Latest news with #ICCB
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Illinois community college enrollment increase reaches record high
CHICAGO, Ill. (WCIA) — The latest surge in community college enrollment across the state is the highest on record, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced on Tuesday. The 2025 Spring enrollment at Illinois community colleges increased 8.9% from the previous year, according to Pritzker. This is the highest recorded increase from spring-to-spring since the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) began collecting enrollment statistics in the late 1990s. Over 99k granted to Illinois schools for conservation-based field trips Additionally, this is the third consecutive spring that community college enrollment has increased across Illinois. 'With the largest Spring-to-Spring enrollment increase and the third straight year of growth, our community colleges have not only bounced back from the pandemic – they are now stronger than ever thanks to our historic investments in education,' Pritzker said. 'We are the home to the third largest community college system in the nation, and we want to continue seeing growth and opportunity for working families by making higher education more affordable and accessible for students across the state.' In the FY26 Budget Address, Pritzker proposed a student-centered program to allow community colleges to offer four-year bachelor's degrees. On top of this program, Pritzker is helping launch a direct admission program to streamline college admissions to public, postsecondary schools with the goal of saving money for Illinois residents. Illinois State Fair adds Brad Paisley to 2025 Grandstand lineup Also, in the FY26 budget is a 3% increase in operating dollars for public universities and community colleges, and a $721.6 million appropriation for the Monetary Award Program (MAP). This money will be used to help students at, or below median income attend community college at no cost when their financial aid is paired with federal Pell Grants. The 2025 Spring Enrollment Report shows the third spring-to-spring semester increase over the last six years and brings enrollment at in-state community colleges past pre-pandemic levels to over 283,000 students. Other findings from the report include the following: 40 out of 45 state community colleges experienced an increase in headcount enrollment from Spring 2024 to Spring 2025 Dual Credit programs – allowing high school students to earn college credit – increased 19.8% and has increased 61.9% since Spring 2021 Fix out of six instruction areas experienced an increase in headcount enrollment from 2024, including: Transfer programs: the largest instructional area in the Illinois Community College System – up 8.9% Career and Technical Education programs: increase of 7.6% General Associates programs: 23.4% increase Adult Education: serves students interested in basic skills, GED preparation and English proficiency – increase of 5% 'We know higher education is key to our future, which is why we've made historic investments to make education more accessible,' said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. 'Now we're seeing a return on our investment with community college enrollment surging. When education is more accessible and affordable, our entire state is stronger.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Illinois community colleges receive $3.6 million for student mental health services
The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) has provided more than $3.6 million to 32 Illinois Community Colleges to support student mental health in 2025, according to a news release. These funds will introduce new services, augment existing practices, and target service gaps to help meet the mental health needs of thousands of students on community college campuses across the state. 'We know many college students nationwide face mental health challenges. A recent U.S. News survey revealed nearly 70% of college students report struggling with their mental health. This investment will help community colleges better meet the needs of students outside the classroom, contributing to their success in the classroom, said ICCB Executive Director Brian Durham. A 2023 Healthy Minds Study, which surveyed 800 campuses across the country found that 41% of college students screened positive for clinically significant symptoms of depression and one in three college students screened positive for anxiety. The Lumina Foundation State of Higher Education 2024 Report indicates that 64% of currently enrolled students who recently considered stopping out of their program say emotional stress or mental health concerns are significant reasons why. These Illinois community colleges applied for and are receiving MHEAC funding this fiscal year. Grant Recipient Amount Black Hawk College $119,967 College of Lake County $120,000 Harold Washington College $120,000 Harry S. Truman College $120,000 Heartland Community College $119,890 Highland Community College $119,151 Illinois Central College $119,796 Joliet Jr. College $120,000 Kankakee Community College $120,000 Kaskaskia College $120,000 Kennedy-King College $119,847 Kishwaukee College $40,000 Lake Land College $71,295 Lincoln Land Community College $120,000 Malcolm X College $120,000 McHenry County College $118,788 Moraine Valley Community College $120,000 Morton College $120,000 Oakton College $100,280 Olive-Harvey College $119,968 Parkland College $119,710 Rend Lake College $54,524 Richard J. Daley College $119,995 