On March 3, Lewis and Clark Community College welcomed several guests to its campus, including Governor JB Pritzker and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. They addressed a crowd of students and faculty about a new opportunity that will benefit both current and future students.
The speakers gathered in the Trimpe Building on the Godfrey campus to discuss the introduction of baccalaureate degrees at several community colleges throughout the state.
“Community colleges like Lewis and Clark have been at the center of our economic agenda from day one of my administration,” Pritzker said. “To build an economy where every Illinoisian can get ahead, we need an education system that can meet people where they are, regardless of their age, regardless of the background or their zip code.”
With the priority of education at hand, Pritzker proposed new legislation. “That’s why we have proposed legislation that allows community colleges to offer four-year baccalaureate degrees for in-demand career paths,” he said. Students who are pursuing certain career paths, such as nursing, dental, and child development, will have the chance to further their careers past an associate’s degree without having to transfer to a four-year college.
Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton expanded more on the topic, stating “This initiative gives students more options to earn a four-year degree in high-demand fields in their region, particularly in rural communities, with more flexibility and affordability.”
Recognizing that personal barriers, such as work and family responsibilities, often deter individuals from pursuing higher education, this will help make in-demand career programs at Lewis and Clark more accessible to anyone who wishes to achieve a bachelor’s degree.
