HCC and Partners Win State Award for Online Nursing Program
11/23/2010

FREEPORT – Highland Community College, along with partners Kishwaukee College, Rock Valley College, and Sauk Valley Community College received a 2010 Illinois Council of Community College Administrators’ Innovation Award on November 19th in Tinley Park, IL. The colleges were recognized for developing the Northern Illinois Online Initiative for Nursing (NIOIN) program in response to the regional shortage of skilled nurses identified in the Workforce Investment Act managed Critical Skills Shortage Initiative.

The program is the result of collaboration between the four community colleges and CGH Medical Center, Freeport Health Network, KSB Hospital, Kishwaukee Community Hospital, OSF St. Anthony Medical Center, Rochelle Community Hospital, Rockford Health System, and Swedish American Hospital.

All nursing theory courses are offered online, while nursing students complete a minimum of two clinical experiences per week in a campus lab or hospital setting. Students who successfully complete the program receive an associate of applied science degree and qualified to sit for the national examination to become a registered nurse.

After four years of development and preparation the first cohort of students began the program in January 2009, 100% of whom graduated, with a 93% pass rate on their National Council Licensure Examination.

For more information regarding the NIOIN program, go to www.nioin.org, or call Nancy Shuler, NIOIN program coordinator, at 815.501.3430.

Pictured (left to right): Heather Peters, Kishwaukee College; Janet Lynch, Sauk Valley Community College, Kathleen Johnson, (previous) NIOIN coordinator, Lois Lundgren, Rock Valley College; and Mekeel, Highland Community College. ###

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