Parkland’s plan is contingent upon the Central District in the Restore Illinois plan being in Phase 4, where groups of 50 are allowed. At this time, the Central Region is on pace to meet the requirements to enter into Phase 4.

Instruction will include both online and on-campus options, with on-campus courses delivered as hybrid courses. Students with campus-based courses will attend some meetings on the campus and complete some coursework online.

On-campus social distancing and safety guidelines will be enacted. The press release said that students may be divided into small small groups for on-campus meetings; courses with larger enrollment may require staggered scheduling for on-campus meetings.

To minimize the number of on-campus meetings after the Thanksgiving break, many of Parkland College’s transfer classes will end their on-campus instructional component by Nov. 20, with the online component continuing through the end of the semester. Career classes that require in-person labs may continue on-campus meetings through the semester’s end.

Parkland said that it believes communication between staff and student will be key. Students will be contacted prior to the beginning of the semester with instruction on what days they should attend.

Registration for Parkland College fall courses is underway; students can review step-by-step directions on how to register.

The University of Illinois is expected to make a final announcement on courses by mid-June.

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ALLERTON
Amber A Wood

BROADLANDS
Miranda R Heck

FITHIAN
Michael J Ludwig

HOMER
Riley J Austin
Tatum A Auth
Mallory A Bergbower
Aliya Holloman
Clint M Lewis
Abigail R Spicer
Morgan C Stewart
Jack A Thain
Konner A Tolan
Madison P Wade
Kinser P Wargel

OAKWOOD
Kamryn D Clark

OGDEN
Alina R Alsaqri
Madison T Briggs
Tegan M Cash
Alec T Cochrane
Megan L Henry
Trevor J Kaeb
Victoria M Medernach
Grace K Mittelbrun
John D Norcross III
Jaimie L Wall

ROYAL
Lindsey G Windler

SAINT JOSEPH
Zachary R Beckler
Landis Leigh Brandon
Karsyn K Bryant
Ronnette M Chopp
Drew Thomas Coursey
Alex T Culloton
Michelle L Fehr
Israel Hernandez
Lashauda R Hood
Ava E Kneller
Rachel E Kyle
Nicholas Joseph Lehr
Sarah R Lerch
Evan Michael MacLean
Dominic W Magrini
Jonathan Brian Savage
Savannah E Stukins
David C Taylor III
Rachel Ann Taylor
Stephanie Trame
Logan G Trusner
Rachel L Verdun
Christopher L Weaver
Mackenzie L Webb
Sharon E Wenda
Laney Marie Wilhour
Esther M Yabili

VILLA GROVE
Erica G Alcantara
Parker L Allen
Sabrina R Ireland
Kevin John Jennings
Jordan L Kennedy
Duy Anh A Le
Benjamin E McClure
Zachary M Plattner
Courtney D Prado
Andrew J Waner
Georgia Elizabeth Ward
Adam T Wehe

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According to a press release, Parkland’s campus is not closed; Parkland will remain open and operational.

Administration and staff will remain on campus for regular working hours.

Lecture components of all courses will move online beginning March 23, 2020, while lab and studio components of all courses will continue to meet on-campus.

The Parkland Child Development Center will also remain open so long as it is safe for families and students.

President Tom Ramage said that Parkland’s leadership has been actively tracking the developments of the COVID-19 virus and collaborating with local and state public health agencies to take the necessary precautions to address this viral threat on campus.

“The College’s response seeks to strike a balance between preparedness and caution,” Rampage wrote. “Today, we will be taking additional steps to reduce the possibility of COVID-19 transmission onto the Parkland College campus. The College will implement this plan through April 3, 2020, and continue to reevaluate as new information becomes available.”

Students have been instructed to check their Parkland email accounts for updates from their faculty regarding the status of their classes.

Parkland has also launched a new informational website, www.parkland.edu/covid19, aimed at informing the campus community about COVID-19.

Students, faculty, and staff returning from a CDC Level 2 or 3 country will continue to be required to self-quarantine for 14 days.

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While many libraries and museums throughout the state are also closed, those in East Central Illinois that do stay open oftentimes have programming for families to learn more about King.

Festivities kick-off on Feb. 17 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Vineyard Church Urbana Campus, located at 1500 N. Lincoln Ave. in Urbana.

