Urgent Needs for Healthcare, First Responders

Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a series titled “The State of Community Colleges Today.” The series was created by Sarah Evans, director of communications at Elgin Community College in Elgin, Illinois.

ECC shares how they plan to address urgent growth needs related to healthcare professions and first responder training

By Sarah Evans

As with the three colleges previously highlighted in this series, Elgin Community College (ECC) is seeing its enrollment increase rapidly. For spring 2009, enrollment is up 14 percent, the third highest spring enrollment in the college’s 60-year history. This increase includes more returning students, transfers from other four-year universities and adult learners. Looking at Spring enrollment trends across the state of Illinois, we are not alone.

At ECC the plans for our future are already in the works

Due to tremendous growth and as one of the oldest community colleges in Illinois, ECC is currently requesting from its district (Community College District 509) permission to issue bonds to cover the critical needs of the college. On a national scope, ECC is not alone; there are many community college districts in need of vital facility improvements (in Illinois, many districts have successfully pursued a referendum in the past two years).

State funding for community colleges has dropped significantly over the past seven years, and no Illinois community college has received any state funding for capital projects or deferred maintenance since 2004. Federal stimulus projects remain undecided, but there is speculation that those who can match funds may take priority. If true, ECC could leverage referendum dollars to receive federal stimulus dollars, offering opportunities to further plans for a Health Careers Center of Excellence and Regional Public Safety Training Facilities, among others.

Healthcare providers and community colleges go hand-in-hand

Nationally, community colleges are responsible for educating 60 percent of all new registered nurses and the majority of allied health professionals. Impressive numbers, yes. However, we don’t always have the capabilities to keep up with demand. In the midst of a nationwide healthcare workforce shortage, the need for healthcare job training is so high that ECC turns away more applicants every semester than it is able to enroll. ECC’s referendum would double the classroom space for health careers training and allow the college to offer up to eight additional health career training programs, including a Bachelor of Science in nursing in partnership with Northern Illinois University.

We will continue to do our part to prepare for the employment increase in healthcare and related fields which is predicted to be approximately 19 million by 2016.

Community college the right choice for this nursing alum

Nursing was the right choice for Pamela Walker, the new emergency director for Elgin-based Sherman Health and ECC was the right choice to pursue her education.

“ECC was my jumpstart for a lifelong career of growth and achievement,” says Walker, a 1977 graduate with more than 20 years of nursing experience.

Walker says that ECC provided her with so much training that she didn’t return to complete her bachelor’s degree for 22 years. She credits her success to the relationships she’s developed with her fellow nursing students and ECC instructors.

The ECC nursing program is as popular today as it was when Walker attended. Although enrollment caps existed in the ’70s as today, she says the difference between the two periods is that nursing is now seen as a career choice, not as a casual decision. ECC has a huge role in training future nurses and healthcare staff, she says. Sherman Health and other regional hospitals also see the importance of that role.

“All area hospitals are eager to partner with ECC,” Walker says.

80 percent of police, 86 percent of fire fighters, and 84 percent of paramedics receive their credentials at community colleges

ECC is at the forefront of safety and security preparation for our region–training the firefighters, police officers and paramedics.

However, the college does not have training facilities on campus or the space to meet the increasing demands for job training. Currently the college can train only about 240 students per year for public safety professions. Regional public safety training facilities funded by the referendum would double the number of students trained for jobs in public safety each year–and ensure that students have access to high-quality technical and medical training close to home.

Local police chief is life-long learner

St. Charles Police Chief James Lamkin is a believer in ECC, earning his associate degrees in accounting and criminal justice during the ’70s and ’90s.

“I always believe ECC is a tremendous resource in our area,” he says. With a career in law enforcement spanning more than 28 years, Lamkin, who recently was named the 2009 president of the Kane County Chiefs of Police Association, has put his degrees to good use, as he’s able to juggle his department’s budget with police work. He says ECC gave him the tenacity to earn his degree. As an adult learner, Lamkin enjoyed the engaging conversations he had with instructors.

Your Economy. Your Community. Your College.

As with our peers across the country, ECC is ready to accommodate the current and future growth of those who utilize their community colleges. Although we have much to be proud of throughout our 60-year history, we have real, urgent needs that have expanded as the economy drives more people to the resources and services we provide.

To protect our regional economy in this national economic downturn, we must continue to build a skilled workforce, attract economic investment, and reduce unemployment. This is what community colleges are all about.

If you haven’t yet, go and check out what your local community college is doing–I bet they’ll surprise you!

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