Earlier this summer, Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey announced a partnership with the University of Illinois to offer Bachelor of Science Degrees in Nursing at their institution.
The partnership, which was aided by State Senator Andy Manar and State Representative Monica Bristow, would allow the two-year college to offer a four-year Bachelor's Degree in the nursing program so that local students don't have to enroll full-time at a university that doesn't have a nearby campus.
Manar said this partnership was formed after a bill he sponsored failed to pass in the General Assembly during the Spring Session. He said the bill would have allowed a select group of community colleges to offer Bachelor of Science degrees in Nursing.
Lewis and Clark was one of ten community colleges that would have been allowed to offer the nursing degrees. The list also included Lincoln Land Community College, and Manar said he hopes a partnership will form next between Lincoln Land and the University of Illinois.
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Manar added that he does not quit on a good bill, and he said that he will continue to work with the General Assembly to see about allowing other community colleges to offer Bachelors Degrees in Nursing.
