NEWS
Illinois
Council of Community College Presidents
For Immediate Release:
Presidents’ Issue New Report on Granting
Baccalaureate Degrees for Various Fields
NORMAL Illinois
community college presidents approved a recommendation urging the community college
system be allowed to grant four-year baccalaureate degrees for nursing and
other applied career areas at their meeting on Friday, January 30.
"This
recommendation, which took nearly one year to study and prepare, shows our
community colleges can be the place where students can earn the degrees close
to home which is important to their families and communities," said Thomas
Choice, the president of the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents.
The study recommends
community colleges be authorized to grant four-year degrees for applied careers
and nursing degrees. Illinois would join 21 others states already offering
these four-year degrees. Illinois officials have discussed the concept and
experiences for families in other states for several years.
"Our study
indicates many employers across the state need a workforce with a higher level
of education. Community colleges are
uniquely positioned with their strong industry and workforce relationships to
provide these programs" said Carl Sandberg College President Lori
Sundberg. Sundberg chaired the committee that wrote the report.
The Council will work
with the Illinois Community College Trustees Association, the Illinois
Community College Board, the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the
legislature to ensure the necessary steps to move forward.
Choice, who is
president of Kishwaukee College in Malta Illinois, noted the report recommends
the addition of these programs be managed without any additional state funding.
It is anticipated that the variable tuition program already used by many
community colleges for career and technical degrees would be used for these
four-year degrees.
The applied
baccalaureate degrees would cover fields like automotive, respiratory therapy
and dental hygiene among others. # # #
(For more Information contact Steve
Brown 847-922-5361
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