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PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR "THE CITIES" IS PROVIDED BY A GRANT FROM THE DORIS AND VICTOR DAY FOUNDATION.
>>AFFORDING THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT SOME OF US WILL EVER MAKE AND MAKING SURE THERE IS
DIVERSITY NEAR THE ORANGE CONES AT HIGHWAY WORK SITES IN THE CITIES.
EVERY TIME YOU HEAR ABOUT A ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, YOU HEAR ABOUT THE NUMBER OF JOBS
IT WILL CREATE. BUT IS IT CREATING JOBS FOR EVERYONE? LATER
WE WILL TALK ABOUT A PROGRAM AIMED AT BRINGING NEW FACES TO HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION CREWS.
BUT, FIRST, THE DOLLARS AND CENTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
COLLEGE COSTS HAVE SKYROCKETED OVER THE PAST DECADE AS STATES TRY TO BALANCE THEIR BUDGETS
BY CUTTING SUPPORT AND PRIVATE COLLEGES TRY TO COMPETE FOR THE BEST OF THE BEST STUDENTS.
AND ALTHOUGH THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR IS MORE THAN SIX MONTHS AWAY, NOW IS THE TIME TO GET
YOUR FINANCIAL HOUSE IN ORDER. EASIER SAID THAN DONE.
JOINING US IS WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY QUAD CITY FINANCIAL ADVISOR ALEX HALL AND
JEANINE INGELSON FROM SCOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN THE SAME POSITION.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. WE WANTED TO GET SOMEBODY FROM BOTH ILLINOIS
AND IOWA. BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT SETS OF INFORMATION
THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING FOR FINANCIAL AID.
ALEX, LET ME START WITH YOU. WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE TUITION HIKES
REALLY KIND OF SLOWING DOWN AS A MATTER OF FACT, AS FAR AS THE PUBLIC COLLEGES ARE CONCERNED.
IS COLLEGE STILL VERY MUCH AFFORDABLE? I MEAN DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF PARENTS THAT ARE
GNASHING THEIR TEETH WORRIED HOW THEY WILL GET THEIR KIDS IN SCHOOL?
>> COLLEGE FOR THE PAST DECADE OR SO, THE TUITION COSTS HAVE INCREASED ABOUT 3% WHICH
IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN PAST DECADES. THE MAIN THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN IT COMES
TO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD IS JUST BEING KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE AID
AND THE OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES WHO QUALIFY FOR SPECIFIC GRANT PROGRAMS.
>>LETS A START RIGHT THERE BECAUSE NOW IS ALMOST THE END OF THE TIME YOU SHOULD BE
CONSIDERING THIS IF YOU ARE GOING TO START SCHOOL THIS COMING AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, YOU
SHOULD BE REALLY CONSIDERING THIS SIGNIFICANTLY NOW, IF NOT, YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING THIS
SOONER? >> YEAH. REALLY THE MAIN THING THAT STUDENTS
AND PARENTS NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT NOW IS COMPLETING THEIR FINANCIAL AID PAPERWORK.
THE MAIN PIECE OF PAPER, THE MAIN THING THAT THEY NEED TO FILL OUT IS THE FREE APPLICATION
FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID OR THE FAFSA, AS MOST PEOPLE KNOW IT, THAT AUTOMATICALLY REGISTERS
FOR STUDENTS, FAMILIES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT AID THEY QUALIFY FOR AS FAR AS NEED BASED
GRANTS AND LOW INTEREST FEDERAL LOANS. >>THE FAFSA IS PRETTY MUCH A ONE STOP SHOPPING
AS IT WERE JUST TO GET YOU STARTED? >> YES.
BY COMPLETING THE FORM, IT DETERMINES YOUR ELIGIBILITY FOR STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS AS
WELL AS THE LOW INTEREST RATE LOAN PROGRAMS OFFERED BY DEPARTMENT OF ED.
>>JEANINE, I KNOW THERE IS A NUMBER OF WORKSHOPS, WE WILL TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THOSE BOTH
ON IOWA AND ILLINOIS SIDE. PEOPLE SHOULD REALLY MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE
FOR SUCH WORKSHOPS. BUT IF THEY DON'T HAVE THAT CHANCE, IS THERE
EASIER WAY TO FIND OUT ABOUT FAFSA AND THOSE FIRST STEPS YOU NEED TO TAKE TO START FILING
FOR THIS FINANCIAL AID? >> ONE OF THE GREATEST PLACE TOSS START WITH
IS WITH ONE OF THE LOCAL COLLEGES HERE. ANYBODY CAN GO TO ANY COLLEGE.
WE ARE OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE. WE HAVE PEOPLE COME TO SCOTT WHO AREN'T EVEN
INTERESTED IN SCOTT, BUT THEY HAVE SOME FINANCIAL AID QUESTIONS.
