Laid off? Oakton offering free classes

Oakton Community College is offering limited free tuition to local residents laid off after Jan. 1, 2008.

The "Reboot" program began this winter. Tuition is free for at least one semester for five subjects that are in demand -- including computer programming and "green" marketing.

"We had people who were driving buses, people who were in middle management and everywhere in between," said Robin Vivona, career services manager for Oakton, which has campuses in Des Plaines and Skokie.

Eighty-three people signed up before the classes filled up, Vivona says.

Without the tuition waiver, …