History

The Danville Junior College School of Practical Nursing opened on September 22, 1963, at Washington Public School as part of the vocational Education Program of District #118. Funds for the Program were provided under the Federal Manpower Training Act of 1962. In June of 1966, the college separated from Danville School District #118 and became an independent two-year area college under the control of the Board of Trustees of Community College District No. 507. The Practical Nursing Program, however, remained within District #118 until 1969. In April of that year, the Advisory Committee to the School of Practical Nursing became concerned about problems associated with securing federal funds for the nursing program on a continual basis. This group of interested individuals initiated efforts to have the program transferred to the college where its continuation would be assured. Through the cooperation of the administration of Danville School District #118 and Danville Junior College, the transfer was accomplished on July 1, 1969. The program was placed in the Health and Physical Education Department. In May of 1979, the Board of Trustees of Danville Junior College voted to change the name of the College to Danville Area Community College. This name was officially adopted on July 1, 1979.

Since 1969, the Nursing Program has undergone many changes in order to maintain its viability in a rapidly changing health care environment. The Program is now under the auspices of the Science and Math division at Danville Area Community College. The Program is approved through the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation (IDRP) and maintains the state mandated 1:10 faculty-student clinical ratio. Student tuition, fees, as well as multiple federal and local grants have helped to sustain the level of technology and expansion of basic nursing skills which have continued to keep the program strong within the community. The strength of the program is reflected in the consistently high retention rate, a state board exam rate of over 90%, a virtual 100% job placement rate following graduation, and a reported high degree of student satisfaction.

In June of 1995, Administration at Danville Area Community College filed a letter of intent with the Illinois department of Professional Regulation to study the feasibility of an Associate Degree in Nursing Program. This was to be a collaborative effort between current nursing education and health care facilities in the community. On May 1, 1998, the feasibility study was approved by the State and curriculum writing began.

On Friday, July 9, 1999,  the Board of Nursing of the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation approved an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/RN) at Danville Area Community College. As a result of the meeting, Associate Degree Nursing Education began on two levels at DACC in the 1999 Fall Semester.

The first level of the program is the Practical Nursing level, after which a person can exit the program and test for licensure as a Practical Nurse (LPN). After completion of the second ADN level, graduates may test for licensure as Registered Nurses (RN).

General education classes include Speech 101, English 101, Psychology 100, Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Microbiology, and a Humanities elective that meets IAI criteria. Students must have a "C" or better in each course, and sciences must be current within 5 years.