Illinois Community Colleges receive virtual reality grant funding to support career and technical education programs

 

[February 24, 2024]    The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) has awarded $766,000 to 12 Illinois Community Colleges to help implement virtual reality equipment into existing Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs throughout the state.

Overall, the funding will allow recipient colleges to purchase VR hardware and software to recruit and instruct students in a variety of workforce training programs for industries including but not limited to healthcare, criminal justice, manufacturing, and HVAC.

“The Illinois Community College System is constantly looking to stay at the forefront of workforce development. This funding will not only help recruit students who want access to the latest technology but also provide new cutting-edge training opportunities to better position them for success in their chosen career fields,” said ICCB Executive Director Brian Durham.

The two-year grant program was passed by the General Assembly and signed by Governor Pritzker in FY24. Individual grant amounts were awarded based on college program and equipment needs.

"This funding brings new perspectives to community colleges around the state through VR technologies that will enhance and explore new avenues of hands-on learning in our schools," said bill sponsor and State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes (D-Chicago).

"VR programs have been utilized in many industries and have so much potential for growth in the future that implementing these programs in our community college system can give Illinois students a competitive advantage in their education and beyond."

VR grant funding can be used to purchase VR hardware & software to expand or enhance current Career & Technical Education student recruiting practices using VR technology or start a new CTE program to include VR technology.

About the Illinois Community College Board

The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) is the state coordinating organization for the Illinois Community College System - the third largest in the country and the leading public workforce development trainer in the state. The ICCB has statutory responsibility for administering state and federal grants to community college districts and adult education providers and managing high school equivalency testing for Illinois. Illinois community colleges serve over 600,000 residents each year in credit, noncredit, and continuing education courses. Illinois is home to 48 colleges in 39 community college districts which provide high quality, accessible, cost-effective educational opportunities to the entire state.

See complete list in table below.

[Matt Berry
Chief of Staff
Illinois Community College Board]

CTE VR GRANTEES

College	Award	Platform	Curricular Area
Truman College	$49,550	Transfr	Recruitment & Automotive Technology, Career Exploration
Illinois Central College	$54,060	SimX	EMT & Paramedic
Heartland Community College	$73,000	Not specified	Nursing & Welding
Lincoln Land Community College	$91,688	Microsoft, Apple & zSpace	Health Professions, Workforce Institute and Arts and Communications
John A. Logan College	$49,840	MILO Range Theater	Criminal Justice & Recruitment
Spoon River College	$23,481	Kuula VR Tour	Recruitment & CTE generally
College of DuPage	$52,205	Lincoln Electric	Welding
Elgin Community College	$94,000	Transfr	Recruitment & multiple CTE programs
Moraine Valley Community College	$38,098	Interplay Learning	HVAC
Rend Lake College	$50,645	Transfr & zSpace	Recruitment
Carl Sandburg College	$89,509	Lincoln Electric	Welding & Recruitment
Oakton College	$100,000	I SEE YOU 360	Criminal Justice (Drone piloting)