Congrats to our valued partner, Illinois Central College! ICC was recently named one of the “2019 Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges” by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) and the publication Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.
ICC was one of 19 community colleges nationwide to receive this award. NISOD selected these institutions based on scoring from an annual survey that weighs such factors as diversity benefits, staff demographics, and diversity policies. Among the “promising practices” highlighted by Diverse is “Commitment to Meeting Needs of the Community”, which ICC was addressed in:
Other institutions, like Illinois Central College (ICC), signal the importance of community engagement by having cabinet-level leadership in the area such as a Vice President of Diversity and Community Impact. ICC hosts a summit on Racial Justice and Equity, comprised of keynote presentations, panel discussions, and roundtables that connect the community to campus. It is important for all community colleges to truly be members of their local communities, serving the needs of the people on campus and beyond.
Under the direction of Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey, ICC continues to make strides as a pillar of education, community engagement, and workforce development in our region.
Commenting on ICC’s value to the region, Chris Setti, CEO of the Greater Peoria EDC, stated, “A qualified and available workforce is the true currency of economic development and our best incentive. ICC continues to be a great leader in the development of our workforce. We are proud that they have been nationally recognized for something we locally already knew: They are a great place to work, are truly committed to diversity, and are making an impact on thousands of lives each year.”