THEN WE HAVE GOT SOME WORKSHOPS COMING UP, TOO, THE COLLEGE GOAL SUNDAY WHICH IS ALWAYS
HELD ON A SUNDAY, WHERE FAMILIES, NO MATTER WHAT INSTITUTION THEIR CHILDREN WANT TO ATTEND
CAN COME, AND FINANCIAL AID, INDIVIDUALS FROM THE AREA COLLEGES ARE HELPING FAMILIES TO
GET THOSE FAFSAS FILED EARLY AND ON TIME. >> I WANT TO TALK ALEX IN REGARDS TO SOME
OF THE THINGS DISTINCTIVE FOR WESTERN. LET ME STAY WITH YOU A MOMENT LONGER.
>>SURE. >>IS IT SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT, JEANINE,
FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS INTERESTED IN A TWO YEAR INSTITUTION AS OPPOSED TO A FOUR YEAR INSTITUTION?
>> WELL, NOT FOR FILING FOR FINANCIAL AID. THAT FAFSA IS THE MAIN FORM FAMILIES WANT
TO START FILING FOR THE FEDERAL AND STATE AID.
THEN, ALSO, AT COMMUNITY AND AT FOUR YEAR SCHOOLS, FAMILIES SHOULD CHECK WITH THE FINANCIAL
AID OFFICE BECAUSE WE ALL OFFER INSTITUTIONAL FINANCIAL AID, TOO, IN THE FORM OF SCHOLARSHIPS.
AND THEN FAMILIES NEED TO ALSO LOOK ONLINE FOR OUTSIDE AND PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIPS SO THE
BASICS OF APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID IS THE SAME, WEATHER WILL YOU ARE GOING TO COMMUNITY
COLLEGE OR A FOUR YEAR SCHOOL. >>BUT, ALEX, THE REAL BIG DIFFERENCE IS WHAT
EACH INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL OFFERS, AND THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY YOU CAN FIND THAT OUT, AND THAT
IS CONTACTING THE SCHOOLS. >>YEAH, BY SEEING WHAT THE SCHOOL OFFERS AS
FAR AS FINANCIAL AID. AT WESTERN, WE DO ACCEPT ALL FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS FOR ILLINOIS
RESIDENTS. THE MAIN ONE THAT COMES TO MIND IS THE STATE
GRANT CALLED THE MONETARY AWARD PROGRAM, AND THAT'S A PROGRAM WHERE THE FUNDS FOR IT ARE
LIMITED. >>WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE MAP GRANTS, WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT JUST ILLINOIS STUDENTS. >>YES.
>>GOVERNOR QUINN IS HOPING TO HAVE THIS DOUBLED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, PERHAPS FIVE YEARS,
BUT RIGHT NOW THERE IS LIMITED FUNDING WHEN IT COMES TO MAP GRANTS.
SO IS IT FIRST COME OR FIRST SERVE OR HOW DOES THAT WOULD?
>> BASICALLY HOW IT WORKS, IT IS ALL DETERMINED BY THE MAP CUT OFF DATE WHICH IS SET BY THE
ILLINOIS STUDENT ASSISTANCE COMMISSION. UNFORTUNATELY, YOU DON'T KNOW IT UNTIL TYPICALLY
IT IS ALREADY PASSED. WHAT I TELL STUDENTS WHO ARE FILING THEIR
FINANCIAL AID PAPERWORK IS YOU NEED TO COMPLETE YOUR FINANCIAL AID PAPERWORK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THE FAFSA, THE WAY IT WORKS, IS IT IS RELEASED JANUARY FIRST OF EVERY YEAR, AND IT GOES TO
THE NEXT ACADEMIC WORK. THE PAPERWORK THE STUDENTS NEED TO FILE NOW
IS THE 2014 2015, FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID.
>>FAFSA, FREE APPLICATION FOR STUDENT FINANCIAL STUDENT AID, THE FAFSA PROCESS SHOULD START
RIGHT NOW. BUT THERE ARE CHANGES IN THIS YEAR'S FORM
THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING AND IT REALLY INVOLVES CHILDREN AND REPORTING OF FAMILY
INCOME. >>YES.
>>TELL ME ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE. BECAUSE THIS IS SIGNIFICANT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
>>THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE RIGHT NOW IN THIS YEAR'S FAFSA COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEAR'S FAFSA
IS REGARDLESS OF MARITAL STATUS, DEPENDENT STUDENTS PARENTS HAVE TO REPORT THE INCOME
IF THEY LIVE TOGETHER. EVEN IF PARENTS ARE DIVORCED BUT THEY LIVE
TOGETHER, BOTH THEIR INCOMES NEED TO BE REPORTED ON THE FINANCIAL AID PAPERWORK.
