Illinois Central College Wins Statewide Equity and Diversity Award
East Peoria, IL (06/12/2025) — Illinois Central College (ICC) has been honored with the 2025 Equity and Diversity Award from the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA), a top statewide honor recognizing leadership and innovation. This prestigious award celebrates the college's unwavering commitment to opening doors and creating opportunities for all, especially those that have been underserved.
ICCTA President Wayne Dunning said, "By removing barriers to education and employment, Illinois Central College ensures that all individuals have access to opportunities that transform lives and strengthen communities. ICCTA applauds the work of the ICC board and staff to reflect the needs of an increasingly diverse world. Their efforts are serving as catalysts for equity-driven change and a national model for workforce transformation."
This recognition shines a spotlight on the bold, equity-driven initiatives at ICC that are reshaping lives and strengthening communities:
- The Prison Education Program (PEP), in partnership with the Federal Corrections Institute - Pekin, is the first in the nation to utilize Pell Grants for incarcerated students, providing life-changing educational opportunities that reduce recidivism and improve post-release employment prospects.
- The Workforce Empowerment Initiative (WEI), a statewide program led by ICC, has credentialed over 1,145 students of poverty in the ICC district with an impressive 79% completion rate and 72% employment rate within six months of graduation.
- The Cultivating a Community of Care Initiative, which is shaping a more inclusive and supportive campus culture through employee training and engagement. Its success has earned national recognition and continues to foster a sense of belonging across the college.
"This award is a reflection of the deep commitment our faculty, staff, and community partners share in creating pathways to opportunity," said ICC President Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey. "By removing barriers to education and employment, ICC ensures all individuals have access to opportunities that transform their lives and the lives of their families-while strengthening our communities."
The award was presented during the ICCTA's annual banquet on June 6 in Normal, Illinois.
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Illinois Central College is a two-year community college with campuses in East Peoria, Peoria and Pekin, Illinois, providing a high-quality, affordable education to prepare students to enter the workforce or to transfer to a four-year institution. ICC is the 2020 awardee of the National Community College Charles Kennedy Equity Award from ACCT, a 2022 and 2025 EDA Good Job Challenge Institution, and the Lead College for the state of Illinois' Workforce Equity Initiative. ICC also conducts original research in agricultural fields, including water quality and soil conservation. For more information, visit icc.edu.
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