The Countywide Celebration, hosted by the cities of Champaign and Urbana, alongside Champaign County, the Village of Rantoul, Parkland College and the University of Illinois, will include Keynote Speaker Dr. Sampson Davis, who grew up in Newark, NJ and founded The Three Doctors Foundation. Davis is also the youngest African American to receive The Scroll of Merit, the National Medical Associations highest honor.

The Nfinite Soul Band will also provide entertainment.

The Krannert Center for Performing Arts will hold its 35th Annual Dr. MLK, Jr. Service of Celebration on Jan. 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Foellinger Great Hall.

Since 1988, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Advocacy for Justice Committee has awarded more than 200 scholarships to local students attending colleges such as Parkland College, University of Illinois, and historically Black colleges and universities.

This year, they honor the memory of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a keynote address and music from the community choir.

The Vineyard Church, Mahomet Hub will celebrate King’s birthday with the 35th Annual Unity Breakfast at the Urbana Campus from 8:30 to noon on Jan. 20.

From 1 to 3 p.m. on Jan. 20, the Champaign County Forest Preserve will host School’s Out: Martin Luther King Celebration at the Museum of the Grand Prairie.

Guests will have opportunities to explore the rich cultural heritage of the African American community in Champaign County. Activities, that include crafts, songs and videos, will help guests learn more about the  life of Dr. King, celebrate his legacy and how everyone can keep that mission alive in the present time.

The Danville Public Library will provide crafts and a documentary, “10 Things You May Not Know About Martin Luther King, Jr.” for children ages 5-12 on Jan. 20 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Danville will kick-off MLK Day at 10:30 a.m. with a parade that will begin at the corner of Main St. and Logan Ave. and end with a ceremony at St. James United Methodist Church where Reverend Daniel J. Garrett, pastor of Spirit Redeemed Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago will speak.

St. James United Methodist Church will also host “Pursuing Peace Together” on Jan. 19 at 4 p.m. at the Days Hotel at 77 N. Gilbert St., Danville.

When Shepards Worship (WSW), a gospel group from Chicago, Illinois will perform.

The fun doesn’t have to stop there, though. Other organizations provide other activities during the late afternoon and evening hours.

The Middle Fork River Preserve will host School’s Out: Owl Prowl from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 20.

The great horned howls begin nesting in January, providing owl-watchers will a great change to see or hear a live owl during the month of January. The CCFPD staff will begin with a presentation about native Illinois owls and dissecting owl pellets indoors. The group will then head outside to look for owls before the sun sets. Space is limited and there is a $5 per person fee.

Those looking for an adventure can grab an Illinois Heartland Library System Library Crawl card from their home library, then venture out to meet new people and discover new libraries during their time off school or work.

The St. Joseph Township- Swearingen Memorial Library, which is participating in the Library Crawl, is hosting their Winter Book Sale until Jan. 30. Books and other library material is available with a donation.

From 6:30 to 7 p.m. the St. Joseph library will also be telling stories to children during their regularly scheduled storytime.

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FITHIAN
Hayley E Seward
Haley J Ward

OAKWOOD
Austin D Audo
Dawn M Brown
Cameron D Wise

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ALLERTON
Vivian A Brown

BROADLANDS
Aric Q Roberts
Autumn R Walker

HOMER
Alexander J Baszis
Aidan P Cunningham
Makayla A Fults
Lena C Leonberger
Marissa L Lewis
Shani Lynn McMullin
Brett M Perry
Elijah J Richards
Collin K Rohl
Cole A Woodmansee

VILLA GROVE
Keyaira C Bielert
Angela Renee Graham
Deann M Hauersperger
Zachary L Hooker
Kathrine L Hudson
Daniel E Olson
Rose A Renfrow
Ryan A Tufano

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OGDEN
John M Acklin
Zach T David
Adam D Frerichs
Caleb L Johnson
Devon M Miezio
Katelyn M Smith

ROYAL
Mickaela J Fleming

SAINT JOSEPH
Melanie L Broch
Abigail C Burnett
Julie A Burnett
Rebecca M Campbell
Erin E Christians
Elena K Cotter
Avery M Edwards
Tenneal R Frerichs
Justyn R Fruhling
Dylan M Heck
Gabriell R Jones
Kaitlyn M Landis
Caroline E Moore
Allison P Morenz
Brendan Z Olauson
Kristen A Polizzi
Megan K Schumacher
Nora E Slater
Kaitlyn R Taylor
Keisha R Taylor
Mitchell R Thompsen
Hannah O Watson
Sarah E Wiseman
Nicole L Woller