ADDITIONALLY, THEY REMOVE GENDER SPECIFIC TITLES OF PARENTS AND STUDENTS WHO ARE MARRIED
FROM THE FAFSA AS WELL. SO SAME SEX COUPLES, BOTH PARTIES INVOLVED
HAVE TO REPORT THEIR INCOME. >>AND, JEANINE, HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THAT?
I MEAN THAT COULD REALLY IT REALLY ALMOST OFFERS ITSELF UP TO CERTAIN INTERPRETATIONS
IT SEEMS RIGHT NOW. >>WELL, IF THE LEGAL PARENTS, WHETHER THEY
ARE BIOLOGICAL OR ADOPTIVE, NOT MARRIED, BUT THEY LIVE TOGETHER, IN THE PAST, YOU ONLY
REPORTED ONE PARENT'S INCOME. SO NOW IT WILL BE BOTH.
BUT INCOME IS ONE PART OF THE WHOLE FORMULA. ASSETS ARE LOOKED AT, HOW MANY ARE IN COLLEGE,
ETCETERA. SO ALL OF THIS INFORMATION GOES INTO A FORMULA
TO DETERMINE WHAT TYPE OF FINANCIAL AID A STUDENT IS ELIGIBLE FOR.
>>THAT'S WHAT I WAS WONDERING BECAUSE THIS COULD SIGNIFICANTLY ALTER THE FORMULA FOR
SOME PEOPLE, WOULD IT NOT? ALTHOUGH IT IS, LIKE YOU SAID, IT IS ONE ELEMENT
TO THE TOTAL PICTURE. >>RIGHT.
>>BUT IT IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ELEMENT. >>IT COULD MAKE SOME STUDENTS MAYBE NOT ELIGIBLE
AS MUCH AS BEFORE THEY WERE. BUT, LIKE I SAID, IT IS PART OF THE WHOLE
PICTURE. SO THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT OPTIONS IN REFERENCE
IF GRANTS AREN'T AVAILABLE, THERE IS LOANS, AND WORK STUDY PROGRAMS, TOO.
>>WE TALKED ABOUT THE MAP GRANT WHICH IS JUST ILLINOIS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT IOWA FOR JUST A MOMENT. THE IOWA STUDENT LOAN THAT LAUNCHED A NEW WEB
SITE THAT TALKS ABOUT THE RETURN ON YOUR COLLEGE INVESTMENT.
>>RIGHT. >>HERE IS THE IDEA THAT I GET FROM GOVERNOR
BRANSTAD WHEN HE UNVEILED IT IS THAT YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY SMARTLY.
YOU ARE INVESTING IN YOUR COLLEGE. LET'S NOT WASTE MONEY IN AREAS THAT YOU MAY
NOT BE INTERESTED IN. HOW DOES THIS WORK?
IF YOU GO TO THE NEW WEB SITE, YOU CAN FIND A BUNCH OF INTERESTING SPECIFICS THAT COULD
REALLY AFFECT YOUR LIFE DOWN THE ROAD. >>RIGHT.
THE STUDENT CAN GO ON TO THE WEB SITE, AND THEN THEY START OUT CHOOSING WHAT DO I WANT
TO MAJOR IN. AND YOU SELECT THAT FIELD, WHETHER IT IS PSYCHOLOGY,
SOCIOLOGY, BUSINESS, ETCETERA. THEN IT WILL BRING UP A WHOLE LIST OF POSSIBLE
JOBS WITHIN THOSE MAJORS AND ANTICIPATED STARTING SALARIES, AVERAGE SALARIES, ETCETERA. THEN
LOOKING AT THAT, IF YOU HAVE THIS SALARY, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO NOT BORROW OVER X
AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR YOUR COLLEGE EDUCATION. SO IT MAKES YOU START THINKING WISELY ABOUT
HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO BORROW. OF COURSE, YOU WANT TO BORROW AS LITTLE AS
POSSIBLE BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE TO PAY IT BACK. IT ALSO THEN BRINGS UP TIPS FOR BUDGETING.
HOW CAN I CUT COSTS SO I DON'T HAVE TO BORROW SO MUCH?
A FOUR YEAR PLANNING WORK SHEET, A CAREER WORK SHEET FOR FOUR YEARS IN COLLEGE. SO THERE
ARE A LOT OF OTHER RESOURCES WITHIN THIS WEB SITE TO HELP STUDENTS PLAN EARLY, TRY NOT
TO BORROW SO MUCH, HOW TO CUT DOWN ON BORROWING. >> I SMILE ONLY BECAUSE I THINK OF MY COLLEGE
EXPERIENCE IN THE 80SAND HOW MANY OF US WERE ACTUALLY TROLLING FOR A MAJOR, OR A MINOR
BE AND YOU ACTUALLY SPENT A LITTLE MORE MONEY THAN YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T
DECIDE. THIS ALMOST MAKES IT LOOK LIKE YOU HAVE TO
DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO FOR COLLEGE WHILE YOU ARE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL.
