After World War II, Illinois Institute of Technology was one of the first colleges in the country to establish an evening division to serve returning GIs who worked during the day for one of Chicago`s many manufacturing companies.
Forty years later, many of these firms relocated to the high-tech corridor, and IIT officials decided the time had come to ”go with the flow” and establish a western campus to serve companies in this area while still maintaining their Chicago campus.
Today the student body comprises approximately 1,000 working professionals who want to update their education, graduate students and technicians working toward an undergraduate degree.
And more than 300 employers, ranging from A. Finkl & Sons to Zenith Corp., are making it easy for them by offering tuition reimbursements to workers who enroll in courses at this west campus.
To meet the demands of the corporate world, IIT has developed several certificate programs for professionals in computer science and electrical engineering and professional and technical communication.
To further update workers, IIT has also created the IIT/V Network Campus, an eight-channel network that offers live IIT courses via interactive television to students at both corporate and public sites.
This one-way video, two-way audio system offers employed students the time-saving option of attending classes in their homes or offices.
Thirty-five corporations use the system, so employees can take courses via IIT/V during working hours at work as well as five public sites, including IIT west campus, Chicago Medical School, Oakton College, Elgin Community College and St. Xavier College.
Bill Franek, a registered professional engineer, wears two hats as an engineer for the Cook County Environmental Control Department and professor of environmental studies at IIT`s downtown and Wheaton campuses.
”I can relate to the students because I was a part-timer myself for many years,” said Franek, who earned a master`s degree in environmental engineering during a five-year stretch at IIT.
Franek`s students come from both government and industry, and he said his 20 years experience in the environmental field helps him provide practical solutions to problems they bring to class from their jobs.
”I can help them find the solution to problems that just aren`t found in textbooks,” he said.
