27 students to join IVCC’s inaugural surgical technician program

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

Noncredit programs such as the surgical technician program typically are fast-tracked programs that lead to certification. A third section of the program is scheduled to be offered during the spring semester, beginning Jan. 9.

Responding to a demand from health care 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 Grant.

The program fills that gap while offering students unique on-site observation opportunities. Under the workforce training grant, students also can 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. 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 because of an increase in district equalized assessed value and the addition of a Protection, Health and Safety levy to support relocation of a microbiology lab to address safety concerns, the college said. The levy will result in an increase of about $7.96 on a home assessed at $100,000.

The board also established a new meeting schedule for 2025. Meetings will be held at 4:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month in January through April. Then, beginning in May, the meetings will be 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month. 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, certified nursing assistant 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; and the resignation of art instructor Rachael Olson.