IT IS NOT QUITE THAT BAD. >>NO.
BECAUSE AND, ONCE AGAIN, YOU CAN GO BACK ON. IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MAJOR, WHICH IS VERY TYPICAL,
COLLEGE STUDENTS CAN GO ON THIS, TOO. IT IS NOT JUST FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS,
BUT A CURRENT COLLEGE STUDENT WHO IS MAYBE EVEN WAVERING BETWEEN A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS,
MIGHT WANT TO LOOK AHEAD AND SEE WHAT ARE MY POTENTIAL EARNINGS.
>>NOW, AT ILLINOIS UNIVERSITIES, SUCH AS WESTERN ILLINOIS, I KNOW THERE IS NOT A SIMILAR WEB
SITE. BUT I MEAN IS THERE A SIMILAR PROGRAM WHERE
YOU ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT THE BEST WAY TO GET THE BIGGEST *** FOR THE BUCK WHEN IT
GOES TO COLLEGE? >> THE ILLINOIS STUDENT ASSISTANCE COMMISSION
HAS SEVERAL WEB SITES OUT THAT HELP STUDENTS NAVIGATE THE FIELD OF EDUCATION, TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY WANT TO MAJOR IN. ONE THAT COMES TO MIND IS WHATISNEXTILLINOIS.ORG.
THAT'S A WEB SITE WHERE STUDENTS CAN LOG IN, EXPLORE DIFFERENT SALARIES FOR DIFFERENT CAREERS,
AND THE EDUCATIONAL PATHS TO GET TO THOSE SPECIFIC CAREERS.
>>ALEX, ONE OTHER AREA I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IS THE FACT WESTERN ILLINOIS IS SO INTERLINKED
WITH OTHER COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, COMMUNITY COLLEGES THROUGHOUT THIS REGION.
IT IS INTERESTING, AS FAR AS A FINANCIAL AID OR FINANCIAL TOPIC WOULD BE CONCERNED, IT
IS INTERESTING HOW YOU CAN MAKE YOUR DOLLAR STRETCH FROM INSTITUTION TO INSTITUTION THESE
DAYS. >>WE OFFER SEVERAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH AREA
COMMUNITY COLLEGES, SCOTT, THE WHOLE EASTERN IOWA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT IS ONE, AS
WELL AS BLACKHAWK COLLEGE WHERE STUDENTS CAN TAKE CLASSES AT WESTERN AND ALSO TAKE CLASSES
AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE. TYPICALLY THE WAY IT WORKS IS STUDENTS TAKE
CLASS IN THEIR MAJOR AT WESTERN, AND THEN THEY WILL TAKE A LOT OF THE GENERAL ED AT
THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR A LOWER COST. THEN ONE OF THE SCHOOLS WILL PROCESS THE AID
BASED ON THE CREDIT HOURS ENROLLED IN BOTH SCHOOLS.
SO ULTIMATELY IT ENDS UP SAVING THE STUDENT MONEY TO GO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO TAKE
PART OF THEIR CLASSES WHILE ALSO ENROLLED AT WESTERN.
>>IN SO MANY WAYS IT CAN BE SEAMLESS TO GO FROM SCOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO WESTERN IN
THE QUAD CITIES AND THEN PERHAPS EVEN WESTERN IN MACOMB.
>>UP YOU. THAT'S KIND OF THE POINT TO TRY TO MAKE THAT
PROCESS AS EASY AS POSSIBLE. >>WE ARE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE IT AS
AFFORDABLE AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR STUDENTS. >>JEANINE, THAT'S CRITICAL.
I MEAN WHEN PARENTS ARE COMING IN, THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND A WAY THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T
LIVE ON CAMPUS. MAYBE THEY DO GO TO A COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
MAYBE THEY GET THEIR EDUCATION IN ONE PLACE AND FINISH IN ANOTHER.
THAT USED TO BE NON TRADITIONAL. NOT SO NON TRADITIONAL ANY MORE IT SEEMS.
>>NO. MANY, MANY FAMILIES ARE CHOOSING THE OPTION
CONSIDER YOU CAN SMOOTHLY GO TO ANOTHER INSTITUTION. WITH THE TRANSFER GUARANTEE THAT WE HAVE,
IF A STUDENT GRADUATES FROM ONE OF THE EASTERN IOWA COMMUNITY COLLEGES, CLINTON, SCOTT, OR
MUSCATINE, WITH AN AA DEGREE, THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFER SEAMLESSLY TO WESTERN.
