City Colleges of Chicago and Southern Illinois University Carbondale today announced that starting this fall, students who graduate from Daley College or have otherwise earned an associate degree can stay at Daley’s state of the art MTEC facility to earn a Bachelor’s of Science in Industrial Management and Applied Engineering (IMAE) from the downstate university. The program is designed for working adults with weekend courses offered at Daley College.

“Nearly half of City Colleges students transfer after graduation, and we want to continue to support their effort to build their skills and increase their earnings potential,” said Eduardo Garza, interim president, Daley College. “Through this partnership, Daley College students can now earn a valuable four-year degree from a top university while staying right here on our campus.”
A comprehensive community college, Daley College is also City Colleges’ center of excellence for manufacturing technology and advanced engineering. Earlier this year, Daley opened the Manufacturing Technology and Engineering Center (MTEC), a state-of-the-art facility that combines preparation in manufacturing design and production and which will help students compete for the thousands of jobs coming to the region in advanced manufacturing and engineering over the next decade.
Daley College offers advanced manufacturing programs in Welding, CNC Machining, Quality Assurance and Factory Automation, and is planning new pathways to careers in Mechatronics, Sheet Metal Fabrication, Operations Management and Industrial Maintenance. The engineering and advanced manufacturing programs offered at Daley College are stackable, providing students with the opportunity to begin a career or transfer into bachelor’s degree programs like that offered by IMAE.
“The new on-campus partnership between Daley College and SIU brings an unparalleled opportunity to Chicago area students to earn their Industrial Management and Applied Engineering (IMAE) bachelor’s degree,” said SIU Clinical Assistant Professor John J. Cooper, Ph.D. “’It’s fast, accessible and affordable, and it’s perfect for the working adult, transfer students, and manufacturers seeking professional development pathways for their employees.
”SIU Carbondale’s IMAE pathway prepares students for careers in manufacturing leadership and management, operations, quality control, equipment procurement, and facilities planning. Required courses include supply chain operations and logistics, lean manufacturing, safety classes, and project management.  This is the first such program for students located in Cook County.  SIUC offers the program online and in partnership with two suburban community colleges.
To qualify, students must earn an associate degree from Daley or another institution. Once students successfully transfer into the program, which is run by SIU’s Department of Technology, they must attend six full days of class on weekends to complete one three credit hour class.  After earning an associate degree from Daley College, a student can complete this new program in as little as 16 months.
Applications are currently being accepted. Scholarships and financial aid are available.
To learn more about the program, students can email SIU advisor Carolyn Smith at carolsmith717@siu.edu.  To learn more about Daley College’s advanced manufacturing and engineering programs, contact Daley College Dean of Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing David Girzadas at dgirzadas@ccc.edu.