Skip to main content
In October 2019, Frontier Community College was selected to receive a grant from the U.S. Department of Education Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) for a total amount of $2,249,961. The allocation of funds will be approximately $450,000 annually for the duration of October 2019-September 2024.
The grant will add two major developments to FCC: a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) Program and student services-oriented improvements and additions.
The Medical Laboratory Technician Program will be a two-year Associate in Applied Science Degree to begin in the Fall of 2020. MLTs perform tests that help physicians diagnose and treat diseases. Primary job duties may include preparing samples for analysis, monitoring tests and procedures, analyzing chemical content of fluids, matching blood for transfusions, and more. Jobs are found in hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and public health organizations. A huge turnover in the MLT field is expected over the next five to ten years, and this trend is true at several hospitals within the Southern Illinois region. Adding the MLT Program to FCC will provide several jobs in the area, with a current earning potential of $51,000 per year.
With the grant, Frontier Community College will also begin strengthening its online opportunities to students and the public. The MLT Program will begin with entirely face-to-face classes but will eventually be offered in hybrid format (a blend of classroom instruction and online learning).
Additionally, FCC will create online and hybrid classes for the Certified Nursing Assistant certificate, Phlebotomy certificate, and Certified Medical Assistant Associate in Applied Science Degree. The grant will also allow FCC to offer the following services online: tutoring, advising, intake services, degree mapping, and financial literacy instruction.
Several additions and improvements will be made to FCC’s campus to enhance the learning environment for students. To ensure sufficient capacity for science instruction, FCC will update its existing science lab that is housed in Mason Hall. The grant will also provide for a new science lab, as well as a new MLT lab. With these additions, the MLT Program and other health-based programs can offer work-based learning experiences to support several in-demand occupations.
Illinois Eastern Community College District No. 529 does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, parental status, religious affiliation, veteran status, national origin, ancestry, order of protection status, conviction record, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other protected category.
The MLT program is seeking accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 N. River Rd. Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119; telephone: 773-714-8880; www.naacls.org