>>AND, JEANINE, YOU ALSO WANT TO MENTION A DAVENPORT OFFICE, VERY HELPFUL.
THE ICANN OFFICE. ICANN.
>>RIGHT. THE IOWA COLLEGE ACCESS COLLEGE NETWORK OPENED UP AN OFFICE WITHIN THE PAST YEAR ON
53RD STREET. IT IS ACTUALLY IN ONE OF ST. AMBROSE'S OFF
CAMPUS BUILDINGS. >>I THINK I KNOW WHERE THAT IS RIGHT.
>>RIGHT. BUT IT IS FOR ALL THE IOWA STUDENTS, AND THEY
WILL HELP STUDENTS NOT ONLY WITH PLANNING FOR COLLEGE.
ALSO, THEY WILL HELP FAMILIES FILE THEIR FAFSAS, TOO.
SO IT IS A WONDERFUL RESOURCE FOR THE AREA THAT STUDENTS CAN ALSO GO TO ICANN AND GET
HELP WITH COLLEGE PLANNING, CAREERS, AND FINANCIAL AID.
>>ALEX, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED TO DO RIGHT NOW IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY
TO GET YOU READY FOR NEXT YEAR. WHAT ABOUT THAT KID BORN IN JANUARY, JANUARY
FIRST OF 2014 WILL NOT BE GOING TO COLLEGE ANOTHER 18 YEARS.
I MEAN THIS IS THE TIME THAT PARENTS PROBABLY ARE SITTING THERE GOING, "OH, IF IT COSTS
THIS MUCH NOW, WHAT WILL IT COST IN TWO DECADES?" WHAT ARE PEOPLE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING RIGHT
NOW? >> THE BEST THINGS FAMILIES CAN BE DOING NOW
IS SAVING AHEAD, PUTTING MONEY ASIDE EVERY MONTH TO HELP THE
STUDENT WHEN THEY GET TO COLLEGE TO HELP THEM IN ANY POSSIBLE WAY TO PAY FOR THEIR EXPENSES.
SO THE MAIN THING IS JUST PLAN AHEAD AND SAVE. >>IS THERE STILL, JEANINE, IS THERE STILL
THAT STICKER SHOCK THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THE AVERAGE FAMILY?
>> UM, I THINK FAMILIES ARE LOOKING MORE CLOSELY NOW AT THE PRICE THAN IN THE PAST. BUT, YOU
KNOW, IF YOU DO START SAVING, THE DAY THAT BABY IS BORN, YOU KNOW HOW THAT CAN GROW.
AND SO WE ALSO RECOMMEND THAT FAMILIES START PLANNING RIGHT AWAY SAVING.
CONTACT THE STATE OF IOWA FOR 529 PLANS, ETCETERA. >>MAKE THE MOST OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE
AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW. >>RIGHT.
>>JEANINE INGELSON FROM SCOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ALEX HALL FROM WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
QUAD CITY CAMPUS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. LET'S TALK ABOUT THOSE WORKSHOPS BECAUSE AREA
COLLEGES WILL BE HOLDING WORKSHOPS TO HELP FAMILIES FILE FOR FINANCIAL AID. THE FIRST
IS AT MOLINE'S BLACKHAWK COLLEGE. IT IS AT THE ADULT EDUCATION CENTER THAT'S ON 11TH
STREET IN ROCK ISLAND. IT IS NOT THE MOLINE CAMPUS, IT IS THE ADULT
EDUCATION CENTER FROM 10 UNTIL 2. WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY WILL HOLD TWO
SESSIONS. THE FIRST THIS TUESDAY FROM 11 TO 3 IS THE RIVERFRONT CAMPUS.
THE SECOND IS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, FROM 5 TO 7 AT NIGHT IN MOLINE.
>>THERE ARE TWO BEING HELD AT STERLING HIGH SCHOOL. THE FIRST IS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18,
FROM 4 TO 7:30. THE SECOND IS A WEEK LATER, SAME TIME, SAME
PLACE, BUT ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26. AND IN IOWA, ST. AMBROSE UNIVERSITY WILL HOLD
A WORKSHOP THAT IS ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19. SCOTT, CLINTON, AND MUSCATINE COMMUNITY COLLEGES
WILL ALSO BE HOLDING THESE SESSIONS. THEY ARE COMING UP IN THE MONTH OF MARCH.
YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE EASTER IOWA COMMUNITY COLLEGE WEB SITES TO GET DATES AND TIMES.
WELL, THE GROUNDHOG SAW HIS SHADOW. SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER.
WHAT IS A PERSON TO DO? LORA ADAMS HAS SOME GREAT IDEAS WHEN YOU GO
OUT AND ABOUT. >>HI.
