ECC named a national semifinalist of college readiness by ACT

Elgin Community College has been selected by ACT as a national semifinalist in college and career readiness.

ACT selected ECC and other semifinalists for the Career Preparedness Award based on student success indicators, including retention, graduation, and four-year college transfer rates (especially for underserved student populations). Other factors included the strength of relationships with local employers and high schools; accessibility of career readiness assessments and career preparation programs; and support structure in place for students.

ECC was honored for its Alliance for College Readiness partnership that prepares high school students for college, offering open-door unemployment services to more than 100 individuals each month, and local financial literacy. Also noted was ECC's use of nine types of ACT WorkKeys assessments to provide career preparation to both students and unemployed community members.

"By building on its partnership with Achieving the Dream, which assists community colleges in prioritizing improvements and tracking results, Elgin Community College is beating the odds," according to ACT. "The college is retaining and graduating its students at rates far higher than the national averages for community colleges."

ECC will join other national semifinalists in finding out if ACT has selected it as a National Exemplar during the ACT National Gala on College and Career Readiness in June.