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The Laker Advantage Podcast: Insights and Sidebars with Dr. B
Welcome to the Laker Advantage Podcast: Insights and Sidebars with Dr. B. In this podcast, Lake Land College President Josh Bullock will share his thoughts on a range of innovative topics that impact higher education, our communities, and our future.
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In the News
Lake Land College to Host Grand Opening Celebration for New Effingham Technology Center
Published on July 7, 2025
Lake Land College will host a Grand Opening celebration for its new Effingham Technology Center on Wednesday, July 30 from 3 – 7 p.m.
The family-friendly event will give guests their first look at Lake Land’s newest facility, allowing them to explore program offerings and discover the opportunities the building will bring for higher education, career exploration and workforce development in the region. The event will include building tours, classroom and lab demonstrations, giveaways, refreshments, food trucks and hands-on simulation activities. Lake Land College President Josh Bullock and business leaders representing local College partners will provide special remarks for a brief dedication ceremony beginning at 5:30 p.m. Read More
Notes
April 2024
Celebrating Community College Month
With the arrival of April, it’s once again time to join our peers throughout the nation in celebration of National Community College Month. We are proud to share a common goal of accessible education and community enrichment with so many remarkable institutions throughout our country. We are excited to take this time to celebrate the immeasurable value these colleges offer by enhancing economic opportunity and creating pathways for social mobility throughout their regions.
Community colleges are uniquely positioned to serve the diverse needs of modern students. Whether they plan to transfer to a university or rapidly enter the workforce, community college students can choose from a variety of flexible programs to take the first steps toward achieving their goals. At Lake Land College, our programs range from 8-week certificates to 2-year associate degree tracks, all of which offer a powerful combination of classroom instruction and hands-on experience to ensure student success beyond graduation.
With their flexible programs offered at a fraction of the cost of a university, community colleges present sizable financial savings and empower students to take control of their educational experience. This is particularly vital for the most underserved student populations, such as students who are low-income, first-generation, adult learners or incumbent workers. While the typical costs and demands of a university may restrict access to postsecondary completion to many student groups, community colleges help reduce barriers to completion and open the door to life-changing career pathways. In fact, the average Lake Land student who is eligible for PELL and MAP grants can attend Lake Land College for free, with no out-of-pocket costs, and even put money back into their pocket to assist with other expenses such as childcare, food, transportation or housing.
This mission of accessible postsecondary education even extends to high school students in many cases through dual credit courses. These partnerships offer a convenient head-start toward college completion and can help instill confidence for students to continue their education beyond high school. In fact, 73% of dual credit students elect to attend college after graduating from high school, setting themselves up for sustainable futures in high-demand career fields. At Lake Land College, we are excited about our strong relationships with the many high schools throughout our district and the opportunities these partnerships present to expand dual credit enrollment moving forward.
Whether students begin their college journeys as dual credit enrollees, nontraditional adult learners or anything in between, a community college education presents a premium return on investment (ROI). In fact, Illinois community college graduates rapidly recoup their educational expenses with an annual rate of return of approximately 27%. Many also enjoy the advantage of beginning their careers without carrying any student debt. In our case, we are proud to report that just 3.45% of our Lakers took out a loan during the 2022-2023 academic year, ensuring they can stretch their wages further without the weight of student debt.
With these numerous advantages, it’s no wonder why so many students across the nation choose community college as the starting point of their postsecondary journey. In Illinois alone, community colleges account for 65% of all public postsecondary enrollment. On a national level, roughly 35% of all U.S. undergrad students were enrolled in community college in Fall 2021. Collectively, postsecondary students throughout the country earn 2 million associate degrees and career and technical certificates each year, building their skills for sustainable employment and career advancement. As students graduate and grow into our nation’s next leaders and industry professionals, many of them will carry the education and experience of a community college background into these roles.
As you can see, there is ample reason to celebrate the countless accomplishments of our nation’s community colleges. At Lake Land, our belief is that every student should have access to a high-quality education, and we are proud of the work that we are our peers are doing every day to make this mission a reality. I look forward to discussing with you the immeasurable value of community colleges and the role they play in advancing our nation.
For more of my thoughts about a range of innovative topics that impact higher education, our communities and our future, be sure to check out the Laker Advantage Podcast: Insights and Sidebars with Dr. B on Spotify.
March 2024
Exploring the Benefits of Dual Credit
It is no secret that modern-day high school students are increasingly skeptical about the value of higher education. In their view, after all, the world of college is largely unfamiliar, and many students are hesitant to invest the necessary time and money if they have any doubts about college being the right choice. But what if there were a process in place to reduce both the time and cost of completing a college degree? What if there were a tool that gave students an in-depth exploration of the college experience before they even earn their high school diploma?
You might be surprised to learn that this solution not only exists, but is utilized by roughly 1.5 million high school students throughout the nation. The solution, of course, is dual credit, an arrangement that allows qualified high school students to enroll in college courses and simultaneously earn credit for both levels of education.
At its core, dual credit serves as an accelerated career pathway by providing students a head start to a college degree. By participating in these programs, students take courses that satisfy their high school graduation requirements while also counting toward college completion. Dual credit also allows students to explore and make informed decisions about their career interests, all while gaining confidence that they are capable of post-secondary success.
