Toya Webb holds an impressive title: Chief of staff and executive vice president of strategy at Waubonsee Community College. But the reason she’s so excited about a new initiative at WCC goes further back in the 47-year-old Chicago native’s life. Webb was the first in her family to go to college and did so as a young mom with two small children in northern New York, where her husband was stationed with the U.S. Army. Webb vividly recalls holding the year-old baby in one arm while hanging on to her toddler’s hand as she enrolled in classes at Jefferson Community College. Intimidating? Absolutely. But that two-year experience launched her professional journey – first into journalism, then public relations and finally into higher education. It’s no wonder Webb extols the value of community colleges and wants others to benefit from what they can offer in this changing landscape of higher education and workforce needs. Thanks to Waubonsee Community College President Brian Knetl’s new RISE 2030 initiative, she’s convinced WCC is on an unprecedented trajectory to do just that. The RISE acronym stands for Redefining the relationship with the community, Investing in academic innovation, as well as Strengthening and Enriching the student and employee experience. The initiative’s mission is to guide the college’s work for the next five years, concentrating on priorities and goals that reflect the evolving needs of the community. And that takes a lot of people. Building the infrastructure of RISE began a year ago, which included gathering input from more than 170 employees and a 12-member student advisory board, as well as community stakeholders in business and manufacturing, education, health care, social services and government. The latter included the first legislative roundtable held with elected officials in December to discuss, among other things, funding opportunities. “We want to be a community hub for engagement,” insisted Webb. The RISE initiative has myriad components, from making sure curriculums focus on high demand skills to helping students overcome hurdles such as day care, transportation and food insecurity. To address those personal challenges, for example, the college is looking into its own food pantry. WCC also formed a partnership with the Boys Girls Club of North Central Illinois that provides free day care at the college’s downtown Aurora campus. The new Waubonsee Community College free shuttle program between its Aurora and Sugar Grove campuses will pick up and drop off students on the Hoyt Street side of the Aurora campus. Waubonsee officials said the shuttle is a direct extension of the college's RISE 2030 strategic plan. (Mark Black/For The Beacon-News) And most recently, on Friday, ribbon-cuttings were held at the downtown Aurora and Sugar Grove campuses for a new shuttle bus that will transport students back and forth to their classes. “Academics are important but we also must take care of the whole student,” said Webb, noting the college wants to “give more voice” to its diverse 10,000-student population, 75% of which are part-time. Surveys are being conducted, for example, on what they would like to see in a multicultural center. She also pointed out efforts to streamline and strengthen support services – from admissions and finance to mental health needs. According to Webb, an excellent example of the college’s focus to provide skilled labor for stakeholders is the 100,000-square-foot Technical Education Center that opened last November and provides high-end training in auto tech, welding and collision repair. Also, in “direct response to feedback” from local manufacturers, she said, WCC is starting both a wastewater management and industrial maintenance program. In health care, potential programs include dental hygiene, sonography and radiology. To meet another growing demand, the college and Sugar Grove Fire Protection District are looking into a joint facility to focus on fire science and EMT/firefighter training. The RISE mission also includes expanding English Language Acquisition classes at Family Focus and in East Aurora, West Aurora and Oswego school districts. And, as I’ve mentioned in previous columns, Waubonsee, which was one of two Illinois colleges chosen to join the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program’s Unlocking Opportunity Network, is putting a high priority on AI literacy that will emphasize responsible use of artificial intelligence and hands-on learning. “It’s a very ambitious plan” and “so different from in the past,” insisted Webb, who emphasized that anyone in the community with ideas is encouraged to reach out at waubonsee.edu/partner. “Most strategic plans sit on a shelf with only a few knowing about it. But whoever wants to be part of (RISE 2030) can be part of it,” she said. “We are the community college. And we want to redefine our relationship with the community.” [email protected] ...read more read less