Chicago Southland Collaborative for Education

Leadership Community

Chicago Southland Collaborative for Education is committed to providing its students with valuable work-based learning opportunities through apprenticeships and internships by partnering with local businesses. Prairie State College and the Career Prep Network will facilitate partnerships with local unions and employers to support job placement for students after graduation.

Prairie State College, located in Chicago Heights, Illinois, serves a diverse population of students from various ethnic backgrounds, genders, and socioeconomic statuses. The college attracts students from Homewood Flossmoor, Bloom Township, Rich, and Crete-Monee High School districts.

Led By

Prairie State College and the Career Prep Network

Areas of Expertise

Dual credit with established career pathways
Regional-based collaborations
Apprenticeships and internships
Career counseling

Prioritized Focus Areas

Health Sciences and Technology
Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology, and Trades
Information Technology
Finance and Business

Key Successes

Prairie State College and the Chicago Southland Collaborative for Education formed a collective to provide learners with technologically advanced Career & Technical Education options. Known as the Southland Career & Technical Education Center (CTE), the innovative area career center will be headquartered in Park Forest, Illinois.
A successful mentoring/coaching program was launched in 2023 and is slated to expand during the spring 2025 academic year for all CTE programs.
The pilot phase of dual credit currency, “Pioneer Points.”

2-Year Goals

Forge industry partnerships: Collaborate with local businesses to create real-world partnerships to provide students with insights into various career paths and help them develop relevant skills.
Launch skill-based workshops: To help students with job success, workshops will focus on both technical and soft skills connected to the CTE areas. Topics include coding, public speaking, and financial literacy. The Collaborative will provide four workshops annually.
Access to career counseling services: Enhance options for students to receive guidance from career counselors to help align their interests with potential career paths and postsecondary options. The Collaborative will begin to track these services and aim to serve 30% of the students enrolled in dual credit pathway programs.
Implement Mentorship Programs: Connect students with professionals in their fields of interest to provide valuable guidance and motivation. This program will help students envision their future careers and understand the steps needed to achieve their goals. The Collaborative’s goal is to increase mentors to include every discipline represented in the CTE and Allied Health program offerings.

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Network Organizers: Advance Illinois, Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University, and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission

Leadership Communities