IECC Schools May Soon Offer Baccalaureate Degrees

(Undated) — Illinois community colleges may soon offer bachelor’s degrees. Governor, JB Pritzker, announced the proposal during last week’s State of the State address and Illinois Eastern Community Colleges has been at the forefront of the discussion. According to IECC Chancellor, Ryan Gower, this initiative aims to address critical workforce shortages and provide four-year degree opportunities for “place-bound students” who cannot relocate for traditional university programs. Gower says recognizing the challenges faced by students and employers across the state, IECC has played a leadership role in a task force made up of six community college leaders advising state policymakers on this initiative. The proposed legislation would allow Illinois community colleges to offer Community College Baccalaureate degrees in high-demand fields, a model already successfully implemented in 24 other states.