Welcome to the Rita and John Canning Women鈥檚 Program webpage. We鈥檙e glad you found us. This program is dedicated to assisting eligible 91制片厂 students pursuing credit-seeking courses towards either their first college degree, a certificate, or ESL coursework.
On this page, you will find information regarding how we can support you, the eligibility process/criteria, and frequently asked questions (FAQs).
Summer 2026 and Fall 2026 eligibility screenings and inquiries are open. Please fill out our .
To be eligible, you need to meet the eligibility criteria and complete the eligibility process to become a participant.
Eligibility Criteria: Participants need to meet low-income guidelines, in-district requirement, be 18 years old and graduated with a high school or GED/HSE diploma and at least one of the following criteria:
Eligibility Process: To learn more about the steps to become a Women鈥檚 Program participant, please fill out this . Once your interest form is received, you can expect the Program Assistant to email you more information within 10 business days to the email address you provided on the interest form. Please keep in mind, outreach is conducted based on the order that the submission was received.
The Rita and John Canning Women's Program provides support services and scholarship assistance for eligible students who meet low-income guidelines, in-district requirement, and are one of the following: woman fleeing (intimate partner) domestic violence, single parent, a non-traditional career seeker, or a woman pursuing English as a Second Language (ESL) coursework. A non-traditional career seeker is a student pursuing a career where less than 25% of the people employed are the student鈥檚 gender.
Please complete this and we will get back to you regarding your next steps. If you have questions, please contact the Women鈥檚 Program at 847-925-6558 or by email at womensprogram@harpercollege.edu.
The Women鈥檚 Program is here to support all eligible students. However, our financial assistance through donor-funded scholarships is limited to students who reside within 91制片厂鈥檚 district map/guidelines. Students who reside outside of 91制片厂鈥檚 district map/guidelines, receiving Joint Agreement or Business EdVantage are ineligible for the Women鈥檚 Program, but students will be referred to other financial/scholarship opportunities available at the college and/or any additional resources requested can be provided as applicable.
The Women鈥檚 Program is here to support all eligible students. However, our financial assistance through donor-funded scholarships is limited to students who reside within 91制片厂鈥檚 district map/guidelines. Students who reside outside of 91制片厂鈥檚 district map/guidelines are ineligible for the Women鈥檚 Program, but students may be referred to other financial/scholarship opportunities available at the college and/or any additional resources requested can be provided as applicable.
During the onboarding process, you will meet with a Women鈥檚 Program Academic Advisor who will confirm your eligibility, identify funding available to you and/or assist in applying for other scholarships within the college. The Women鈥檚 Program has limited scholarships available and may be able to help pay for your tuition, fees, and books.
The Women鈥檚 Program can provide referrals. Community resources can be found at this link: Community Resources. In addition, The Hawks Care Resource Center can help currently registered students identify available resources. Visit their webpage for more information here: Hawks Care Resource Center.
The Women鈥檚 Program does not provide domestic violence counseling or direct housing assistance/other related needs. However, the Community Resources for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault page includes contact information for organizations that provide support to individuals who have previously or are currently experiencing domestic violence.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: phone 800-799-SAFE (7233) or text 鈥淪TART鈥� to 88788.
Students pursuing ESL (English Second Language) coursework who meet our eligibility criteria and place level II (2) or higher on the ESL placement test may be considered for our services.
If you have not taken ESL placement testing, more information regarding ESL placement and coursework is available through the ESL department webpage. Please contact the ESL department for more information.