Meeting the moment with community college bachelor’s degrees

By Dr. Jeremy Thomas
President of Black Hawk College

Black Hawk College has long stood as a bridge to opportunity – connecting students with education, employers with talent, and our region with economic growth. Now, we have a chance to build that bridge even stronger. As the conversation grows around allowing Illinois community colleges to offer applied baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degrees, Black Hawk College is ready to lead – and our region is poised to benefit.
 
Workforce needs across our district are changing rapidly. Businesses are struggling to find employees with the right blend of education and real-world skills, particularly in fields like health care, advanced manufacturing and information technology. These are high-skill, high-demand jobs that increasingly require more than an associate degree, but not necessarily the traditional four-year university experience.
 
A smart, targeted solution
Community college baccalaureates are a practical, cost-effective solution to this gap. By allowing colleges like Black Hawk to offer bachelor’s degrees in applied fields, we can directly address local workforce shortages – right here, close to home. Students benefit from affordable, career-focused programs, and businesses gain access to highly trained, job-ready graduates who already understand the community and want to stay.
 
In states that have embraced this model, the results are clear: higher graduation rates, lower student debt, and stronger connections between education and employment. Offering applied baccalaureates isn’t about competing with universities – it’s about complementing them, while giving our district more tools to develop the workforce we need.
 
Strengthening local economies
Allowing Black Hawk College to offer community college baccalaureates would have an immediate, measurable impact on the region. For example, a bachelor’s degree in nursing or supply chain management could help fill critical shortages at hospitals, logistics companies and manufacturing plants. These aren’t abstract policy ideas – they’re practical steps with direct economic payoff.
 
Area employers are asking for talent. Our residents are asking for opportunity. Community college baccalaureates connect the two – and ensure that education evolves to meet the needs of the 21st century workforce. The college has been provided with letters of support from various businesses and community organizations in support of this important initiative.
 
Equity and access at the core
Perhaps most importantly, community college baccalaureates expand access. They provide a local pathway for students who may not have the financial means, time, or family flexibility to move away for a four-year degree. At Black Hawk, we’ve always believed that where you live shouldn’t determine what you can achieve. This is another step toward making that belief a reality.
 
It’s time to recognize that the next generation of workforce-ready degrees doesn’t have to come from far away. They can, and should, come from institutions like ours – rooted in the community, aligned with employer needs, and committed to affordable excellence.
 
Black Hawk College is ready. Let’s take this step forward together – for our students, our businesses and the future of our region.
 
Dr. Jeremy Thomas became the president of Black Hawk College in June 2023. He has more than 25 years of experience in higher education as an administrator and instructor.