I AM LORA ADAMS, AND THIS IS "OUT AND ABOUT" FOR FEBRUARY 3 9.
EVERYTHING FOR THE HOME, FROM PLUMBING TO DRAPES, REMODELING IDEAS TO NEW CONSTRUCTION,
LANDSCAPING TO INTERIOR DECORATING IS ALL ON DISPLAY AT THE ANNUAL HOME SHOW AT THE
QCCA EXPO CENTER. WHILE THE IOWA ILLINOIS REGIONAL AUTO SHOW
TAKES PLACE AT RIVER CENTER IN DOWNTOWN DAVENPORT. SETS AND COSTUMES FROM THE AWARD WINNING MOVIE
"LINCOLN" DIRECTED BY STEPHEN SPIELBERG IS ON DISPLAY AT THE LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
AND MUSEUM. LOUISE HARRISON, BIG SISTER TO BEATLE GEORGE
HARRISON, AND THE GROUP LIVERPOOL LEGENDS WILL PLAY THEIR LIFE BROADWAY PRODUCTION TO
THE QUAD CITIES IN HONOR OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEATLES IN AMERICA AND THEIR FIRST
APPEARANCE ON THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW. THE EDWARD W. NAPPER VFW POST IS HAVING A
PAINTED CHAIR AUCTION FOR HONOR FLIGHT OF THE QUAD CITIES.
PLUS THEY WILL BE AT THE CHILI COOKOFF. THE MOLINE MASTER PLAN IS HOLDING A COMMUNITY
OPEN HOUSE AND INVITES EVERYONE TO JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION AS WE PLAN THE FUTURE OF
DOWNTOWN MOLINE. ON STAGE, "MUCH ADO ABOUT DESERT" IS PRENZIE
PLAYERS ANNUAL FUNDRAISERS INCLUDING A PREVIEW OF THEIR SPRING PRODUCTION "LEAR."
WHILE THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED PRODUCTION OF "OUR TOWN" AT THE DISTRICT THEATER CLOSES
FEBRUARY 9, SO YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO CATCH THIS CLASSIC
PLAY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, LOG ON TO WQPT.ORG.
>>THANK YOU, LORA. IN A MOMENT, GETTING NON TRADITIONAL ROADWORKERS
A HELPING HAND AND A WELL PAYING JOB. BUT, FIRST, FEBRUARY MARKS THE START OF BLACK
HISTORY MONTH, AND WE WANT TO FEATURE THE FIRST FAMILY OF GOSPEL MUSIC IN THE QUAD CITIES.
THE WESTBROOK SINGERS HAVE BEEN FEATURED OFTEN ON WQPT FOR THEIR SOUL STIRRING MUSIC, AND
TONIGHT, "GO TO THE ROCK." IT'S THE WESTBROOK SINGERS.
>>WHERE DO I GO WHEN THERE IS NO ONE ELSE TO TURN TO?
WHO DO I TALK TO? WHEN NO ONE WANTS TO LISTEN, WHO CAN I LEAN
ON WHEN THERE NO FOUNDATION STABLE? I GO TO THE ROCK.
I KNOW HE IS ABLE. I GO TO THE ROCK.
I GO TO THE ROCK OF MY SALVATION, THE LORD THE STONE THAT THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THE
MOUNTAINS AND THE MOUNTAIN STANDS BY ME. WHEN ALL AROUND ME IS SINKING SAND.
ON CHRIST, THE SOLID ROCK I STAND. OH, WHEN I GO TO THE ROCK.
LISTEN. NOW WHERE DO I GO?
OH, LORD, WHEN THE STORMS IN MY LIFE ARE THREATENING? WHO DO I TURN TO?
WHEN THE WINDS OF SORROW KEEP BLOWING, WHERE IS MY REFUGE?
IN MY TIMES OF TRIBULATION? >> I GO TO THE ROCK.
YES, I GO TO THE ROCK OF MY SALVATION. THE LORD IS THE STONE THAT THE BUILDERS REJECTED.
I GO TO THE ROCK. THE MOUNTAINS STAND BY ME.
WHEN ALL AROUND ME IS SINKING SAND. >>ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND.
WHEN I NEED SHELTER, WHEN I NEED A FRIEND, I GO TO THE ROCK.
YES, I GO TO THE ROCK OF MY SALVATION. THE LORD IS THE STONE THAT THE BUILDERS REJECTED.
WELL I RUN TO THE MOUNTAINS, AND THE MOUNTAINS STAND BY ME.
OH, WHEN ALL AROUND ME IS SINKING SAND. ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND.
OH, WHEN I NEED A SHELTER, WHEN I NEED A FRIEND, I GO TO THE ROCK.
I GO TO THE ROCK. I GO TO THE ROCK.
I GO TO THE ROCK. YES, I GO TO THE ROCK.
