State of the College: President Namuo Pushes for Bachelor’s Degrees, Cites Record Graduation Rates

Joliet Junior College State of the College | February 4, 2026

Article Summary: JJC President Dr. Clyne Namuo highlighted the college’s legislative push to offer bachelor’s degrees in applied fields to meet local workforce demands. The address also celebrated a record-breaking year for student graduation and certificate completion.

State of the College Key Points:

• Bachelor’s Degrees: JJC is actively negotiating legislation that would allow the community college to offer bachelor’s degrees in specific applied areas.

• Record Graduates: The college awarded 1,500 associate degrees over the last year, a 17% increase over three years.

• Certificate Growth: Certificate awards have increased by 69% over the last three years.

• Transfer Destinations: Illinois State University remains the top transfer destination for JJC students, followed by Lewis University and UIC.

JOLIET — The administration at Joliet Junior College is actively pursuing legislation that would authorize the institution to award bachelor’s degrees, President Dr. Clyne Namuo told attendees at the State of the College address on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

Namuo stated that the college has been negotiating the language of a bill with the help of Springfield elected officials following the governor’s inclusion of the topic in a previous budget address. The goal is to offer degrees in applied areas where workforce gaps exist, similar to models already successful in states like Arizona.

“We absolutely want to begin offering bachelor’s degrees at Joliet Junior College,” Namuo said. “JJC is ready to meet the demands of the workforce where gaps exist.”

The address also served as a review of the college’s academic performance. Namuo reported that the college recently celebrated its largest graduating class in history. Over the last three years, the number of associate degrees awarded has risen by 17% to 1,500, while the number of certificates awarded jumped by 69%.

Namuo noted that these credentials support a thriving economy across the college’s seven-county region. He emphasized that JJC students are increasingly sought after by economic development councils in Will and Grundy counties when pitching companies to relocate to the area.

For students who continue their education elsewhere, Illinois State University remains the number one transfer destination. The top five transfer institutions are rounded out by Lewis University, the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), the University of St. Francis, and Northern Illinois University (NIU).