Dr. Clyne Namuo Delivers JJC's Seventh State of the College Address

Joliet Junior College President Dr. Clyne G. H. Namuo delivered his first State of the College address to more than 200 attendees participating in a hybrid format on Tuesday, April 25. Members of the community, local legislators and leaders became acquainted with the college’s progress and vision for the future during the college’s seventh annual address. 

Namuo began the address by inviting the audience to participate in a traditional Hawaiian greeting used to welcome someone who is honored, loved and esteemed. The greeting includes the participants pressing their foreheads together for a moment, uniting them in shared energy and the breath of life. 

The welcome set the tone for the invigorating and energetic presentation provided by the college’s first native Hawaiian president, who noted that the welcome may have been outside of the norm for those in attendance. 

“Let me first acknowledge that many college presidents do not look like me and as someone who is very proud of their culture, I want to share it with you,” said Namuo. “As we engage in really important work in the diversity, equity and inclusion space at JJC there is a great lesson to be learned here. Some of you jumped right in and almost everyone was uncomfortable, yet you jumped in! And that is a challenge we pose to our students, to experience something new.”

Watch the State of the College Recording

Namuo noted several progressive initiatives undertaken by the college including the 12x12x12 program, a dual credit initiative beginning in fall 2023 for high school students to earn at least 12 college credit hours by the time they complete the 12th grade and pay only $12 per credit. 

“This initiative will drastically increase college going rates across the seven counties we serve, the 40,000 students and 26 high school districts,” stated Namuo. “JJC is in a position to support an ambitious agenda and this initiative is one of those things.” 

Namuo also cited the $500,000 in support of the 12x12x12 program received from the JJC Foundation. Students who complete the 12 credit hours and choose to attend JJC after high school will receive a $500 scholarship. 

The president went on to share the vision for Roots & Branches, a video collection of students, alumni and community members who have a JJC story to share. 

“The vision for Roots & Branches is a mosaic of faces, all different types, all different walks of life, from various levels of socioeconomic ladder,” said Namuo. “We are going to capture all of the stories that exist, because your stories need to inspire this generation and the next.” 

Updates for the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan were also shared. Namuo discussed the critical objectives identified thus far, which include clarifying student pathways from college to workforce, employee engagement and differentiating JJC through innovative experiences. The strategic plan is slated for adoption by the Board of Trustees in May and implementation by the administration in July. 

Namuo highlighted the college’s strategic partnerships including the Pace Bus driver training course and the new strategic direction of the JJC Entrepreneur and Business Center, which was made possible by the more than $350,000 in federal funding provided by Rep. Lauren Underwood’s advocacy. 

“Strategically successful community colleges are deeply embedded in the communities they serve,” said Namuo. “JJC is committed to being a good partner and has recently dedicated additional resources to strengthening existing relationships and cultivating new ones.” 

Namuo emphasized student support-based programs, new technology and academic offerings and demographic and enrollment reports in his presentation which included the following key points: 

• Will County HEROES Grant developed from the $10 million in ARPA funding from Will County government: provides eligible students $2,500 per semester or $5,000 per academic year in their pursuit of a teaching or nursing degree at JJC or one of three other partner institutions. 
• Respiratory Therapy program beginning fall 2023: 7,000 sq. ft of unused campus space converted to simulation labs and class space in order to support an immediate response to the exponential need for professionals in this field since the pandemic. 
• Romeoville Campus now offers a Maker and VR Lab:  allows the college to expand offerings in additive manufacturing partnerships and community engagement. In fall/winter 2023, the certified nursing assistant (CNA) skills lab will open, supporting new education demands for CNA and nursing students.
•  JJC Athletics now offers 19 sports, most recently announcing women’s wrestling earlier in April. 
• Four workplace recognitions within one year, including Forbes “America’s Best Employers By State,” 2022 and 2023 Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges by the publication Diverse: Issues in Higher Education and the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development website. 
• The JJC Foundation will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in September and has set a goal to award $1 million in scholarships and grants to students in FY 2023; in FY 2022 the Foundation awarded $895,617.

Before he closed the college’s seventh annual State of the College address, Namuo shared the college’s focus on the future, one that includes the pursuit of emerging trends and the inclusion of innovative and immersive student experiences with welcoming and accessible faculty and staff. He shared that the future will also include exploration of expansion westward into Grundy County. 

“When JJC first opened in 1901, and until recently, the term ‘junior college’ meant we provided education for freshman and sophomore years,” said Namuo. 

What you have seen and heard today confirms that JJC is a comprehensive community college. We serve students before they even come to us; we have programs of almost every interest, credit and non-credit. We are committed to taking students from wherever they are to wherever they want to be. That is a huge task, but one we are up for.”

For media inquiries, please contact Communications & Media Manager, Katherine Smith at katherine.smith@jjc.edu or by phone at 815-280-2844.