Harper College
Innovation Accelerator
Innovation Accelerator title text over a blue cyber background.
Innovation Accelerator title text over a blue cyber background.

Innovation Accelerator

Developing collaborative programs to benefit students and employers

The Innovation Accelerator at Harper College is a collaborative initiative created to promote the development of cutting-edge education programs aligned with current employer demands. We work closely with community business leaders to design career-focused learning opportunities that prepare Harper graduates to enter the workforce as highly skilled employees. Our goal is to establish effective partnerships with regional employers to address industry needs and ensure that students acquire relevant, real-world skills for the career fields positioned for future growth.

Initiatives

The Innovation Accelerator is dedicated to fostering partnerships with business leaders and promoting emerging technologies to the benefit of education and student success. Visit our BILT and AI Consortium pages to learn more about these initiatives.

To learn more about our other initiatives and history, visit About Innovation Accelerator.

Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT)

We are seeking business leaders across various industries to collaborate in designing career-focused programs that guarantee students will have the skills you're looking for in future employees. Our BILT is a unique opportunity to use your expertise to make a profound impact on the future of education and employment in the community.

A group of business leaders sits at a table for a meeting

AI Consortium

Planned for Spring 2026, the consortium aims to foster collaboration among educators, school administrators, and higher education institutions to explore effective AI strategies. The goal is to enhance teaching practices utilizing artificial intelligence and improve student learning outcomes.

A woman holds a microphone as a speaker at an AI event

What our partners say about collaborating with Harper’s BILTs

Cybersecurity professionals sit at a table for a meeting, engaged and listening to the ideas of another team member

I have loved the opportunity to meet with students, to understand the direction higher education is taking to better prepare young students for careers in tech, and to network with other professionals with similar goals in educating and advocating for students and education.

2025 Cybersecurity BILT Member

Cybersecurity professionals sit in a meeting where they generate new ideas, led by their coordinator.

Giving back and supporting newcomers to the fields of IT and Cybersecurity is extremely satisfying. The BILT feels like a way to do both.

2025 Cybersecurity BILT Member

A group of cybersecurity professionals sit at a table to collaborate on a project.

Involving future employers in the process is a huge plus for the program. Getting both Fortune 500 companies and small businesses into the process guaranteed the quality of the program for me.

2025 Cybersecurity BILT Member

Contact Us

Innovation Accelerator
Phone: 847.925.6700
Email: innovation@harpercollege.edu

Last Updated: 8/26/26