The Technology Center of Dupage dual enrollment program with Naperville Central has doubled in size to 32 students. TCD, located in Addison, offers 18 different programs. These programs are intended to be an opportunity for students to study a certain trade and receive college credit, certification and licensure.
TCD programs range from emergency medical training to automotive technology, last one to two years and are open to upperclassmen. Students in the program attend periods one through four at Central before taking a bus to the TCD campus for the remainder of the school day.
“Last year we saw there was a huge interest, so we allowed anyone with interest into the program,” said Jennifer Dotson, the Postsecondary Advising & Resource Center coordinator. “So that’s how we went from an average of 15 to 32 in the program this year, which is the biggest historically for Central.”
Central has had a dual enrollment program with TCD for more than 10 years. The partnership began as a way to support students’ interest in pursuing the trades.
“It is a great option because [they] can fill a need and make a really good living quickly,” Dotson said.
Junior Kiera French is enrolled in the cosmetology program, which spans two years and requires summer school attendance. French hopes to gain her cosmetology license by the time she graduates.
“I’ve always wanted to be a cosmetologist, quite literally since I was a baby,” French said. “My counselor, [Pamela] McNeeley, [asked] ‘what if you do this TCD program?’ So I’ve been planning this since 8th grade.”
French enjoys the environment and culture of TCD’s programs.
“In cosmetology, we are all working together [and] learning together,” French said.“It almost feels like we are all sisters and brothers. It’s so fun and such a good community. We all love each other and it’s overall amazing,”
TCD provides most of the supplies, leaving French and other students like her to pay $200 for the program. The cost covers the cosmetology kit, which includes different shears and clippers. This is cheaper than private cosmetology programs which can cost anywhere between $10,000 and $25,000.
“If you are really passionate about something or maybe you don’t know what you want to do in the future, you should definitely do TCD,” French said. “[The district] pays tuition, so if you don’t end up doing it, well you didn’t lose that much money. I recommend it to anyone who wants to get ahead early. It’s a great break in between school.”
TCD credits may also be transferred to the College of DuPage, allowing students to get a head start on their associates degree.
Senior Uma Ramni, who is a part of the nursing program, also thinks TCD is a great way to prepare students for the future. She is using this program as a way to gain experience in nursing and the medical field.
“The only [nursing-related] classes they offer at Central are Intro to Health Occupations and Health Occupations, which I did take, but I wanted to get more in depth and be more prepared for college,” Ramni said.
The nursing program lasts one year, allowing students to earn their Certified Nursing Assistant and Sterile Technician Licenses. It provides students with the opportunity to do clinicals and have hands-on experience.
“Right now we are learning about PPE, viruses, infections and bacteria,” Ramni said. “We are also going over different areas of the nursing field and different jobs that are offered. All the things we are learning right now are to prepare us because we are going to be doing our clinicals soon, which means going to a nursing home and taking care of elderly people.”
Ramni believes clinicals will be a good experience to have as she enters the medical field. Even though she is more interested in emergency response, she still finds all the medical units interesting.
Both French and Ramni recommend attending the TCD Explore Day field trip where sophomores can meet instructors and find a program that is the best fit for them. This year, the trip will be held on Dec. 5.