URBANA
Abigail M Dunham

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Broadlands
Caroline R. Dohme
Dylan F. Dohme

Fithian
Jazmine L. Rodriguez

Homer
Gracyn A. Allen
Brody D. Cole
Fiona N. Ely
Lena C. Leonberger
Marissa L. Lewis
Emily J. Markstahler
Megan C. Perry
Skylar A. Smith
Christopher D. Thompson
Cole A. Woodmansee
Ashley N. Zellers

Ogden
John M. Acklin
Cody A. Ayers
Zach T. David
Brandi L. Huson
Devon M. Miezio
Tanner E. Morris
Lindsey K. Osterbur
Regan E. Spicer
Rachel Q. Timm

Saint Joseph
Jenna M. Anderson
Hollie N. Baltzell
Erin M. Beyers
Katelyn N. Burch
Dwight Colvin
Paige B. Dalton
Alissa J. Deweese
Tenneal R. Frerichs
Stephanie E. Gonzales
Chloe A. Graver
Kaitlyn M. Hess
Hope A. Hoffschneider
Ronald J. Hoppe-Hastings
Ian J. Hulette
Riley S. Knott
Kenneth Elijah-Lewis Lahners
Kaitlyn M. Landis
Hannah E. Lewis
Rebecca L. Long
Alexis G. Manning
Amanda J. McFadden
Erinn C. Miller
Heidi M. Novak
Brendan Z. Olauson
Alyssa R. Omana
Adalyn J. Parke
Adam P. Rose
Elizabeth J. Schluter
Ty A. Stegall
Keisha R. Taylor
Michael C. Wagner III
Nathan R. Walden
Brianna M. White
Alyssa R. Whitlock
Sarah E. Wiseman
Tori R. Witruk
Wanting Zhao

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Learning doesn’t end with a high school diploma or even a college degree.

In fact, adults with high school diplomas and college degrees still find themselves needing help with skills like reading, math and writing.

“Whether someone graduated from high school or not, there is a large part of our population who don’t have the reading, math, English or writing skills to participate fully in the community,” Parkland College’s Project READ Coordinator Donna Camp said.

“Somewhere between 20- to 30-percent of the adult population is functionally illiterate. There’s also a fair amount of data that says well over one-third of adults in the United States don’t actually understand the part/whole concept.

“It’s a much bigger number than people realize,” she continued.

Established and funded by the Illinois State Library, Project READ seeks to provide tutoring opportunities and private volunteer tutors to help adults establish better reading, writing, math and English language skills.

Parkland’s program has four drop-in tutoring locations throughout Champaign-Urbana that adults can use to get help as they work to strengthen their skills. Parkland also offers free courses for adults who wish to obtain their high school equivalency or for those who just want to learn the English language.

“Asking for help is really hard,” Camp said. “What we found with our drop-in sites in Champaign-Urbana is that people who are English language learners are more willing to come to a drop-in site because there’s no stigma with that. If you’re new to a country, of course you’ll want language help.

“But it’s really hard to walk into a room and say, ‘Hi, I’d like help with reading or math.’ ”

After spending several years unfunded by the State of Illinois, and a year back on its feet, Camp said Project Read is now ready to expand its tutoring volunteer services to local communities through East Central Illinois.

“I think the one-to-one model is easier,” she said. “To say, ‘hi, I’d like some help with math or reading or writing,’ and then I find the right person to do that. You’re sitting in a coffee shop, nobody knows what you are talking about.”

Camp said while some people Project READ works with are those who need to reach a ninth-grade level to obtain their high school equivalency, there are also those adults who want to reach a personal goal and need an extra boost.

“I meet a lot of people who have raised their children, maybe got their children through college, and now their children are saying, ‘Okay, mom, okay dad, it’s time for you to go back and finish your high school degree. You’ve done everything for me; now I want to see you do something for yourself.’ That’s really fun to work with those people,” she said.

Camp has also worked with adults who would like to write their life story.

“It’s been a long time since they were in school and had to do that,” she said. “So we might tutor someone in writing.”  

