Community, Career, and Technical Education Outreach
Customized Training
(815) 921-3102
Through Customized Training, Rock Valley College offers training, consulting, and specialized resources designed to meet the needs of business and industry. Many workshops and trainings are held at Rock Valley College locations or on-site at your company or business.
Customized Training also offers on-site training sessions and customized programs in the following areas:
- FANUC robotics training
- Blueprint reading
- Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) training
- Leadership and supervisor training
- Eight-week CNC program
- Customer service and sales training
- Industrial maintenance and mechatronics
For more information, visit
RVC Customized Training
.
Truck Driver Training
(815) 921-2076
In just five weeks, you can be on the road to a new career. This 200-hour truck driver training program combines classroom instruction with hands-on experience that leads to a Class A Commercial Driver’s License.
Offices and classrooms are located at the Advanced Technology Center,
1400 Big Thunder Road, Belvidere.
For more information, visit
Rock Valley College Truck Driver Training
or contact
Truck Driver Training.
Put yourself in the driver’s seat today.
TechWorks CNC Training
The Rock Valley College TechWorks program offers students a customized curriculum in advanced manufacturing focused on Computer Numerical Control (CNC). Located in the Winnebago County Jail, this program provides currently incarcerated individuals with employable skills and certifications needed to advance in the machining industry.
The eight-week curriculum begins with one week of job readiness coaching in résumé building, workplace ethics and professionalism, and interviewing skills. The remaining seven weeks include hands-on experience with CNC programming, setup, and operations. Students also have the opportunity to earn two nationally recognized credentials from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS).
WIOA and Employment Grants
(815) 921-2200
Located at the North Main Street Center (NMST)
303 N. Main Street (Supply Core Building)
Rock Valley College Workforce Development is a partner agency of Illinois’ The Workforce Connection, a 17-partner program that provides employment-based services to qualified individuals. Eligibility criteria vary by program.
Workforce Development provides a single point of contact for employers seeking workers and for job seekers seeking training, education, and employment services. Services may include career testing and counseling, job readiness skills, job search assistance, on-the-job training opportunities, and financial assistance for vocational training.
Community Education Outreach
Rock Valley College offers non-credit programs and classes for persons of all ages for obtaining a certificate, training, professional development, and personal enrichment. Community and Continuing Education (CCE), Center for Learning in Retirement (CLR), and the Traffic Safety Program are managed within Community Education Outreach.
Traffic Safety
(815) 921-3940
The Rock Valley College Traffic Safety Program provides driver improvement training for a variety of individual, employer-supported, and court-supervised participants.
Supervision Program: The college joins regional courts, local governments, and law enforcement agencies to provide an educational option for minor traffic violations. Motorists who choose class instead of court may avoid higher insurance premiums and learn effective defensive driving techniques. Classes are offered throughout the seven-county service region.
Employers: Workplace leaders committed to employee and workplace safety choose tailored courses. Participation in driver improvement programs can result in increased productivity, fewer accidents, and lower insurance premiums. Classes are designed to coordinate with workplace schedules and locations.
Personal Interest: Individuals attend the program for personal interest and self-development.
For more information, visit RVC Traffic Safety.
Located on the Main Campus, Woodward Technology Center, Room 2218
Community and Continuing Education (CCE)
(815) 921-3900
CCE strives to offer a large and varied selection of educational opportunities. Whether you are seeking personal enrichment or professional development, there are programs designed to fit a busy lifestyle.
CCE offices are located on the Main Campus (3301 N. Mulford Road), Woodward Technology Center, Room 1200.
Courses are offered at the Main Campus, Bell School Road Center, online, and at other convenient locations throughout the district.
For more information, visit RVC Community and Continuing Education.
Community Education
Encouraging lifelong learning at any age.
Community Education offers non-credit courses that help individuals learn a new hobby or skill, enjoy leisure and recreational activities, and benefit from personal enrichment experiences. There are no entrance exams or diploma requirements. Classes and workshops are offered for all ages.
Continuing Education
Enhance your skills, your career, your life.
Continuing Education offers non-degree courses and programs designed to help participants upgrade skills through national certification and training in business, skilled trades, healthcare, massage therapy, and technology. These short-term programs do not require an entrance exam.
Note: Financial aid does not apply to Continuing Education courses.
Highway Construction Careers Training Program (HCCTP)
During this free 14-week program, participants complete 450 hours of skilled trades preparation and apprenticeship readiness training with the goal of applying for and obtaining local union apprenticeship opportunities.
HCCTP is offered twice each year in the fall and spring semesters. The application process begins by registering for a mandatory information and testing session through RVC HCCTP.
