Southern Illinois News

Shawnee Community College has received two different grants to encourage students to continue their education beyond high school.

The Illinois Community College Board has awarded $358,063 through the Pipeline for the Advancement of Healthcare Workforce Program (PATH) Grant to the College. The purpose of the grant is to create and support opportunities for students to pursue a career in the healthcare industry, which has been left reeling in the wake of the COVID 19 pandemic.

“The PATH grant will enable the College to move forward with our Strategic Plan of developing and strengthening health science programs. We will further develop career pathways to enhance program enrollments and alleviate equity gaps identified in our programs and communities,” said Shawnee Community College Vice President of Academic Affairs Darci Cather.

The goals of the Strengthen and Develop Health Science Programs are outlined below.

• Expand CNA and EMT programming to two additional extension centers.
• Develop a Health Science Career certificate, and a corresponding required Healthcare Career Pathways (Student Success) course
• Address identified equity gaps for low-income, first-generation, and minority students through the expansion of wraparound student support services
• Develop a state-approved simulation lab

Shawnee Community College also received funding through the College Bridge Program Grant. This grant provides $220,000 in funding for Shawnee Community College’s Focus on the Ultimate Student Experience (FUSE) project. This program will provide minority, first-generation, and low-income high school students or adults beginning or returning to college with the tools they need to be successful in the classroom at Shawnee Community College. The FUSE project focuses on sustaining instrumental student support services offered during COVID-19 and expanding additional services to the extension centers.

“We are excited about the opportunities these grants will provide to people living and working in southern Illinois. Shawnee Community College remains focused on creating stronger communities throughout this region,” said Cather.

Anyone interested in attending Shawnee Community College may reach out by calling 618-634-3200 or schedule a visit online.

Original source can be found here.