Elgin Community College

Josh Budweg 4 months ago

My girlfriend was in the ECC Dental Assisting program, and seeing everything she went through with the administration was honestly frustrating. She worked extremely hard, already had future employment lined up, and even had doctors and licensed dental staff willing to supervise her clinicals, yet no flexibility or compromise was offered. Even after completing almost 100 clinical hours, she was told they wouldn’t count simply because they were completed before June 1. The lack of communication and professionalism from Kim Plate and the program was honestly shocking

Serena Sheriff 4 months ago

As a close friend of someone in the ECC Dental Assisting program, it was really hard watching how much stress the program caused her. There were a lot of communication issues, last-minute changes, and situations that seemed unnecessarily difficult to navigate. I also know there were times when personal matters involving her were discussed with other students, which felt uncomfortable and unprofessional. She worked incredibly hard and put so much time, money, and effort into the program, so it was disappointing to watch her feel so unsupported during an already stressful process, especially in situations involving Kim Plate and the administration.

Louis clarizio 4 months ago

I am an oral surgeon who was prepared to supervise a dental assisting student who was expected to soon be employed at my practice in New Hampshire. Despite having licensed doctors and multiple experienced dental assistants available to properly assess the student’s workflow, professionalism, and clinical abilities, no accommodations were made simply because the site was located in New Hampshire instead of Illinois. My office manager sent a letter regarding the situation and the impact it would have on our workflow and future scheduling, yet we never received any response from Program Director Kim Plate. The lack of communication, flexibility, and professionalism was extremely disappointing.

Destini Clarizio 4 months ago

I attended the Dental Assisting program at Elgin Community College with mixed feelings. The program itself provides valuable hands-on experience and teaches important DA skills, but my experience with Program Director Kim Plate and the administration was honestly one of the most frustrating educational experiences I’ve had. The biggest issue involved clinical placement approval. I had already secured future employment and made plans to relocate to New Hampshire, which is why I proposed completing my clinicals at that site. Students are allowed to complete clinicals during fall, spring, or summer semesters, yet I was not informed until the final day of the semester that June 1 was suddenly being treated as a strict mandatory start date. The New Hampshire site would have supervised me through licensed dental assistants and an on-site oral surgeon with qualifications equal to or greater than the ECC observer who would normally conduct one observational shift. Despite this, Kim Plate denied the site without giving any clear or reasonable explanation. Multiple compromises were proposed, including Zoom observations and doctor check-ins, but she appeared completely unwilling to work tow

Alex 9 months ago

I’ve been in and out of ECC for the past 3–4 years, and I just have to give a HUGE shout-out to the incredible cleaning crew! I recently learned they’re also the team behind setting up almost all events at ECC— Over the last couple of years, the difference has been night and day. The floors have never looked so shiny, and every space feels clean and welcoming. I can’t express enough how much I appreciate walking into a campus that feels safe, clean, and cared for. THANK YOU for the hard work and dedication—it truly makes a difference! I hope this message reaches the right department because you all deserve the recognition!