Lincoln Land Community College’s Workforce Development and Community Education Division will begin offering training, testing and nationally recognized certification in work readiness and work-related basic skills through the ACT WorkKeys system.

The LLCC Board of Trustees approved the use of Student Success Grant funding to purchase ACT WorkKeys and KeyTrain products on Wednesday.

“Just as the ACT test can predict college success, the ACT WorkKeys System can predict success in the workplace,” said Judy Jozaitis, Ed.D., vice president of Workforce Development and Community Education at LLCC. “Students completing the WorkKeys tests will earn a National Career Readiness Certificate, the national standard in certifying workplace skills. The WorkKeys system will be used to increase the overall readiness for work of the area’s workforce, and provide a tool for business and industry to assess the skills of incoming and current employees.”

The ACT Career Ready 101 program, WorkKeys testing and certification will be available at the main campus and Capital City Training Center, as well as at LLCC locations outside Springfield.

“In the current economy, it is imperative for job seekers to have basic skills, and for employers to have ways of measuring skills so they hire the most qualified, trainable candidates,” said Dr. Jozaitis. “The ACT WorkKeys program prepares students for the test which measures a student’s ability in reading for information, locating information, applied math and other skills most needed in the workforce.”

The Board also reviewed a new policy on registered sex offenders which would formalize the college’s compliance with the Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act. Trustees will be asked to take action on the policy at the September meeting.

And, five new faculty members were welcomed to LLCC Wednesday including Anthony DiMaggio, political science; Joseph Hoff, Ph.D., Spanish; Edward Myers, English; John Ratliff, surgical technology; and Judy Reents, certified nursing assistant.