December Board Report: first class completes IVCC Surgical Technician program

A total of 27 students are expected to complete the Illinois Valley Community College’s inaugural surgical technician program this fall, IVCC President Dr. Tracy Morris reported to the College Board of Trustees Thursday.

Non-credit programs like the surgical technician program are typically fast-tracked programs that lead to certification. A third section of the program is scheduled to be offered during spring semester, beginning January 9, 2025.

Responding to a demand from healthcare organizations facing a critical shortage of skilled workers, the Continuing Education and Business Services department developed and implemented the course through the Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce (PATH) Grant. The program fills that gap while offering students unique on-site observation opportunities. Under the workforce training grant, students can also become eligible for a partial tuition waiver.

Surgical technicians prepare the operating room with instruments, equipment, supplies, and medications. Graduates are in demand by hospitals, and the OSF Healthcare system even offers hiring incentives. Dr. Morris also indicated that Morris Hospital has partnered with IVCC to provide clinical hours for students.

In other action, the Board approved a $17.1 million tax levy, which increased over the 2023 actual levy of $14.9 million due in large part to an increase in district EAV and the addition of a Protection, Health and Safety levy to support relocation of a microbiology lab to address safety concerns. The levy will result in an increase of approximately $7.96 on a $100,000 home.

The Board also established a new meeting schedule for 2025. Meetings will be held on the third Wednesday of the month at 4:30 p.m. in January through April. Then, beginning in May, the meetings will be on the third Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. These dates can be found at www.ivcc.edu/board/board_meeting_dates.php.

In other action, the Board:

• Learned of the appointments Dr. Sammy Kumar, CNA instructor; Kaitlyn Edgcomb, recruitment coordinator, and Christopher Stickney, maintenance.
• Learned of the retirement of Christine Blaydes, CNA instructor/program coordinator, at the end of this year, the retirement of Lynn Moore, enrollment services assistant, in February 2025, and the resignation of art instructor Rachael Olson.