Oakton College

08/25/2026

We asked our students what sound an owl makes. 🦉 Who do you think nailed it?

08/21/2026

One wipe and Owls are back on campus in full swing. Here’s to a great semester! 🦉💚

08/21/2026

Oakton's new Learning Commons made the cover of Community College Journal, from the American Association of Community Colleges!

The contemporary, student-centered space brings together academic resources and support services into a single, dynamic hub designed to foster collaboration and academic achievement.

"What I love is that we’ve done open houses, but students are finding these spaces on their own," says Dean of Library Jacob Jeremiah. "My dream was making this a place that everyone thought of for whatever they needed. As a community college, we are an open-access institution, but we also want to ensure that we remove any unnecessary barriers to success."

Read the full feature to see how community colleges nationwide are reimagining the library experience: https://bit.ly/4ghWihh

08/20/2026

Crystal Barrera always knew she wanted to work in healthcare. Through Oakton’s Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program with Northwestern Medicine she turned that dream into a career, combining classroom learning with paid, hands-on experience in real healthcare settings.

Today, Crystal is a full-time medical assistant at Northwestern Medicine, bringing compassion, curiosity and her own lived experience to every patient interaction.

“Just listening to somebody could make their whole day.”

Read Crystal’s story and see how an apprenticeship helped her find her place on a healthcare team.

Crystal Barrera turned a childhood dream into a healthcare career through Oakton's Medical Assistant Apprenticeship. Learn how mentorship and hands-on experience helped her succeed.

08/19/2026

08/17/2026

Whether you've been here over the summer or are checking back in for fall, we're so happy to see you again! Visit events.oakton.edu to stay plugged into Welcome Week activities on campus 📅

08/14/2026

Coffee and espresso drinks now available at Oakton Cafe in Des Plaines! ☕️ Consider this your sign to stop by 👀

08/14/2026

Free ESL classes near you!

Oakton College brings FREE ESL classes into communities throughout our district.

Find ESL opportunities in:
📍 Des Plaines
📍 Skokie
📍 Glenview
📍 Morton Grove
📍 Park Ridge
📍 Niles

Online options may also be available.

Find out more:
www.oakton.edu/freeESL

08/07/2026

For Ryan Lewandowski, earning his nursing degree at Oakton was just the beginning. Today, he cares for patients in the community where he grew up while helping prepare the next generation of nurse anesthetists. “​​That first degree started it all," he said.
Read Ryan's full Oakton Voices https://bit.ly/4fZzpzh

08/06/2026

Live music, community connections and helpful resources all in one place. 🎶

Oakton's Admissions team joined our partners at Evanston Cradle to Career (EC2C) for Downtown Summer Sounds, a nine-week concert series that brings neighbors together while highlighting the organizations making a difference across the community.

As a proud community partner, we're grateful to work alongside EC2C to help remove barriers to opportunity and connect Evanston families with the resources they need to thrive.

Thank you to EC2C for creating spaces where community, connection and opportunity come together.