Illinois Valley Community College enhances educational access and career readiness through three state-funded grant programs, significantly benefiting students in healthcare and other fields. The grants include Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce, Dual-Credit Grant, and Workforce Equity Initiative, which collectively aid students by providing tuition support, training, and career placement services. These initiatives have seen numerous students obtain licensure and secure employment in high-demand areas.
“These grants are a lifeline for students across the state, providing opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach,” said Illinois Valley Community College President Dr. Tracy Morris.
Funding assistance was critical to students like Blair Hermann, who completed Illinois Valley Community College’s nursing program in 2024. After multiple college starts and interruptions and starting a family, she decided to pursue a new career in nursing. Having earned her degree, she is working in the medical-surgical unit at OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa. Looking back on the program, Hermann said, “Every clinical experience I had in the nursing program reassured me that I made the right career choice and that I truly love what I will be doing.”
For more information about IVCC’s PATH, Dual Credit, and WEI programs, visit ivcc.edu.
