10 things you don't know about CLC

Editor's note: This is the first of a periodic column written by College of Lake County President Jerry Weber about programs and events at the Grayslake campus and issues involving community colleges.

When I talk about the College of Lake County in the community, I often find people are surprised by the range of academic programs and services we offer or the many ways CLC and its students are involved in the community.

CLC does all that?

Here are just 10 things you may not know:

1. CLC is a leader in international education, offering a semester abroad program at Xi'an International University in China and other overseas study opportunities in countries ranging from Japan to Peru. Our international program is so strong the U.S. State Department awarded us a grant in 2012 to open an American Culture Center in China. That year, the state department funded 19 such centers and CLC was the only community college selected.

2. CLC has a special relationship with the Stanley Cup-winning Blackhawks. For the last five years, students in our health and wellness program have conducted strength and conditioning training camps for the team.

3. Science and technology education is flourishing on our campuses. Qualifying students in our Engineering Pathways program with the University of Illinois are guaranteed admission as juniors to the university's College of Engineering. We're also building a new $28.3 million science building to house science and technology programs, including an innovative laser, photonics and optics program - the only one in Illinois.

4. Under our Sustainable Campus Master Plan, we're investing in a geothermal system and other improvements that will reduce our energy consumption by more than 50 percent on the Grayslake campus. We received a Gold Award from the Illinois Campus Sustainability Compact for our comprehensive efforts that are turning our campuses into living laboratories for students to learn about sustainable practices.

5. Our James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts hosts the Lake Forest Symphony performances. The center also has a full range of student and community performances in dance, music, and theater, as well as numerous professional touring company productions. All these combine to draw about 35,000 patrons annually.

6. Each year, we help 400 to 500 entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses through training and consulting services offered by our Small Business Development and International Trade Center.

7. We offer many strong pathways to completion of a bachelor's degree, including partnerships with the University Center of Lake County, DePaul University, Northeastern Illinois University and many others.

8. CLC can open the door to a debt-free higher education degree. Our tuition is affordable compared to other higher education options, and those students needing help can apply for financial aid throughout the year. The college also awards about $500,000 each year in scholarships and aid from funds raised by our Foundation.

9. We continually accept students and offer courses in 6-, 8- and 16-week course lengths. Students can start class at many times throughout the year. Enrollment for the fall is going on now.

10. CLC faculty is amazing. Just two examples are this year's full- and part-time faculty members of the year, Jenny Lee and Penny Steffen, who both teach English.

The daughter of Korean immigrants, Lee studied and worked in Korea, South Africa and England and received a Ph.D. in English from Northwestern University, where her dissertation won the Jean H. Hagstrum Award for the Best Dissertation of the Year. She also is the CLC Women's Center coordinator and is very active in Chicago social service and immigrant support organizations.

Steffen is one of our many adjunct faculty who bring their professional experiences into the classroom. She teaches creative writing and shows students that dreams can be achieved. Writing under the pen name Sasha Dawn, she is the author of a popular young adult novel, "Oblivion."

If you would like to learn more, visit our website at www.clcillinois.edu.