To bolster students’ capacity to pursue Illinois’ prestigious College and Career Pathway Endorsements in priority industry sectors for the region, Joliet Junior College (JJC) is working to develop a work-based learning continuum alongside its partners Wilco Area Career Center, Grundy Area Vocational Center, and Joliet Township High Schools. The work-based learning opportunities, aligning with the endorsement, are available to regional high school students.
This past year, 12 of the 18 high school students in JJC’s industrial maintenance pathways program engaged in career development experiences, and 13 students are continuing in degree programs at JJC. All the students reported worthwhile experiences with JJC’s offerings, and industry partners also had positive feedback about the participating interns.
Josh West, JJC’s Dean of Career and Technical Education (CTE), recently shared insights about their model. Best practices that have contributed to JJC’s success include:
Build Upon Existing Structures
In response to Public Act 102-0917 (HB3296), which requires school districts to offer endorsements or formally opt out, JJC built upon existing structures to develop its industrial maintenance pathway. Leveraging funds from a Take Back the Trades grant from the Illinois Community College Board, JJC was able to expand staff capacity to build out a pathways program. JJC also expanded on its existing Advanced Integrated Maintenance dual enrollment program by linking the program offerings to the pathway endorsement. Enrolled students could extend their learning beyond the classroom by engaging with JJC staff to refine their resumes and apply for internships. This approach leverages current resources to strengthen students’ career readiness and enhance their pathway experiences.
Develop and Maintain Strong Partnerships
The JJC team attributes much of the success in providing work-based learning opportunities to strong partnerships with the surrounding career centers and industry partners. They have established deep connections with Wilco Area Career Center and Grundy Area Vocational Center and continuously build on these relationships. They also recognize industry members as invaluable allies in this effort and lean on their firsthand experience to help build and promote the programs effectively. JJC prioritizes these meaningful, in-depth relationships by having monthly check-ins with their local Education For Employment office, CTE advisors, counselors, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment with partners and address concerns.
Communicate in the Language That Reaches Industry Partners and Students
Another essential practice is communicating with industry partners and students through a value-add approach, helping them understand the importance of engaging in pathway opportunities for their future success.
For companies, the value lies in the technical skills and adaptive behaviors students gain through work-based learning. JJC emphasizes that while essential and technical skills can be taught in the classroom, the more nuanced needs of the industry are addressed on the job. These skills help students integrate smoothly into the workplace and meet future industry demands.
For students and their families, the focus should be on what participants stand to gain—whether it’s learning industry-relevant skills, securing job placements, or receiving future tuition support. Showing the long-term benefits, like a clear path to a degree and career opportunities, motivates students to commit. Recruitment should highlight partnerships with companies, the types of jobs available, and potential salaries, always linking coursework to industry needs. This ensures students are not only prepared to survive in the workforce but to thrive.
JJC emphasizes the importance of involving families in the process. Engaging families early enhances their understanding of available opportunities and helps them feel more comfortable and supportive of their student’s involvement. Having industry partners explain the opportunities from their perspective has proven to be an effective way for families to gain clarity.
The Earlier You Reach Students, the Better
Engaging students early, when they have fewer distractions, is crucial for shaping their future goals. By introducing them to college opportunities and career pathways early on, they may better understand the range of experiences available to them. Bringing students onto campus allows them to get comfortable with the environment, support services, and faculty, so by the end of the year, the idea of college feels attainable.
Many of these practices are helping empower students to continue their education, secure internships, and equip them with the skills needed for the College and Career Pathway Endorsement. Moving forward, JJC wants to continue to utilize these best practices and lessons learned to expand their offerings into machining and construction management.
How might your institution benefit from applying some of these principles? Let us know how we might partner with your region to support strengthening work-based learning (use the contact form below).
