St. Louis Community College has received a 2024 Bellwether Award for its multi-year strategic plan designed to assist in meeting the ongoing healthcare workforce needs in the St. Louis region.
“Show-Me Synergy: Growing the Healthcare Workforce in St. Louis,” led by STLCC’s health sciences division, received the Bellwether Award in the Workforce Development category. It recognizes public and/or private strategic alliances and partnerships that promote community and economic development.
“This award represents the collaborative efforts of many people and organizations over the past six years to address the critical shortages of healthcare professionals in the region,” said Jeff L. Pittman, PhD., STLCC chancellor.
William Hubble, district division dean of academic affairs – health sciences, was joined by Jordan Cooper, district dean of nursing, and Kim Kraft, nursing placement coordinator, at the Community College Futures Assembly where they shared experiences.
“It is our hope that other communities will be able to replicate our efforts to address the workforce issues they are facing in their communities,” Hubble said.
In 2017, STLCC expanded the nursing associate degree program capacity and eliminated a two-year wait to get into the program. The college also addressed personal barriers such as tuition assistance, testing accommodations, etc., to ensure that it was adequately preparing students and promoting their success in the nursing program.
During this project, hospital and clinical partners have expanded clinical sites, engaged in hiring events with the college, and helped them cover college expenses in exchange for a commitment to work with the healthcare organization upon graduation.
“Our partnership and this project with STLCC help us to continue to live our values of teamwork with the community by hiring STLCC graduates who help us partner with our patients to live our mission of ‘Improving the lives of the Communities we serve,’” said Rick Stevens, president, Christian Hospital at BJC HealthCare.
