GED/Skills Center - Rend Lake College

PROGRAM OBJECTIVE

Rend Lake College's Skills Center provides relevant and accessible educational opportunities to adult learners who have decided to earn a State of Illinois High School Diploma by attending GED classes. The program curriculum is designed to develop skills in reading, writing, and math. Workforce preparation skills are integrated within the curriculum.

For more information, call (618) 437-5321 or toll-free at (800) 369-5321, Ext. 1220 / 1241 / or 1244, or email [email protected].

GED CLASSES

Classes are Available on the Following Days and Times:
Monday-Thursday
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Class locations are available at the Rend Lake College Market Place in Mt. Vernon and Rend Lake College Campus in Ina.

Remote classes are available to students who qualify.

LOCAL LIBRARIES

The local libraries have study spaces, tablets, WIFI, and other materials available for Rend Lake College Adult Education students.

Locations include: Benton, McLeansboro, Mount Vernon, Sesser, and Wayne City

Resources

Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE)

All students enrolling in a Skills Center class must take the Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE) in reading and math. The TABE results give an indication of a student’s grade level equivalency (GLE). The TABE also provides a detailed report about the skills each student needs to improve. Using this report, instructors can develop a learning plan that will move students through classes as quickly as possible.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN YOUR TEST SESSION

TABE Instructions for Locator Testing

TABE Instructions for Remote Testing

Eligibilities

High School Equivalency (GED)

Eligibility:

No high school diploma/GED or below 9th grade in reading or math. Students with a high school diploma can enroll to brush up on academic skills before enrolling in college or to advance in the workforce.

Two Levels: Reading/Language Arts Only or Math Only

Eligibility:

ABE Reading/Language Arts – reading between 4th and 9th grades

ASE Reading/Language Arts – reading between 9th and 12 grades

ABE Math – math between 6th and 9th grades

ASE Math – math between 9th and 12 grades

Students can enroll in these classes if they only need to study math or reading to pass a GED test or if they want to increase their skills in these subjects.

Bridge: Healthcare/Information Technology/Manufacturing

Eligibility:

Reading or math between 6th and 9th grades

ICAPS: Phlebotomy/Welding/Machining/IT

Eligibility:

Reading or math between 9th and 12th grades

Class Locations

Skills Center classes are offered at the following locations. Class schedules vary from location to location. Contact a member of the Skills Center team for enrollment information at a location near you.

Rend Lake College MarketPlace
Suite B
327 Potomac Blvd.
Mount Vernon, IL 62864

Rend Lake College Main Campus
468 N Ken Gray Pkwy
Ina, IL 62846

Remote classes are available to students who qualify.

Bridge Program

The Skills Center Bridge classes provide students with the opportunity to improve their intermediate skills in reading, writing, numeracy, technology skills, and oral communication while exploring careers in healthcare, manufacturing, or information technology.

ICAPS

Through the Integrated Career and Academic System (ICAPS), students work to complete their GED and are co-enrolled in credit career and technical education (CTE) courses through an integrated instructional model. It is supplemented by support courses and comprehensive student support services. It also includes team teaching with the CTE and Skills Center instructors. The model provides career pathway/employment opportunities for students while enabling transition into additional postsecondary certificate/degree programs or the workforce.

The Skills Center offers ICAPS in four pathways:

Phlebotomy

PHLEBOTOMY / CERTIFICATE / 16 CREDIT HOURS

Students in the Phlebotomy program will learn techniques, procedures and issues pertaining to the proper collection of blood specimens for routine clinical laboratory testing. Clinical experiences will give students the chance to use what they have learned in direct care situations.

Employment of phlebotomists is projected to grow 17 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, blood donor centers, and other locations will need phlebotomists to perform bloodwork. The median annual wage for phlebotomists was $35,510 in May 2019.

Welding Fundamentals

WELDING FUNDAMENTALS / CERTIFICATE / 12 CREDIT HOURS

Welding programs are designed to provide the student with a wide range of welding experiences. Programs will cover welding theory, blueprint reading, metallurgy and inspection and test procedures. There will be extensive laboratory practice in SMAW, GMAW, GTAW and oxy-acetylene welding processes. The student will learn to weld with electrodes and wires in all positions common to the welding industry. Program completers will have adequate skills to qualify for employment as a welder.

The nation’s aging infrastructure will require the expertise of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers to help rebuild bridges, highways, and buildings. The median annual wage for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers was $42,490 in May 2019.

Basic Machining

BASIC MACHINING / CERTIFICATE / 18 CREDIT HOURS

This certificate is for those students who are seeking to improve their skills for the machining industry. Students will learn the fundamentals of machining using lathes and milling machining. The fundamentals of setting up the machine, selecting the correct tool, adjusting tool speed, determining depth of cut, and the use of precision measuring tools will be covered.

Employment of machinists is projected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations. With improvements in technologies, such as computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools, autoloaders, high-speed machining, and lights-out manufacturing, machinists will still be required to set up, monitor, and maintain these systems. The median annual wage for machinists was $44,420 in May 2019.

IT Support Professional

IT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL / COURSE / 6 CREDIT HOURS

This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of IT support. Topics include troubleshooting, customer service, networking, operating systems, system administration, and security. The instructional content prepares students for industry-recognized credentials including Google IT Support professional and CompTIA A+.

Employment of computer support specialists is projected to grow 8 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. More support services will be needed as organizations upgrade their computer equipment and software. Computer support staff will be needed to respond to the installation and repair requirements of increasingly complex computer equipment and software. The median annual wage for computer user support specialists was $52,270 in May 2019.

GED Testing Scholarship

Need Help Paying for GED Test?

GED® Testing Fee Scholarship Application Guidelines