WELL, I GO TO THE ROCK. I GO TO THE ROCK.
WELL, I GO TO THE ROCK. I GO TO THE ROCK.
WELL, I GO TO THE ROCK. I GO TO THE ROCK.
YES, I GO TO THE ROCK. I GO TO THE ROCK.
YES, I GO TO THE ROCK. >> I GO TO THE ROCK.
I GO. >>I GO.
>> TO THE ROCK. I GO TO THE ROCK.
TO THE ROCK. I GO, I GO TO THE ROCK. I GO TO THE ROCK.
TO THE ROCK. YOU CAN GO.
YOU CAN GO. >>TO THE ROCK.
TO THE ROCK. YOU CAN GO.
>>YOU CAN GO. YOU CAN GO.
TO THE ROCK. YOU CAN GO.
TO THE ROCK. YOU CAN GO.
YOU CAN GO. TO THE ROCK.
ALL AROUND ME IS SINKING SAND. ON CHRIST OUR SOLID ROCK I STAND.
WHEN I NEED SHELTER, WHEN I NEED A FRIEND, I GO TO THE ROCK.
(APPLAUSE) >>WESTBROOK SINGERS WITH "GO TO THE ROCK."
ILLINOIS ROAD CREWS ARE GETTING READY FOR THE SUMMER CONSTRUCTION SEASON.
BUT NOW THERE IS EFFORT TO GET NON TRADITIONAL WORKERS ON AREA ROADWAYS.
IT'S A NEW EFFORT THAT HAS COME TO THE CITIES. JOINING US IS JULIE GELAUDE WHO IS COORDINATOR
OF THE HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION CAREERS TRAINING AT BLACKHAWK COLLEGE.
HOW ARE YOU? >> I AM GOOD, THANK YOU.
>>HCCTP PROGRAM. >>CORRECT.
>>BUT THIS IS REAL AN INTERESTING PROGRAM THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT BE REAL AWARE
OF. TELL ME WHO IT IS TARGETED TO HELP.
>> THIS PROGRAM IS SPONSORED BY ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE ILLINOIS COMMUNITY
COLLEGE BOARD. AND THE EFFORTS OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO ATTRACT
WOMEN, MINORITIES, AND DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS INTO THE FIELD OF CONSTRUCTION.
>>AND LET'S BE HONEST, THAT'S AN UNDER REPRESENTED AREA IN THE FIELD OF CONSTRUCTION.
>>IT IS. >>AND WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT?
>> IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE FOR A COUPLE OF FACTORS. ONE, BECAUSE THERE ARE THEY ARE UNDER
REPRESENTED. BUT ALSO, THIS IS A INDUSTRY BETWEEN THE NEXT
5, 10, 15 YEARS, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF RETIREMENTS IN THIS FIELD.
SO WE NEED TO CREATE A PIPELINE OF PEOPLE TO GET INTO THIS INDUSTRY.
THIS PROGRAM WAS GIVEN TO THIS AREA SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THE I.D.O.T. WORK THAT IS COMING
TO THE QUAD CITIES, I74, JOHN DEERE ROAD EXPANSIONS.
>>LET'S BE HONEST WHEN WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ALL THE FISCAL STIMULUS AND ALL THE
FINANCIAL HELP AS FAR AS GOVERNMENT MONEY IS CONCERNED, SO MANY OF IT IS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE
REPAIR. THESE TYPE OF JOBS AND THESE ARE WELL PAYING
JOBS THAT EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN.
>>ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS A PREAPPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.
THE IDEA BEHIND THAT IS THAT A PERSON WOULD GAIN THE SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE TO BE ABLE TO
ENTER INTO AN APPRENTICESHIP TRADE. AND ONCE THEY BECOME AN APPRENTICESHIP, THEY
ARE EARNING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF JOURNEYMAN'S WAGE AND GOING TO SCHOOL AT NIGHT.
>>WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT REALLY HASN'T BEEN IN THE QUAD CITIES AREA.
IT HAS BEEN NEAR US, BUT NOT IN THE QUAD CITIES. THAT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT IN ITS OWN.
>>IT IS HUGE. THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE ABOUT THREE
YEARS. TYPICALLY THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN OFFERED ONLY
IN PLACES WHERE THERE HAS BEEN AN I.D.O.T. OFFICE. SO, FOR US, THAT'S BEEN PEORIA OR
ROCKFORD. SO WHEN I.D.O.T. ANNOUNCED THEY WERE GOING TO ASK BLACKHAWK COLLEGE TO RUN
THIS PROGRAM, WE WERE VERY, VERY EXCITED. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM,
NOT JUST THE EMPLOYEE GETTING A JOB AS AN APPRENTICESHIP, BUT FOR CONTRACTORS AS WELL.