Richland Community College $120,000 Rock Valley College $120,000 Sauk Valley Community College $120,000 South Suburban College $120,000 Southwestern Illinois College $120,000 Spoon River College $105,600 Triton College $120,000 Wilbur Wright College $120,000 William Rainey Harper College $119,699 Total Allocations $3,608,510 All colleges receiving funds will use them in at least one of four ways: Develop and expand peer support programs. Expand the number of students served through local partnerships Develop and expand mental health services targeting service gaps, emphasizing under-served students. Develop Medicaid and other reimbursement procedures for mental health services. About the Illinois Community College Board The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) is the state coordinating organization for the Illinois Community College System – the third largest in the country and the leading public workforce development trainer in the state. The ICCB has statutory responsibility for administering state and federal grants to community college districts and adult education providers and managing high school equivalency testing for Illinois. Illinois community colleges serve over 600,000 residents each year in credit, noncredit, and continuing education courses. Illinois is home to 48 colleges in 39 community college districts which provide high quality, accessible, cost-effective educational opportunities to the entire state. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Central IL community colleges among those receiving mental health grants
ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Five Central Illinois community colleges are among 32 across the state receiving mental health funding. The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) is providing $3,608,510 to community colleges statewide to support student mental health in 2025. These Mental Health Early Action on Campus (MHEAC) grants will help colleges expand mental health support programs and implement new strategies. City of Springfield cracking down on code violations for massage parlors Additionally, these funds will introduce new services, improve existing practices and target service gaps to assist in meeting the mental health needs of thousands of students on these campuses across Illinois. 'We know many college students nationwide face mental health challenges. A recent U.S. News survey revealed nearly 70% of college students report struggling with their mental health,' said ICCB executive director Brian Durham. 'This investment will help community colleges better meet the needs of students outside the classroom, contributing to their success in the classroom.' The Central Illinois community colleges that applied for and are receiving MHEAC funding this fiscal year include: Grant Recipient Amount Heartland Community College $119,890 Lake Land College $71,295 Lincoln Land Community College $120,000 Parkland College $119,710 Richland Community College $120,000 Total Allocations $550,895 Firefighters from across the Midwest come together in Vermilion Co. in first-of-its-kind forum The 2023 Healthy Minds Study surveyed 800 campuses across the United States and found that 41% of students screened as positive for clinically significant symptoms of depression. Additionally, the survey found that 1 in 3 students screened as positive for anxiety. Information from the Lumina Foundation State of higher Education 2024 Report indicates that 64% of students currently enrolled who recently considered dropping out of their programs said emotional stress/mental health concerns are significant reasons why. Each college receiving grants will use them in at least one of four ways: Develop and expand peer support programs Expand the number of students served through local partnerships Develop and expand mental health services targeting service gaps, emphasizing underserved students Develop Medicaid and other reimbursement procedures for mental health services Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
$3.6M to support Illinois college students struggling with depression, anxiety
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Illinois Community College Board will send a total of $3.6 million to 32 colleges, including Rock Valley College in Rockford, to support students facing depression and anxiety. According to the ICCB, the funds will be used to 'introduce new services, augment existing practices, and target service gaps to help meet the mental health needs of thousands of students.' 'We know many college students nationwide face mental health challenges. A recent U.S. News survey revealed nearly 70% of college students report struggling with their mental health. This investment will help community colleges better meet the needs of students outside the classroom, contributing to their success in the classroom,' said ICCB executive director Brian Durham. According to a 2023 Healthy Minds study, which surveyed 800 campuses across the country, 41% of college students had 'clinically significant symptoms of depression' and 1 in 3 students had anxiety. All colleges receiving funds will use them in at least one of four ways: Develop and expand peer support programs. Expand the number of students served through local partnerships Develop and expand mental health services targeting service gaps, emphasizing underserved students. Develop Medicaid and other reimbursement procedures for mental health services. Rock Valley College will receive $120,000 for its program. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
