Kankakee, IL

When Kankakee Community College was founded 40 years ago‚ a small group of instructors conducted the school’s first classes from a rented room at the Kankakee Hotel. Today‚ Kankakee Community College has grown to include degrees in more than 50 disciplines‚ 150 full- and part-time instructors and a strong reputation for adult education and workforce development.

The college provides two-year degrees for full-time students and also offers courses of study geared to working adults.

Kankakee Community College works with area businesses to conduct specialized workforce training programs and oversees the Kankakee Education and Employment Center‚ a one-stop location for adult learners‚ job seekers and businesses seeking qualified workers.

Nearby in Bourbonnais‚ Olivet Nazarene University‚ which was established more than 100 years ago‚ also is helping open the gateway to lifelong learning for area residents. The school’s adult education program includes a variety of degrees‚ from business administration to nursing‚ and offers certificates in sales and sales management. Both institutions collaborate with the Grundy Livingston Kankakee Workforce Board on numerous community service projects aimed at improving the skill level of the workforce to strengthen the local economy.

Building on the area’s strong tradition of providing higher education opportunities‚ Governor’s State University operates the Kankakee Education Center in the city’s downtown area. The facility is a satellite location of GSU’s main campus in University Park and offers an expanding selection of post-secondary programs‚ including bachelor of arts degrees in criminal justice and communications as well as master of arts degrees in education and educational arts.