Dental program continues
By Katie Baima
IV Leader Staff, May 6, 2004
Although IVCC’s dental assisting program was threatened last year due to financial constraints, a larger enrollment will ensure the program will continue.
When IVCC’s referendum was denied, college officials considered cutting the program, citing high costs and low enrollment.
Area dentists rallied together to support the program, which has been in existence since the fall of 1973.
The current program coordinator Pat Pearson started teaching part-time in the fall of 1978. She has been full-time since the fall of 1983.
The demand for dental assistants in this area is increasing, according to Pearson. It is estimated that the number of dental assisting jobs will grow 25-35 percent in the next five to six years. Dental assistants work side by side with the dentist, making sure the dentist has the instruments and materials needed.
At this time there are 12 students in the program that will graduate in July. There are also nine part-time students that will be eligible to continue in the fall. Eighteen full-time students is the maximum capacity of the program along with 10-12 part-time students.
The funding for the program is a combination of tuition fees, state reimbursement (to offset the cost of supplies), and grants for equipment.
Pearson said the college has determined that for the program to continue there must be a minimum of 16 full-time students. The final decision of whether the program stays in place comes down to a decision from the administration, but as long as there is enough interest the program will stay.