Farmers Weekly Review

State Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel and state Reps Natalie Manley and Larry Walsh played a key role in approving a new state program that will help Joliet Junior College and Illinois public university students prepare for graduate school and in-demand careers.

The Prepare for Illinois’ Future Program is the result of a commitment by the state, Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) and leading global education company Kaplan to provide free test preparation courses to students enrolled in Illinois’ public universities, as well as five community colleges. Joliet Junior College (JJC) was one of the first five community colleges to enter the program.

This historic workforce initiative enables students to access Kaplan’s best-in-class preparation for professional licensing exams, graduate-level admissions exams and credential exams at no cost. Available courses include exam prep for the GRE®, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, NCLEX-RN, Illinois State bar exam, real estate and securities exams, and more. Students will also have access to a suite of certificate courses, including project management and cybersecurity, as well as professional and academic skills development courses from Kaplan.

“I supported this test and licensure prep program – which is funded with $10 million in the state budget – because it makes JJC more attractive to employers and helps the college advance their education and graduate school possibilities,” said Loughran Cappel, D-Shorewood, a former teacher and the chair of the Senate Education Committee, in a press release.

“Many students are forgoing job and educational opportunities because families are struggling financially,” said Manley, D-Joliet. “This program is a game-changer for our JJC students who can take classes that will help them excel.”

“We have a shortage of people in skilled professions such as nursing, medicine and engineering,” said Walsh (D-Elwood). “Many students simply cannot afford to take prep classes for graduate school so they don’t take key entrance examinations for graduate schools and skilled professions. I support this program, which can turn the tide in our favor the next few years.”

The program aims to boost in-state enrollment at public universities, create career pathways for students from underserved urban and rural communities, and address the state’s critical shortages for essential professions – ultimately helping to reduce shortages in the Illinois workforce, including projected deficits of more than 14,000 nurses and more than 6,000 doctors by 2030.

In addition to offering the program to students at all 12 Illinois public four-year universities, the program is being piloted at five community colleges chosen to reflect the geographic and demographic diversity of the state, including Joliet Junior College, Carl Sandburg College, Southwestern Illinois College, Malcolm X College and Morton College.

Kaplan has already begun working with these community colleges and the state’s public universities to launch the program so students can access these courses.