JJC Holding Transfer Fair for Math, Science Students

Joliet Junior College provided this news release:

Joliet Junior College students, high school students, and the community are invited to the first STEM Transfer Fair on JJC’s Main Campus, 1215 Houbolt Road in Joliet, in the T-Building on Wednesday, Dec. 4 from 4-7 p.m.  

STEM, which stands for “Science, Technology, Engineering and Math,” will appeal to students with an interest in those subjects, looking to pursue careers in computers, engineering, scientific and managerial positions. JJC’s fair will have up to 20 big-name and local university representatives available for transfer questions, information on STEM programs, scholarships and more.

Luann DiMonte, JJC Technical Department specialist, said students who pursue STEM-related fields should expect a high starting salary after graduating with a bachelor’s degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for all STEM positions was $77,880 in May 2009.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the STEM field has grown 22 percent in the past ten years, and it is only going to continue to blossom.

“STEM is important because it’s vital for how things are created. There are breakthroughs in technology all the time,” DiMonte said. “Every moment on a daily basis, science is always changing. I’m excited to see students take on these growing careers.”

JJC Transfer Specialist Cheryl Turrise said the STEM Transfer Fair is a perfect place for students and others to start researching these programs at four-year schools. Future and current JJC students in STEM-related majors should make transfer decisions as soon as possible because many schools that offer STEM have strict, structured programs.

“Many colleges have such highly structured programs that JJC students should be very careful to select courses that will transfer,” Turrise said. “That’s why it’s important to know early on which school they would like to transfer to and meet with counselors and advisors every semester.”

JJC is the ideal place for students pursuing this career path to start because its Technical Department is constantly growing and offers a variety of subject study areas in the STEM field.

Such as in 2014, the Technical Department will introduce a new, STEM-related course in robotics. Other STEM-related classes are also coming in the future, answering JJC’s goal of offering students courses that respond to the demands of the labor market.

“This country has a shortage of people with degrees in technology and math and sciences,” Turrise said. “One thing we are hoping to do with the STEM Transfer Fair is instill interest in these fields and let people know that there are plenty of opportunities and jobs in these fields.”

For more information about JJC’s Technical Department and STEM-related programs or classes, visit www.jjc.edu/info/technical.