Olney Central College Nursing Instructor Anne Hustad has completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. The DNP is one of two doctorate degrees available in the nursing field. SIU-E’s program combines classwork along with a comprehensive research project. “I am so excited to have it finished,” Hustad said. “I have been working on it for two years and COVID-19 changed how we did things. There was no graduation and I had to do my project and discussions through Zoom, instead of in person.”

Lincoln Trail College is offering a class that will help you learn how to crochet. The crochet class begins on October 14 and runs to November 18. The class will serve as an introduction to crochet for beginners, but will also give a review of basic techniques for people that are looking for a refresher on how to crochet.  The class will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. at Lincoln Trail College. The cost of the class is $40 plus the cost of supplies. People can register for Crochet by calling 618-544-8657.

New classroom simulators are ensuring students in the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges/Olney Central College Associate Degree Nursing Program have the skills needed to succeed in their clinical and healthcare settings.

Mt. Carmel, Ill.— Wabash Valley College's bass coach, Professor Todd Gill, is excited to announce the signing of Mason Gross for the 2021–2022 collegiate bass season. Gross signed on Wednesday evening, Sept. 9.

Mt. Carmel, Ill.— Wabash Valley College’s baseball team hosted a number of professional scouts, ranging from area scouts to national cross-checkers, for a showcase on Sept. 17. There were several in attendance representing the majority of the Major League clubs. WVC Head Baseball Coach Rob Fournier stated the scouts “were there to see and evaluate our athletes, to determine who may be a fit for their organization in the future.”

September 20-26 marks the annual Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. The week serves as a reminder that reading, writing, and basic math remain an elusive target for 36 million adults across the country. According to ProLiteracy, a non-profit organization that supports literacy programs, low literacy costs the United States $225 billion or more each year in non-productivity in the workforce, crime, and loss of tax revenue due to unemployment. They say that 43 percent of adults with the lowest literacy levels live in poverty. 

A Lincoln Trail College project that has been in the works for the last three years took a major step forward after the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Board of Trustees approved the bid for the Theater Renaissance Project. The addition to the Zwermann Arts Center will add a new choral room that doubles as a mid-sized lecture hall along with additional practice rooms, and office and storage spaces.

Roger Eddy will assume the role as the Interim President at Lincoln Trail College on October 1. He takes over for Dr. Ryan Gower who was selected as the Chancellor for Illinois Eastern Community Colleges in May.  

Illinois Eastern Community Colleges will observe Constitution Day on Thursday, September 17, 2020.  The IECC colleges will observe Constitution Day with a variety of activities and resources to promote the study of the Constitution. The following activities are planned at the IECC colleges:

There were only four community colleges in the State of Illinois that saw positive enrollment growth for the Fall 2020 semester. Lincoln Trail College was one of the four colleges with a three percent growth in enrollment.