Financial scholarships are making college more affordable for students, the Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees learned Tuesday.

Over the last three years, more students have been able to defray expenses through scholarships and the total awarded continued to grow, President Dr. Tracy Morris informed the Board. Since 2024, the Foundation saw a 63 percent increase in applicants, a 45 percent increase in scholarship awards, and a 22 percent increase in dollars awarded.

In 2026, scholarships exceeding $400,000 were awarded to 60 percent of the students who applied. In FY26, a combination of scholarships and financial aid enabled 95 percent of IVCC graduates to complete school debt free.

Dr. Morris also delivered an enrollment update. As the fall semester gets underway, enrollment in online dual credit, dual credit and online web increased, while headcount and enrollment in traditional credit hours both decreased slightly compared to fall 2025.

In other action, the Board:

• Adopted the FY 2027 budget following a public hearing.
• Set a public hearing at 4:30 p.m. on September 15 to review the College’s intent to sell up to $3.6 million in working cash fund bonds to increase the working cash fund for use for capital projects.
• Authorized extending a contract for academic and event scheduling and curriculum software.
• Approved the purchase of audio-visual technology to upgrade a conference room/classroom used for career education and large meetings.
• Appointed Emma Kamin as a welding laboratory instructor.