COD's Continuing Education Department receives 2021 ICCET Innovation Award

The Continuing Education Department at College of DuPage is recipient of the 2021 Illinois Council for Continuing Education and Training Innovation Award for its development of the Community College Collaboration Series.

In partnership with McHenry Community College, Harper College and Rock Valley College, the Community College Collaboration Series is designed to help share the strengths of each college's Lifelong Learning programs and provide new course opportunities to students around Northern Illinois.

Individual honorees include COD Lifelong Learning Program Manager Julie Konczyk, McHenry Community College Continuing Education Director Dori Sullens, Harper College Continuing Education Coordinator Delores McConnell and Rock Valley College Center for Learning in Retirement Director Tammy Lewis.

Konczyk said that in light of the pandemic negatively impacting adult program enrollment, the four college leaders reached out to each other, brainstormed, shared resources and created a profitable and sustainable model supporting older adults across the four community college districts.

"We are honored to have been recognized by ICCET for their inaugural Innovation Award," she said. "Through collaboration with other continuing education leaders, we were able to share the expertise of individuals with a wider group of participants to offer an outlet during a time of isolation during the peak of the pandemic," she said.

ICCEI President Jessie McClusky said that despite individually experiencing reduced enrollment numbers, limited marketing resources and, for some, a reduced workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic, the community college leaders creatively paved a new way for continuing education programming.

"Through adversity came opportunity and this partnership showcased the innovation and collaboration at the heart of each nominee," she said. "The leaders' commitment to their profession, their college and most of all their communities during uncertain times is evident in their work and successful collaboration."

Learn more about College of DuPage's Continuing Education Department at www.cod.edu/academics/continuing-education/index.aspx.