Enrollment has recovered from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and remained steady since then. And in recent years, we have seen new high marks of returning students and in those over the age of 24.

We have done this while maintaining a level tax rate and maintaining sound fiscal management of the College’s resources. The most important metric to point out is the increase in the number of students who have completed programs at Heartland.  

From 2022 to 2025, our student completions have risen by 26 percent. And during that same time, our minority student completions have increased by 61 percent.

Our investment in the academic success of our students is an investment in our community. Education is the stepping stone that raises not just the prospects of an individual, but for all of us. Our Heartland graduates are filling the needs of the area workforce and strengthening the economic vitality of the region.

The majority of our Heartland alumni stay here in our communities and contribute to keeping us healthy, teaching our children, working in – and sometimes starting – the businesses we utilize every day, or just by being good neighbors.

With the skills they learn at Heartland, our students are able to earn higher wages, solve more problems, and contribute in meaningful ways to our community.

That is why our commitment to their academic success is so important.

In the classroom, we must give our students the tools they need to succeed. That means making sure that we offer quality instruction that prepares students for the next step they take, whether that be to a 4-year institution or directly into the workforce.

Our students might find their inspiration under the hood of an electric vehicle or use critical thinking skills to excel in a business or communications career. They might pair their compassion with a set of Health Sciences skills to become a nurse or medical assistant. They might simply find the confidence that they can achieve things they never expected of themselves and set off on a new path of discovery.

There is not just one pathway to success for our students. We have to provide multiple avenues for individuals to reach their academic goals. For some, it might be hands-on instruction, like we see in our Career Technical Education pathways. For others, we need to create flexibility and access with online and hybrid options.

But no matter what the modality of instruction, we have faculty and staff who are committed to finding innovative and effective ways to help our students learn.

Outside of the instructional space, we must ensure that our students have what they need to succeed.

In our Community Update, you’ll read stories of students who found their place at Heartland. We are proud of these students and what they have achieved. They are the reason we work to provide opportunities for individuals to find their personalized path to success.

You will also find profiles of some of our faculty and staff. Those featured are just a few of the many members of the Heartland family who are dedicated to helping our students learn and thrive.

As with so many things, we are much stronger when we collaborate with stakeholders in our community. It should also be said that partnerships with our local government, area business and industry, non-profit organizations, and community members are all part of the success of Heartland and our students. 

Thank you for reading and for supporting your community college.

“I dropped out of high school at age 16 as an emancipated adult,” Angell said. “I was from a background where people didn’t talk to me about college. I didn’t know it was something for me. All the women in my life worked three jobs, and I thought that’s what I would do for the rest of my life as well.”

She moved to the Bloomington-Normal area for work. At one point she was working 16 hours a day moving furniture. A long-term career outlook didn’t seem to be part of the picture. 

The experience of becoming a parent, however, inspired her to go to college.

“I didn’t want to be the mom who said, ‘you’ve got to go to school’ but I never figured out what school meant to me,” Angell said.

Enrolling in college was a big step. Angell really wasn’t even sure what to expect.

“I felt very lost and confused, and I just didn’t know anything about this,” she said. “I didn’t know what financial aid was. I literally did not know where to start. When I picked up the phone and I called Heartland, that was where it all jumped off for me.”

Angell found supports for first-generation students, the Financial Aid staff helped her learn about financial aid options and helped her fill out her FAFSA, and staff connected her with childcare at the Child Development Lab.