But there are also younger adults who may need help obtaining a ninth-grade reading level for a job promotion or to become part of a union.

“The really nice thing about doing one-on-one or small group tutoring is that it can be designed for what the goals of the learners are,” Camp said.

If an individual is studying to become a plumber, electrician or whatever, Project READ can tailor the learning material to the profession.

“If someone wants to get into the Parkland College Ford Asset program, but they’ve been out of school for 10 years, and they aren’t feeling confident about their ability to take a college class successfully, we can choose materials that are related to mechanics and cars,” Camp said.

Parkland knows that even adults who have professional careers need extra help in today’s society.

“There are people with bachelor’s degrees who if you give computations, they do the formulas and solve the problems, but they don’t understand why it works,” Camp said.

“Often they find that out when their children get to that place in school and the children want help with their homework, and because it looks differently than the way they learned it in school, they realize they don’t actually understand the concepts to be able to explain it.”

Project READ will soon have a “Parent Lab” within the Champaign Unit 4 School District where parents can work with tutors so that they can go home and help their children with their math homework.

“(Parents) already know this, (they) just need to see how it’s presented in today’s classroom,” she said.

Getting to Champaign isn’t always an option for adults with careers and families within Project READ’s District 505, which stretches from Gibson City to Mahomet to Arcola and St. Joseph-Ogden.

“People are often surprised about Champaign-Urbana because of the University here; how could there be this huge need? The same thing is true in Mahomet. If you look at education and income and the school report cards; Mahomet does a whole lot better than the rest of the state, but there are still people in Mahomet and rural areas outside Mahomet who struggle with basic skills.”

“(Those learners) need to hear that we have people ready to work with you in your community in a time and place that is convenient to you,” Camp said.

“We will do our best to get them a tutor.”

While Parkland’s Project READ program wants learners to know that there are volunteers in each community waiting to provide assistance in reading, writing, math and the English language, Camp said that Project READ is also always looking to expand its volunteer base.

Tutors are required by the Illinois State Library to go through training to teach adult learners, must commit to two hours a week to work with a learner and must be willing to meet the learner in a public space.

Camp said that a tutor is going to receive just as much as they give out of the relationship.

“The stories that I hear really are about relationships as well as the learning,” she said.

While the relationship may begin with someone learning how to read, it often quickly evolves to where the learner is also sharing tips about cooking or art or math to the tutor.

“It goes both ways,” Camp added.

And Camp said the give and take isn’t always about something that has to do with academics.

While institutions like Parkland College value education, Camp said, “things like kindness are just as important.”

“I have a many-year career working with people who are considered underprivileged or impoverished, but those are the people who are feeding their neighbors and who are driving a person who doesn’t drive to the doctor’s office.”

To learn more about learning and tutoring opportunities, contact Parkland’s Project READ at projectread@parkland.edu or call 217.353.2662.

Camp said the Project READ staff is willing to travel to local communities to train tutors in groups if a Rotary Club, church group, book club or women’s club, among others, want to be trained to become a tutor.

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Fithian
Kyle A Weise

Homer
Haley L Miller
Megan C Perry
Taylor J Pruitt
Katherine M Quick
Collin K Rohl
Cole A Woodmansee

Longview
Kaylea D Webber

Oakwood
Clayton D Walker

Ogden
John M Acklin
Cody A Ayers
Bonnie G Collins
Tanner E Morris
Katelyn M Smith

Saint Joseph
Benjamin D Albrecht
Justin A Beck
Lacey N. Berlatsky
Abigail C Burnett
Austin R Chilton
Paige B Dalton
Dezarae R Dowers
Mason A Edwards
Carson D Florey
Tenneal R Frerichs
Justyn R Fruhling
Chloe A Graver
Kohlten D Johnson
Riley S Knott
Danielle C Long
Rebecca L Long
Alexis G Manning
Brendan Z Olauson
Adalyn J Parke
Autumn M. Pecchenino
Austin M Reitmeier
Sarah C Sanders
Raegan J Smith
Amanda M Stevens
Macy R Vallee
Jason M Waldeck
Taura Ward
Hannah O Watson
Sarah E Wiseman
Tori R Witruk

Villa Grove
Kyrsten N Cox
Logan D Hettinger
Courtney L Howard
Kari J Kemnetz
Cameron A Knell
Mokaylee M Knell
Kirsten L Oberg

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