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 Logan
County students looking to earn an associate degree or certification
have multiple options including attending classes in Lincoln at the
2201 Woodlawn Drive campus, attending courses at the Main Campus in
Normal, taking classes online, or a combination of any of the above.
For those looking to stick closer to home, HCC Lincoln has the
“Hometown Hawks” program, which provides free student support and
engagement opportunities including tutoring and counseling services,
wellness events, and extracurricular activities for students in our
service area.
A new look at HCC-LINCOLN
Students at Heartland Community College Lincoln have a new space to
enjoy the out-of-classroom college experience.
The College cut the ribbon on a newly remodeled “Hawk Hangout”
student lounge at HCCL in March, 2024.
The Hawk Hangout lounge includes a dining area that includes a
refrigerator, microwave, and coffee pod machine. Students are also
able to unwind with a Nintendo Switch, puzzles and activities, and
two lounging Super Sacs.
The Hawk Hangout also hosts a Food Share program, supported by the
College’s Student Counseling Services, to assist students in
situations of food insecurity.
Ag Programs
Lincoln area agriculture students found some new opportunities via
Heartland’s growing ag programs in 2024.
In October, students from Lincoln Community High School (LCHS)
Future Farmers of America (FFA) traveled to Heartland’s Main Campus
in Normal to be recognized for efforts to restore a 1927 McCormick-Deering
tractor on permanent display at the HCC Ag Complex. The tractor,
donated by Heartland faculty member Dave Bishop, underwent a
three-year restoration process by LCHS FFA students. The historic
piece of equipment was completely disassembled, cleaned, painted,
and reassembled before transport to the HCC campus.
The LCHS group was welcomed to a full tour of the Ag Complex, which
opened in January 2024. The goal of the complex is to expand ag
education in the region and offer more programs for Heartland
students.
To further the focus on ag education the year, Heartland
participated in the Logan County 4-H Kickoff.
Health Sciences Programs
Healthcare remains one of the most in-demand industries in Central
Illinois. To help maintain the healthcare job pipeline, Heartland
has several Health Sciences programs of study including Nursing,
Radiography, Emergency Medical Services, Physical Therapist
Assistant, and a general Health major.
In the 2023-2024 academic year the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
program returned to HCC Lincoln. CNAs play a very important role in
nursing by assisting patients and performing many basic medical
procedures.
CNA remains a high-demand field for Logan County, and courses
offered in Lincoln reached capacity in the last two semesters.
Hands-On Learning
Since 2019, to complement two-year transfer programs, Heartland
Community College has added over 40 new degrees and certificates
that are designed to lead directly into the workforce. Many of these
programs, such as Welding, provide fast-track pathways to a career.
Many of these programs are offered on the Main Campus in the new
Advanced Manufacturing Center. Last year HCCL added eight-week
Welding courses based in Lincoln. Students start with an eight-week
100-level course, then after completion can advance to a 200-level
advanced course. Upon the completion of both courses, students earn
the Gas metal Arc Welding Basics microcertificate.
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Dual Credit Opportunity
Participation in dual credit courses in Logan County high schools
continues to grow. Heartland College Now courses offer an early
college opportunity for students in high schools or career centers.
Credits earned in College Now programs transfer to Heartland and
many other colleges. These courses are low-cost or offered free of
charge.
Over 220 Logan County high school students enrolled in Heartland
Community College dual credit classes in the 2023-204 academic year.
Schools offering Hartland College Now courses include Lincoln
Community High School (LCHS), Hartsburg-Emden High School (HEHS),
Lincolnland Technical Education Center, and Olympia High School (OHS).
Community Resources
Educational opportunities at Heartland Community College expand
beyond credit or degree-seeking programs.
Heartland Community College Lincoln offers free High School Diploma
Equivalency (also known as GED) preparation courses in-person with
weekday morning or evening sessions. Online prep courses are also
available. HCCL serves as a proctoring center for the High School
Diploma certification exam.
For students of all ages looking to enrich their lives with
education, the Continuing Education department offers non-credit
courses at HCCL and other Logan County locations. Some of the most
popular Continuing Education classes recently include Meditative
Yoga, DIY Soap Making, and Retirement 101.
Professional development is also part of the Continuing Education
picture. In 2024 Heartland partnered with Lincoln Economic
Advancement and Development to provide professional development
Business Solutions training.
[Jennifer Kirby, Heartland
College Lincoln]
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