The field of healthcare has been in constant need of new workers as more and more people in the United States need to see a doctor, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. Investing in future healthcare workers means investing in the communities they come from, so when the Illinois Department of Commerce contributed an additional $13 million to the already substantial $50 million provided by the State of Illinois to South Suburban College’s (SSC) Allied Health and Nursing Center, it was a statement of support for the whole community.
SSC’s Allied Health and Nursing Center is set to be a 69,000-square-foot facility hosting 22 classrooms and 24 functional labs. While SSC’s healthcare programs are already highly regarded, the new facility will help to provide even more opportunities to even more students.
“It’s important to close any barriers to education that exist, particularly for marginalized communities,” said SSC Executive Director of Public Relations and Resource Development Zanetta Miller. “Being able to offer those state-of-the-art training opportunities and resources increases the odds of putting more students in the workforce. We’re training them with our resources so they are competing in the workforce with the right set of skills.”
The Allied Health and Nursing Center is fully funded and set to break ground in late 2024; the idea for this facility, however, has been planned for over a decade.
“Since 2019, we've been seeing action behind this project, but this is more than a decade old,” said Miller. “This is the culmination of people previously working to bring something like this to fruition.”
One of the biggest draws of the Allied Health and Nursing Center is the increased capacity of students who will be able to go through SSC’s healthcare programs. Those students will then have an impact on the surrounding community.
“This is going to be an economic driver for this area, as President Dr. Lynette Stokes has said,” Miller said. “We're so excited about this project. It’s not just linked to training; other opportunities will come about because of this state-of-the-art facility coming to the South Suburbs. It’s going to help close that equity gap and ensure our students and the people in this area have opportunities to live.”
While funding for the building is complete, SSC is hosting an ongoing capital campaign to help fund furnishing for the new facility. Those interested in donating can contact Miller via email at zmiller@ssc.edu or by phone at (708) 596-2000, ext. 5846. Alternatively, online one-time donations as well as recurring donations can be made here. Even a small amount can go a long way in achieving the campaign’s goal.
SSC is helping prepare students for a future that sees not only themselves but their communities thriving. The Allied Health and Nursing Center will help prepare the next generation of healthcare workers for whatever the industry brings.
“How can you do succession planning if you don't have the next group of professionals being trained?” said Miller. “That's what the Allied Health and Nursing Center will allow us to do – not just for the local area but for the region.”
To learn more about South Suburban College, visit www.ssc.edu