With the dual credit format through Lake Land College, students and their families have the opportunity to save on courses that might otherwise cost thousands of dollars at a university. Students in schools participating in the Effingham Regional Career Academy (ERCA) can enroll in several select Lake Land dual credit courses for free for the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters. Additionally, students who qualify for Illinois’ Free and Reduced-Priced Meal program are eligible to enroll in most of Lake Land’s dual credit courses at zero cost, helping ensure equitable access to quality education to all students, regardless of background.
Lake Land’s dual credit courses are offered in multiple formats. Most commonly, the classes are conveniently offered at the student’s own school and taught by high school teachers who are qualified to teach college-level courses. In a second format, specialized classes are taught on-site by Lake Land instructors to provide opportunities for hands-on learning and exposure to Lake Land’s state-of-the-art technology.
Research on dual credit programs show increased educational advancement rates among participating students. In 2021, 73% of Illinois students enrolled in dual credit continued their education by attending college, according to the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB). It is evident that dual credit partnerships help empower students to succeed and equip them with greater confidence to continue their education.
At Lake Land College, we are continuously seeking opportunities to expand dual credit opportunities. This fall we will introduce a new course in the high-demand field of Emergency Medical Services in addition to our traditional general education offerings in subjects such as composition, literature and speech.
Recently, we have seen encouraging statewide support for the development of dual credit programs. We are excited about our most recent grant from the ICCB, which will help us provide schools with essential textbooks and instructional materials while also covering professional development costs to allow high school teachers to become qualified dual credit instructors.
Moving forward, we are excited to find new ways to leverage our dual credit programs and help make a college education available to all students. I look forward to discussing the increasing significance of dual credit throughout our communities and the role it plays in supporting a skilled and educated workforce.
For more of my thoughts about a range of innovative topics that impact higher education, our communities and our future, be sure to check out the Laker Advantage Podcast: Insights and Sidebars with Dr. B on Spotify.
February 2024
Celebrating the Power of CTE
In his famous Thanks a Thousand project, author A.J. Jacobs takes on a simple yet daunting task: thanking every individual who played a role in making a single cup of coffee. The project took months to complete, sending Jacobs across the globe to thank more than 1,000 people for making his morning ritual possible.
The results of this project are a testament to our interconnected world, one that relies on skills, talents and knowledge that are too often taken for granted. As I consider the fascinating observations of this exercise, I find myself asking, “how would our communities function without the work of Career and Technical Education (CTE) graduates?”
As the college and nation celebrate Career and Technical Education Month this February, we want to recognize the vital contributions of CTE in our society. Our Lake Land CTE graduates are woven into our local economy in nearly every industry, playing a significant role in healthcare, agriculture, business, construction, manufacturing, IT, STEM and many more.
The recognition of CTE’s immense value, however, also leads to a concerning realization about the skills gap we are experiencing throughout our state. In Illinois, more than half of all jobs require a level of education and training between a high school diploma and a four-year degree. Yet, just 40% of all Illinois workers match that description.
Since the pandemic, we are seeing an increased skepticism about the value of a college degree among graduating seniors. In our district alone, nearly half of all students are electing to forgo higher education altogether following high school, opting for instant employment and regular paychecks in lieu of college courses and student loans. The appeal is undeniable in the immediate sense, but students often do not recognize the long-term limitations of this approach when it comes to promotions and job security.
It is increasingly evident that the best hope in bridging this skills gap lies in the continual support and promotion of CTE programs. The promotion must begin at an early age by encouraging our youth to experiment with hands-on learning and open their minds to the potential of a CTE career. To that end, we are proud of our partnerships with youth programs such as Teens with Tools, the Effingham Regional Career Academy (ERCA) and the Mattoon-based Leaders Innovating for Tomorrow (LIFT) that expose young learners to the world of CTE.
With a powerful blend of classroom learning and hands-on work experience, CTE graduates are equipped with the high-quality education and training necessary for sustained career success. Meanwhile, the investment required for CTE completion is minor compared to the time and financial resources necessary for a four-year degree, allowing graduates to find rapid employment and stretch their wages further without the weight of student debt.
Our CTE programs are industry-driven and designed to meet local demands. By partnering with businesses and working with experienced professionals in advisory committees, we ensure our programs are equipped with the proper curriculum, equipment and experiences our students need to remain relevant in a 21st century workforce.
These business partnerships also present CTE students with work-based learning opportunities or apprenticeships. Through these arrangements, students use their knowledge and develop their skills through practical application, enjoying early career exposure and a valuable head start in their chosen industry. Meanwhile, companies benefit from a strengthened pipeline of qualified talent available for full-time hire with minimal risk.
At Lake Land College, we believe in the value of CTE, and we are proud of our efforts to invest in this form of education. I have enjoyed seeing our innovative Tech 2 Day program help our trades and technology students hold dependable jobs since its introduction in Fall 2023. I am also amazed by the incredible hands-on learning opportunities our students can access right here on campus and in the many extension centers throughout our district. Every day, our virtual cadavers, realistic patient simulators and ambulance trainer are preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals, all while our welding and CDL students hone their craft in the safety of high-tech simulations.
As we seek to promote the value of CTE and close this skills gap, I encourage our local students and area residents pursuing an enhanced education or career to consider the rewarding possibilities of a CTE career. Further, I invite us all to recognize and celebrate the importance of CTE in our daily lives. I look forward to discussing the value of these programs and brainstorming ways to promote CTE in response to the skills gap we face. After all, our communities are dependent on the collective strengths of those within them, and if we work together, there’s no limit to what we can brew.