Press contact: Angela Try
JACKSONVILLE — Starting in August 2026, Lincoln Land Community College in Jacksonville will launch a hands-on industrial technology certificate program designed to prepare students for high-demand careers in industrial maintenance. The program is open to the public, and LLCC-Jacksonville is partnering with Jacksonville Public Schools to offer the program as a College Now opportunity, allowing Jacksonville High School students to earn both high school and college credit.
Classes will run Monday through Friday, 1:30-3:30 p.m., over three semesters, and will be held at LLCC-Jacksonville, 32 N. Central Park Plaza.
Funding support is available, including free tuition, tools and books for the first semester. Additional financial support is also available for the second semester for students who qualify.
“Industrial technology is the backbone of modern manufacturing and infrastructure,” said Dr. Nancy Sweet, dean of the LLCC Workforce Institute. “Industrial maintenance technicians don’t just fix machines. They ensure entire operations run safely, efficiently and reliably. They keep our world moving.”
Funding for Jacksonville High School students who participate will be covered by the Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation (JPSF), allowing eligible students to enroll in the program at no cost. JHS students should contact their school guidance counselor to enroll in College Now.
“The JPSF is committed to vocational programming because jobs within these fields are imperative to creating a community that has the human resources needed to support the basic needs of the citizenry,” said Leslie DeFrates, executive director, Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation. “Without them, the job structure at the very foundation of our society — the plumbers, auto mechanics, maintenance engineers, HVACR technicians, CNAs, etc. — will fail without these positions having trained candidates that can readily fill vacancies. The jobs available with a degree in industrial technology provide excellent salaries that can support growing families and contribute strongly to the Jacksonville economy.”
LLCC Industrial Technology provides training in electrical and mechanical skills. Students work on equipment similar to what is used in real-world settings and learn how to troubleshoot and repair high-tech equipment including precision measurements, calibration, vibration analysis, PLC programming, blueprint reading, process controls and more.
Registration for fall 2026 classes opens April 15. Fall weekday classes begin Aug. 24, 2026. For more information, visit www.llcc.edu/industrial. To get started, contact Lori Large Oldenettel at lori.oldenettel@llcc.edu or 217-786-2457.