North Awarded $3 Million to Strengthen Health and Medical Programs
North Seattle College has been awarded a $3 million Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) grant from the U.S. Department of Education, providing critical funding over the next five years to enhance student learning, expand support services, and strengthen workforce training capacity in key health and medical programs.
The grant will support capacity-building efforts across three of the college's Health & Medical Programs: Pharmacy Technician, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and Biomedical Equipment Technology (BMET).
The funding will help North modernize instructional environments, expand access to academic support, and improve the student experience from application through completion. By investing in both facilities and student support systems, the college aims to better prepare graduates for careers in high-demand healthcare fields while creating more equitable pathways to success.
“This grant represents a significant investment in our students, faculty, and programs,” said Heather Neikirk, North’s Associate Director of Health & Technology Initiatives. “It will allow us to bring our instructional spaces and equipment more closely in line with current practice, while strengthening the support students receive as they move through their programs. These investments will help prepare our graduates to meet the evolving needs of the healthcare workforce.”
Over the five-year grant period, North will implement several initiatives, including:
- Updating instructional spaces to provide more authentic simulation experiences for students.
- Purchasing additional training equipment and educational materials to support hands-on learning.
- Creating new HyFlex learning spaces that offer greater flexibility for students. new HyFlex learning spaces that offer greater flexibility for students.
- Improving secondary admissions and applicant management systems while expanding student support services within health programs.
- Expanding tutoring services to better serve students in health, safety, and technical services programs.
Many of the facility improvements and equipment purchases will take place during the first year of the project, while student support enhancements and expanded tutoring services will continue throughout the life of the grant.
“What an amazing opportunity for our students as they prepare to enter the ever-evolving field of emergency medical services,” said Justin Olney, faculty member in North’s Emergency Medical Technician program. “This grant funding will make a meaningful impact on the communities that rely on our graduates to respond through 9-1-1 services and provide care to people on some of the worst days of their lives. Enhanced lab space, updated equipment and simulation models, and expanded internship opportunities will strengthen our students’ preparation and help North continue to serve our community and care for its most vulnerable members.”
The award reflects North Seattle College's ongoing commitment to student success, workforce development, and meeting the growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals in the region. Through these investments, the college will create stronger learning environments, remove barriers to student achievement, and help more students complete programs that lead directly to family-wage careers.
"This grant will have a transformative impact on our students," said Leann Dittmar, Program Coordinator/Instructor, North's Pharmacy Technician Program. "By strengthening our learning environments, expanding academic support, and creating more accessible pathways to completion, we can help more students persist in their programs and enter the high demand healthcare workforce with advanced skills and confidence. These investments will ultimately benefit both our students and serve the many diverse communities that lack access to quality pharmacy care. "
Implementation planning will begin immediately, with work on instructional space improvements and equipment upgrades expected to begin in the first year of the grant.
“We have been provided an important opportunity to turn this investment into tangible improvements for students,” said Neikirk. “That includes the spaces where they learn and practice, as well as the support they receive along the way. It is an important investment in the future of these programs and the students who rely on them to launch their careers.”