Shawnee Community College is receiving an Access and Equity Dual Credit Project grant from the Illinois Community College Board for $150,000.
The school says this funding will create Project HOPES -- or Healthcare Occupation Pupils for Educational Success -- during the fiscal year 2025.
Project HOPES aims to expand equity and access to rural and at-risk students into the Career and Technical Education Health Occupations Pathway by partnering with the 12 high schools in the Shawnee Community College District.
The grant will expand access in several ways, including creating a fully built Health Occupations Pathway in five of the high schools, and offering dual-credit courses for health career exploration and occupational math.
Some healthcare degree and certificate options offered at Shawnee Community College include Associate Degree Nursing, Practical Nursing, Social Work, Phlebotomy, Medical Assistant, Certified Nurse Assistant, and Occupational Therapy Assistant.
