Equity for Every Student

To improve the student experience, CLC recognized that progress must be achieved for every student to achieve their goals. Guided by the mission to serve all members of Lake County’s diverse community with equitable, high-quality education, CLC made Equity and Inclusion a central pillar of the 2024 Strategic Plan.

At CLC, teams examine real-life, community-based data on educational opportunity and find ways to unite the college community around shared, intentional commitments that are responsive and improve outcomes for all students.

For example, in 2019 when CLC launched its 2024 Strategic Plan, local data revealed that not every person in every demographic group had equal access and resources to achieve their educational goals. About 8% of households in Lake County were at national poverty thresholds. These realities often put working toward an affordable education at CLC out of reach. Data showed that by the time they were 27 years old, Lake County residents who grew up in low income households were making less than half the earnings of their peers who grew up in high-income households.

Vice President of Strategic Advancement Dr. Derrick Harden said, “Education can change this trend and provide economic mobility, but only if everyone in Lake County has access and is supported to succeed.”

FACING THE FACTS, RESPONDING WITH PURPOSE

In 2019, about half of all Lake County residents aged 25 and older had a college credential, compared with one-third of Black/African American residents and less than one-fifth of Hispanic/Latinx residents. CLC data revealed that students of color were not making the same gains as the overall student population.

Leveraging data and input from college stakeholders and aligning to its Strategic Plan, CLC established an Equity in Student Access and Success Plan. Key performance indicators like student credit accumulation, persistence between terms, and completion created an evidence-based picture of CLC’s current state. Using these metrics, CLC work teams set ambitious targets to eliminate institutional equity gaps while improving outcomes for all students over the following five years.

REMOVING BARRIERS TO SUCCESS

One project focused on resourcing students for success. CLC reviewed all its offerings to students related to academics, finances, technology, mental health, basic needs and more, and then took steps to make improvements and address gaps. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, CLC introduced virtual tutoring sessions and, in the years that followed, added evening and weekend access to tutoring to better match students’ schedules. The CLC library rolled out a program in which students can check out laptops, internet hotspots, or graphing calculators and keep them for the entire semester.

“We expanded academic supports with a focus not only on what we offer but when and how students can access them,” said Director of Student Academic Success Dr. Eric Tammes.

“We are committed to helping students connect with CLC’s many free resources.”

Recognizing that students may encounter challenges to their mental and physical well-being during college, CLC boosted supportive options in these areas as well. Expanding mental health services ensures that students across campuses have access to professional counselors; whereas investing in the SHARE Market, CLC’s food pantry, ensures that students can routinely pick up free snacks, meals, school supplies and personal hygiene products.

Emily Borland is CLC’s community resource coordinator, a position specifically created to connect students with community-based resources and public benefits. Referring to agreements with Community Youth Network Counseling and Lake County Coalition for the Homeless, Borland explained, “At CLC, we’ve built strong relationships with community partners to better support our students in overcoming challenges beyond the classroom. By working with community partners, we uplift one another and create a stronger foundation for student success.”

FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Paying for college remains a challenge for many students, and for some, all it takes is a flat tire to cause enough financial strain to stop-out of their education. In addition to providing an affordable and quality education, CLC enacted multiple financial support strategies.

Executive Director and Chief Development Officer of the CLC Foundation Leigh Ann Jacobson said, “Thanks to the generosity and compassion of donors, the CLC Foundation provides more than scholarships. Gifts to the Lancer Emergency Assistance Fund help students navigate unexpected hardships—from car repairs to housing or food insecurity— so they can stay focused on their education. When life throws up barriers, donors help clear the path forward.”

With the help of the CLC Foundation, student emergency assistance funds increased to about $170,000 annually (from $10,000-$20,000 in prior years) to help more students address unpredicted expenses and continue at CLC. More than $25.8 million in grant funds provided during the COVID-19 pandemic supported nearly 15,000 students. CLC also invested in efforts to create free or reduced-cost textbooks, saving students more than $2 million each year. CLC also secured more than $10 million in state grants through the Workforce Equity Initiative, Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, and Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce program to fund students working toward credentials for jobs in high-demand fields.

ACCESS ACROSS LAKE COUNTY

CLC also focuses on serving students and community members across Lake County. The opening of the Lakeshore Campus Student Center in Waukegan in 2023 is a demonstration of this commitment. The 63,000-square-foot building was funded by a $35.9 million investment through Rebuild Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker’s bipartisan capital plan and $12 million in matching funds from CLC. The Student Center provides students and community members access to educational offerings, support services and gathering spaces to achieve their goals.

Harden explained, “Not every student attending CLC needs all the academic, technology, mental health, basic needs and financial resources that have been developed. However, as an open-admission institution, CLC is committed to support students by ensuring access to wraparound resources that can help them succeed.”

EVIDENCE OF PROGRESS AND A VISION FORWARD

Data shows that efforts are paying off. The rates of CLC students succeeding in their courses, “persisting” by taking classes in consecutive semesters, and graduating each year are all rising, with notable increases in populations who historically have experienced low graduation rates. These outcomes mean more students graduate and are workforce ready. Even with these successes, the work does not stop or slow down. In response to results of a campus climate survey completed in 2024, CLC is diving into the data to better understand and improve the experiences of students, faculty and staff from every background. Looking to the future and the 2030 strategic plan, CLC will continue to improve so every member of the diverse Lake County community has access to successfully complete a high quality college credential.