ONCE A GRADUATE GETS INTO AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AND THEN THEY ARE WORKING ON AN I.D.O.T.
PROJECT, THAT CONTRACTOR WILL GET A 15 DOLLAR AN HOUR REIMBURSEMENT TOWARDS THAT APPRENTICESHIP
WAGES. >>WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A PROGRAM NO COST TO
THE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN TAKING PART? >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>>THAT'S PRETTY BIG, TOO. >>THAT'S 450 HOURS OF TRAINING.
IT IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT. YOU HAVE 36 HOUR A WEEK PROGRAM.
IT IS INTENSIVE, BUT HOPEFULLY IT PAYS OFF. TELL ME A LITTLE BIT HOW THE PROGRAM OPERATES.
>>THE PROGRAM INITIALLY IS YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH AN ORIENTATION PROCESS. THEN YOU HAVE
TO TAKE A MATH AND READING TEST TO GET IN. YOU HAVE TO BE 18 YEARS OLD.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ILLINOIS DRIVERS LICENSE, AND YOU NEED TO PASS A DRUG SCREENING.
>>NOW, YOU ALSO NEED TO HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR GED AS WELL?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. >>THAT'S KIND OF SIGNIFICANT AS WELL.
>>IT IS. ONCE THE CANDIDATES ARE ENTERED INTO THE PROGRAM,
THEN THEY WILL HAVE 450 HOURS OF TRAINING. THE FIRST FOUR WEEKS ARE IN THE CLASSROOM.
THEY WILL BE WORKING A LOT ON MATH, A LOT ON LIFE SKILLS SUCH AS QUALITY AND PRODUCTIVITY,
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, HOW TO BUDGET THEIR MONEY WHEN THEY MAY ONLY WORK EIGHT MONTHS
OUT OF THE YEAR, BUT HOW DO THEY BUDGET THAT FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.
THEY WILL BE WORKING ON COMMUNICATION, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND GROWTH, INTERVIEWING SKILLS.
THEN THEY WILL GET THEIR 30 HOUR OSHA CARD. THEY WILL MOVE INTO WHAT IS CALLED A BASIC
SHOP WHERE THEY WILL BE WORKING ON SCISSOR LIFT, FORK TRUCK TRAINING CERTIFICATION, CPR,
AED. THEY WILL BE WORKING ON ROOFING, CARPENTRY,
CEMENT MASON, AND THEN THEY WILL MOVE INTO THE UNIVERSAL SHOP WHERE THEY WILL BE APPLYING
THESE THINGS AND BUILDING PROJECTS. WE WILL ALSO DO SOME WORK OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE MAY BUILD PICNIC TABLES AND GIVE THEM TO A NON PROFIT.
>> RIGHT. >>WE MAY INSTALL A CEMENT RAMP TO WHEELCHAIR
BOUND VETERAN. SO THE GRANT WILL PAY FOR MATERIALS TO DO
THAT, AND THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE CLASS WILL SERVE AS THAT LABOR FORCE.
>>GREAT EXPERIENCE THERE. SOMEBODY IS INTERESTED IN THE PROGRAM ACT
NOW, HOW DO THEY DO? >> ACT NOW DEFINITELY. WE ARE CURRENTLY TAKING
REGISTRATIONS FOR RSVPS FOR THE ORIENTATION COMING UP FOR OUR MARCH CLASS, AND THEY CAN
CALL 796 5716 TO REGISTER. >>WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING YOU HAVE
TO THINK ABOUT DOING RIGHT AWAY. >>RIGHT AWAY. >>OR IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE, TELL THEM RIGHT
AWAY. JULIE, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. WE APPRECIATE
IT FROM BLACKHAWK AND THE HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION CAREERS TRAINING PROGRAM.
PERHAPS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE A CAREER CHOICE FOR YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW.
WE WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME TO THE HOTEL BLACKHAWK LAST FRIDAY FOR THE 13TH ANNUAL
CHAMPAGNE ON THE ROCKS. SOME OF OUR BEST FRIENDS HELPED US RAISE MONEY
FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND ALL OF THE OUTREACH PROGRAMS WQPT PROVIDES THROUGHOUT THE CITIES.
WE WANT TO THANK THE SINGH GROUP, MERRIL LYNCH WEALTH MANAGEMENT.
TONY SINGH ANNOUNCED HIS COMPANY'S CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM, THE CITIES, NOT
ONLY THROUGH THIS YEAR, BUT THE NEXT YEAR AS WELL.
IT IS GREAT TO HAVE A FRIEND LIKE THAT HERE AT WQPT.
ON THE AIR, ON RADIO, ON WEB, AB ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE, THANKS FOR TAKING SOME TIME TO JOIN
US AS WE TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES ON
THE CITIES.