Continuing Education

Oakton—a publicly funded, nonprofit institution—bases tuition and fees on our costs and are as low as operating costs and state law permits. Because costs differ for each program, please call 847.982.9888 to find the tuition of the program that interests you. Tuition is the same for both in- and out-of-district residents, but does not include the cost of textbooks or materials. Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice.

Cancellation Policy

If the Alliance cancels a class, registered students will receive a 100 percent tuition refund.

Fees

Effective with the Fall 2022 semester, a $4 technology fee will be added per class. Students who register online will not be charged any additional processing fees. However, those registering in person, by mail, or by fax will be charged an additional $12 administrative fee with each registration form. Fees are non-refundable.

Refund Policy

If a student wishes to drop a class, a 100 percent tuition refund, minus a $15 cancellation fee, will be issued if the student submits a request online or to continuingeducation@oakton.edu.

This request must be sent seven days prior to the first class session to receive a refund. No refunds will be issued for requests received less than seven days before the start of class (unless authorized at the Alliance administrators’ discretion.)

Tuition

Tuition and fees are as low as operating costs and state law permits and are subject to change without notice. Tuition is the same for both in- and out-of-district residents and does not include the cost of textbooks or materials. Personal checks are accepted. When providing a check as payment, you authorize Oakton to either use information from your check to make a one-time electronic fund transfer from your account or to process the payment as a check transaction. A $25 fee will be applied if your check is returned by the bank.

Residency (In-District Senior Citizens)

Residents of Oakton’s district who are 60 years or older are eligible to receive a senior discount on tuition (unless otherwise indicated). In-district seniors (60+) who register for an Alliance class on or after July 7, 2014, are eligible for a 15 percent tuition discount. In-district seniors who registered before that date will continue to receive a 50 percent discount where applicable. Proof of age and in-district residency must be provided prior to registration.

Acceptable documentation includes a valid Illinois driver’s license or Illinois State ID, or two current bank statements or utility bills. Additional proof may be requested at the discretion of the college. Please contact us at 847-982-9888 for additional information and instructions on how to submit documentation.

Residents of Oakton’s district who are 65 or older whose annual household income is less than the threshold amount provided in Section 4 of the “Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistant Act” may enroll without payment of tuition in regularly scheduled “A” coded (i.e., TEC A19-01) courses provided that available classroom space exists, and tuition-paying students enrolled constitute the minimum number required for the course. Proof of age and a signed declaration of annual income are required at the time of registration. Completion of a waiver request form is necessary with each registration. 

Textbooks

Textbooks and materials may be required for classes. Costs for these items are not included in the tuition listed. See course description for specifics. 

Guidelines

Alliance for Lifelong Learning offers a scholarship opportunity to provide financial assistance to qualified students enrolling in qualified classes (“A” coded, such as TEC A19-001).

Scholarships are awarded on a class-by-class basis and are not transferable. Students are not eligible to receive a cash refund from a scholarship.

Submit your completed scholarship application as soon as possible. If you submit your application less than two weeks before the start of the class, you have the option of reserving your seat in the class by paying the tuition and fees upfront. If the scholarship is approved, you will receive reimbursement.

Note: The $4 technology fee and the $12 administrative fee are not covered by scholarship funds. Application approval is not guaranteed.

All scholarship committee decisions are final and based on applicant need and application statements. Scholarships are awarded while funds permit. Please ensure your application documents are submitted as soon as possible.

Checklist

• Complete registration form (PDF) (37 KB)
• Complete scholarship application (PDF) (155 KB) including signature and applicant statement.
• Attach supporting documents, (e.g., copy of most recent federal income tax return, current pay stub, or wage information sheet from the Illinois Department of Economic Security - IDES).

Application Submission Instructions

Submit via ShareFile

Proposing a Course

Individuals can propose course ideas for consideration by the Alliance for Lifelong Learning.

Potential teachers should submit a class proposal form (PDF) (159 KB) to contedcourseproposal@oakton.edu by the stated due dates. Proposals submitted after the noted deadline will be considered for the following session. 

Consideration Due Dates

• Spring Session (January–May):  Submit by June 1
• Summer Session (May-August): Submit by December 1
• Fall Session (August–December): Submit March 1

Proposals will be reviewed during planning times. You will be contacted by our office for a phone conference call should your proposal be considered for further review. Please note that each proposal will be considered carefully in the context of student demand and need.

Teaching Opportunities

Continuing Education is always looking for talented and enthusiastic individuals to teach our courses. If you would like to be considered for a teaching position, please submit a resume and a list of topics you are equipped to teach to contedcourseproposal@oakton.edu. Please note that we are looking for prospective teachers with expertise in many areas, especially those connected with the below topics. You will be contacted should we identify an available opening.

• Foreign Language (e.g., Spanish, Polish, German, Arabic)
• Dance (e.g., Swing, Hip Hop)
• Information Technology (e.g., MS Office 2010/13; Prezi, Powerpoint)
• Youth STEM (e.g., Minecraft, Video Game Design, Robotics)
• Soft Skills Training (e.g., Resume Writing, Interviewing Skills)
• Culinary (e.g., Basic Cooking, Herbs and Spices, Specialty Cooking)
• Photography (e.g., Basic Photography, Running a Photography Business)
• Small Business Development (e.g., Grant Writing, Business Plan Development)
• World Affairs/Politics (e.g., Armenia, Korea, Mexico, Cuba, India)
• Humanities (e.g., History, Art, Literature, Theater, Film)

The VITA program is a group of dedicated volunteers who offer tutoring support for our adult learners participating in the free, non-credit English As A Second Language (ESL) program and the free, non-credit Learn To Read Literacy program.

To become a volunteer tutor you need:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills required
• Interview with VITA program manager
• Participation in a training workshop
• be at least 18 years of age

In order for our students to progress in achieving their language goals, we can not accommodate volunteer requests for partial semester tutoring. Volunteers must be able to tutor for a full semester. Please note that we are not funded to operate as a training agency for other programs.

For information about tutoring opportunities, please contact the VITA office at 847-635-1426 or VITA@oakton.edu.