For questions, contact the HCCTP coordinator, Dawson Ingram, at (815) 921-3912 or email the HCCTP coordinator.
Whiz Kids
Challenging minds since 1980.
Whiz Kids classes provide enrichment activities for youth, cleverly disguised as fun. Students learn by doing and by supporting one another in the learning process. Participants are encouraged to try new things, build independence, develop social skills, face challenges, learn the value of work, and build character. Classes are taught by experienced educators who are passionate about inspiring children.
Center for Learning in Retirement (CLR)
The Center for Learning in Retirement is a membership organization open to retired and semi-retired adults age 50 and over. Members enjoy intellectual stimulation and opportunities to meet new friends through short-term courses covering a wide range of topics, including art, computers, history, sciences, health and wellness, and special interests. There are no tests, grades, or homework.
Most classes are held at the Bell School Road Center (3350 N. Bell School Road, Rockford, IL 61114) at the southwest corner of Bell School and Spring Brook Roads. Some classes are offered online via Zoom each semester. Additional opportunities include day trips, social events, and extended travel experiences.
For more information, visit RVC Center for Learning in Retirement or call (815) 921-3931.
Theatre & Arts Park
Starlight Theatre
The Theatre Department is always looking for talented community members to join in the fun.
Call the Box Office at (815) 921-2160 to find out how you can get involved.
Starlight Theatre
(815) 921-2160
History and Community Roots
In 1967, a group of Rock Valley College students wanted to bring their community to the Main Campus.
They hoped to encourage the public to appreciate the beauty of their college’s farm setting, and they
decided that the best way to accomplish this goal was to perform a musical nestled beside the farm pond.
Community members arrived with lawn chairs to watch the production.
That first show, Finian’s Rainbow, was staged on Thursday, August 3, 1967, at 8:30 p.m. on the college lawn
and was billed as Rockford’s “first all-community musical.”
Since the fall of 1967, Rock Valley College has brought affordable, outdoor summer musical theatre
to residents of the community.
Growth and the Bengt Sjostrom Theatre
Times have changed since 1967. Audiences no longer bring their own chairs and blankets, but instead
enjoy performances from a comfortable 1,041-seat bowl. Over the past 59 summers, Starlight has grown
into an integral part of the college’s community outreach initiatives and a cornerstone of Rockford’s
summer arts scene.
Today, the performance space is a state-of-the-art venue. The Bengt Sjostrom Theatre (BST) has been
built, remodeled, and most recently redesigned in 2002–2003 by Jeanne Gang, a MacArthur Fellowship
recipient and founder of Studio Gang Architects. A Chicago Tribune architecture critic called the
theatre “an engineering wonder.”
Designed specifically for outdoor summer theatre, the BST features a one-of-a-kind articulated,
70-foot star-shaped roof that can be opened to the night sky or closed during inclement weather.
A constellation-themed ticket and control booth and a versatile stage house make the theatre truly
unique. The design has received international recognition and positioned Rock Valley College as a
leader in community arts and entertainment.
Productions and Participation
Starlight Theatre is one of the nation’s largest professionally produced community theatres and the
oldest continuously operating theatre in Rockford. It offers amateur actors, singers, and dancers the
opportunity to work under the direction of professional artistic and technical staff.
Each season attracts hundreds of volunteer performers and crew members. Over the years, more than
35,000 individuals have contributed their talents, helping Starlight welcome nearly 25,000 audience
members each season and more than one million attendees overall.
Starlight produces large-scale musicals with casts sometimes exceeding 100 actors. More than 140 shows
have been staged, including The Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,
Mamma Mia!, Les Misérables, Dreamgirls, Disney’s The Little Mermaid,
Beauty and the Beast, In the Heights, and many others.
Notable Alumni
Starlight boasts a distinguished roster of alumni, including Rockford’s New American Theatre founder
J. R. Sullivan; Broadway star and the voice of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Jodi Benson; the late
Marin Mazzie; Dan Webster, art director of How the Grinch Stole Christmas; former Chairman of NBC
Entertainment Bob Greenblatt; and Broadway director and performer Joe Mantello.
Youth and Seasonal Programs
Starlight has expanded beyond its traditional four summer musical productions. The StarBright
series highlights exceptionally talented performers ages 10–18 from the Rockford area, providing
young artists with opportunities to develop their skills and share their talents with the community.
In fall 2018, Starlight introduced Starlight Shakes, an outdoor Shakespeare series performed on the
picturesque Rock Valley College campus lawn. These productions emphasize minimalist staging and the
natural beauty of the grounds. Audiences gather with lawn chairs and blankets on the Ray Castle Stage
to enjoy Shakespeare under the night sky, continuing a cherished community tradition.
For additional information, visit the
Starlight Theatre website
.