industry-connected CTE programs to strengthen students' technical skills, provide a smooth transition to another postsecondary institution, or lead directly to a high-demand career.

For more information, including annual job openings and earning potential for CTE programs offered at ICC, visit icc.edu/CTE.

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Illinois Central College is a two-year community college with campuses in East Peoria, Peoria, and Pekin, Illinois providing a high-quality, affordable education to prepare students to enter the workforce or to transfer to a four-year college or university. For more information on ICC, visit icc.edu.

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