Creation Date: 06/30/2022

Location of Service: 61761-9446

Heartland Community College recently welcomed sixty-eight new students to campus as part of the $1M Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) grant awarded to the college by The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) to engage African American, Latinx, and low-income learners to get career training that can move them quickly into the workforce. WEI Scholars joined program staff, faculty, and local employer partners for a kick-off event to become familiar with the campus, get their official student IDs, and begin building the relationships that will carry them through their program and into their future careers. The program launch contributed to a 21.2% increase in minority student enrollment over Summer 2021 and an 80.4% increase in new minority student enrollment. The WEI program also contributed to the 22.9% increase in enrollment in applied associates degree and certificate programs over Summer 2021.

The Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) was established in 2019 as an innovative partnership with ICCB, the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, and 17 community colleges. The WEI consortium works to create, support, and expand job training opportunities for areas with identified workforce skills gaps. Sixty-eight WEI scholars started classes for Summer 2022 and 85 scholars are currently enrolled for the Fall 2022 semester with 685 credit hours planned.

High-impact programs develop and foster the skills of individuals that are looking to retool their job skills or directly entering into the workforce. The programs of study supported by the WEI program are designed to create a quick pathway to occupations earning 30% above the area living wage and can lead to future career advancement through Heartland’s Apprenticeship program. The WEI programs primarily fall into three categories:

• Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology and Trades (examples include Building Maintenance, Construction, EV Energy Storage, Truck Driving, Welding)
• Heath Care (examples are Certified Nursing Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician, Phlebotomist
• Finance & Business Services (examples are Bookkeeping, Computer Networking Support Specialist, Enrolled Agent/Tax Preparer)

The Workforce Equity Initiative grant will serve a maximum of 145 learners in 2022, 60 percent of whom must be African American.

The grant will fund not only tuition for learners accepted into the program, but also a series of services including success coaching and career navigation support, fees and technology support, transportation, and childcare needs.

Heartland offers 53 Workforce stackable certificates and credentials leading to immediate careers and building towards an Associate degree. Prospective learners who are interested in workforce programs may be eligible for a number of scholarship opportunities. Visit heartland.edu for more information.