Dean of Nursing, Jorie Kulczak, DNP, RN

As the Dean of Nursing, Health, and Public Services, I am honored to lead many of the college's most popular programs.

The nursing program of Joliet Junior College has a rich history. The first nursing class at the college graduated in 1971 and had 11 graduates. In 1999, Joliet Junior College revised the nursing program to include a practical nurse exit option at the completion of the first year of the nursing curriculum. In recent years, over 150 students graduate from both the practical nurse program and the registered nurse program annually. A student can start their nursing pathway in our certified nursing assistant program and continue on to apply to our registered nursing program. There are multiple options for the student to pursue the nursing profession here at JJC.

Our students have the benefit of a state-of-the-art simulation center which utilizes low, mid, and high-fidelity simulation as well as virtual reality simulation in the Health Professions Center. High-fidelity simulation and virtual reality simulation enhance our students' education and adds to the realism of learning.

Our Emergency Medical Services program and our Fire Science program are well respected in the community. Many of our communities' firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, and Paramedics received their education and training at Joliet Junior College. With the move into the new Health Professions Center in 2013, our Emergency Services Department gained much needed space and equipment, including a fire engine and an ambulance due to generous donations. Through our partnerships with Troy Fire Academy, our Fire Science students receive on-the-job experience as firefighters, and our Paramedic partnership with Morris Hospital allows are paramedic students to complete the national requirements to sit for the NREMT exam.

The Radiologic Technology program graduated its first class in December 2008. In 2013, the program moved to its present location in the Health Professions Center which accommodated more technology and realism in the instruction of our Radiologic Technology students. Our energized equipment and PACS system simulate what a radiographer would do in the clinical setting. Students are able to practice their skills before getting into the clinical setting and working with patients.

We are also proud to offer Diagnostic Medical Sonography, which launched in fall 2014. This program has a small student to instructor ratio, which allows for individualized support. Students get extensive practice in the lab, as well as a great deal of clinical experience in a variety of clinical settings. Our DMS program recently became accredited in the vascular concentration and is now one of only two CAAHEP accredited DMS programs in Illinois with 3 learning concentrations: Abdomen-extended, OB-GYN, and Vascular. As with all of our programs, instructors have a great deal of "real world" experience in their specialties and bring a unique set of skills to the classroom.

The in-demand Cybersecurity program is also part of the Health and Public Services Division and is offered in a newly developed computer lab space at JJC’s Romeoville campus. This program gives students a good core foundation in cybersecurity, a field with immense career growth potential. Students also gain valuable experience by participating in the National Cyber League (NCL) competition. This provides a virtual training environment for college students to develop, practice and validate their cybersecurity skills. Through NCL, JJC students get experience in areas such as: Open-source intelligence, Cryptography, Password cracking, Log analysis, Network traffic analysis, and much more. In Spring 2021, JJC’s Cyber program was ranked 46th of 520 colleges/universities and 12th in the central region.

There are many other programs that make up the Nursing Health and Public Services Division that allow students to get the education and training they need to be ready to find a job in the healthcare and public services field. Demand for healthcare workers and Public Services workers is projected to grow, with 14 of the 30 fastest growing occupations being healthcare-related, according to the Department of Labor. Nursing, Health, and Public Services programs at Joliet Junior College are a cost-effective way to get a high-quality education and be prepared to begin a great career.

If there is anything I can do to assist you during your time at Joliet Junior College, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Jorie Kulczak, DNP, RN
Dean, Nursing, Health & Public Services