Harper College will be closed Monday, September 1, in observance of Labor Day.
At Harper College, we believe that the best way to prepare students for real-world success is to work directly with the people who know the workforce best—you.
Innovation Accelerator invites community business leaders to collaborate with the college in crafting career-focused education programs that reflect the needs of your industry. Your insight, leadership, and expertise are vital in ensuring that Harper graduates enter the workforce equipped with the skills your business needs.
Become an active partner in shaping our educational programs for the better. Offering your time and expertise helps our faculty build forward-thinking, industry-relevant curricula that benefit students, employers, and the entire community. By partnering with Harper College, you’ll influence what our students learn. Collaborate with our faculty by advising what skills and expertise are most desired from potential future employees in your field.
Reduced Hiring Costs
Collaborating with Harper opens up possibilities for employers to hire potential future
team members who are already equipped with essential skills, thereby reducing the
time spent on training and onboarding new employees.
Efficient Recruitment
Employers can streamline the recruitment process by connecting directly with students
through job fairs, guest lectures, workshops, internships, and apprenticeships.
Drive Regional Economic Development
By advising education programs on industry trends, employers help improve student
preparedness and increase the number of skilled workers in our community, contributing
to positive regional economic growth.
Serve the Community
Investing in education is more than a smart business move—it is an investment in the
lives of students and their families. Industry leaders who share their expertise set
students on the right track for a better future.
Harper College uses the Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) model to collaborate with local business leaders. The BILT model is a nationally proven model for workforce readiness endorsed by the Department of Education and the Department of Labor. It was established by the National Science Foundation and has been implemented at more than 150 institutions across the nation.
The BILT model gets business leaders involved in the process of developing education programs. BILT advisory councils collaborate with college faculty to provide insight into the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) students need to become job-ready upon graduation.
Participating in a BILT advisory council at Harper College requires business leaders to contribute 6 hours of their time annually by attending several meetings throughout the year.
Harper College has several active BILT advisory councils that are continuing to recruit business leaders and industry professionals to collaborate on the future of our education programs.
The Innovation Accelerator is implementing BILT advisory councils across Harper College. Several programs are actively seeking industry leaders to provide insight and collaborate on new/updated curriculum that better meets employers’ needs.
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. 
Giving back and supporting newcomers to the fields of IT and Cybersecurity is extremely
satisfying. The BILT feels like a way to do both. 
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.Innovation Accelerator
Phone: 847.925.6700
Email: innovation@harpercollege.edu
