friday takeout
June 14, 2019
CUPPA JOE | straight up news.
- Last-Dollar Scholarship program to fill financial aid gap for NICC students entering in-demand occupations! ... news
- Kendra Kleve, Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Business and Community Solutions, pens timely feature story on her WWII veteran grandfather's 100th birthday and this year's 75th Anniversary of D-Day ... Decorah Newspapers coverage
- IMPORTANT NOTE: The Peosta Print Center will have limited hours through Friday, June 28. Remember to use the Print Center Request Form so Marketing can coordinate your projects during this time.
Note to Readers: The Friday Takeout has begun its every-other-week summer schedule. The next issue will be released on June 28.
WEEKLY FEATURE | good to know.
June 2019 Conversation Corner: Goals and Priorities, 2018-2019
Our Consumer
Provide high-quality, innovative, affordable and responsive programming.
College Re-Accredited for Concurrent Enrollment Programming
The National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) Accreditation Commission has granted full seven-year re-accreditation to Northeast Iowa Community College. NACEP first accredited the College’s concurrent enrollment programming and partnerships with northeast Iowa school districts in 2012.
As the nation’s only accrediting body for these unique and impactful educational partnerships, NACEP standards serve as the model criteria for ensuring parity in faculty, course content, student outcomes and support. The NACEP re-accreditation indicates that the College met the nation’s most rigorous standard in concurrent enrollment programs.
From 2017-2018, high school students enrolled in 21,875 college credits through NICC and saved an estimated $11.3 million in college tuition. NICC has the highest ratio of concurrent enrollment participation in the state.
NICC partners with 25 school districts to offer eight unique career pathways for their students, including: agriculture and animal sciences; auto tech, power mechanics and transportation; business, marketing and hospitality; education, human and public services; health sciences; information technology; and STEM, advanced manufacturing and construction. The College offered 95 total course offerings to high school students in these pathways in 2018-2019.
“The partnership between Northeast Iowa Community College and South Winneshiek High School provides so many opportunities for our students from the concurrent enrollment classes to the career pathways. I feel we are truly blessed to have NICC in our backyard, and we are committed to expanding our horizons with the College, which will benefit our students,” stated Kris D. Einck, superintendent of South Winneshiek Community School District and principal of South Winneshiek High School.
“Western Dubuque Schools is very fortunate to have a great partnership with Northeast Iowa Community College,” added Rick Colpitts, superintendent of Western Dubuque Community School District. “Our relationship provides our students with opportunities to earn college credit and explore many different career pathways while still attending high school.”
Kathy Nacos-Burds, Ph.D.
Vice President of Learning and Student Success
Iowa New Jobs Training Program (260E) Invests in District Businesses
Through the Iowa New Jobs Training Program (260E), NICC and other community colleges in Iowa are able to provide training funds to businesses that are creating new positions or new jobs. If a company is expanding its operations or locating a new facility in the state, this program can provide funding to meet a variety of training and employee development needs for those new positions. Companies that are eligible to participate are those that are creating new jobs, are involved in interstate commerce and are involved in manufacturing, assembling products or conducting research and development. Businesses that do not qualify include retail, health and professional services businesses.
Types of training range from highly specialized education programs to basic skills instruction, including: basic adult education, job-related instruction, skills assessment and training needs analysis, training equipment, materials and supplies, training services of the community college or other entity, testing and evaluation of employees, customized general instruction at a training facility selected by the employer, reimbursement of training travel costs for employees, training services of a private trainer, and college tuition, books and fees.
Funds to cover the cost of training are attained through the sale of bond certificates by NICC. Those certificates are then repaid to the College through a diversion of withholding taxes generated by the wages earned by the new employees. Dollars available through the program are dependent upon training and development needs and projected withholding tax revenue available to repay the bonds.
In June, the Board approved the bond sale for seven new Iowa New Jobs Training Certificates totaling $2,145,000 to create 326 new jobs in the district. These will be added to the following $93,345,469 in certificates that have been issued to companies through NICC since 1985 (see chart).
Impact on Businesses in the Community
The projects listed above impacted the businesses in our communities and provided training dollars to meet their workforce training needs. Jamie Scherf, general manager of Mobile Track Solutions, expressed, “We’ve been able to use the 260E training dollars to certify welders, provide software training to our engineer department and provide ongoing training to our leaders. I believe learning and improving yourself is never done. Being able to invest in our people through Northeast Iowa Community College makes our company stronger and we are grateful for the opportunity to do so.”
Impact on the College
Since 1985, the College has received $16,568,200 in admin dollars for administering the Iowa New Jobs Training Program. These dollars support the salaries of 16 staff each year, assisted in financing the Wilder Business Center renovations in 2012 and indirectly supplement the College’s general budget. Currently, the 260E projects have a balance of $10,994,123 in training funds available which is potential revenue for the College.
Wendy Mihm-Herold, Ph.D.
Vice President of Business and Community Solutions
PIES and BARS | sweet data.
What Northeast Iowa Community College Students Say About Nontraditional Occupations in 2019
When it comes to enrollment and student success, retention and program completion is key. One of the ways the College is working to increase retention is by focusing on students studying nontraditional occupations and providing extra supports if needed.
The term nontraditional occupation refers to jobs that have been traditionally filled by one gender. The US Department of Labor defines nontraditional occupations as occupations for which individuals from one gender comprise less than 25 percent of the current workforce.
One of the most important steps in this process is getting student feedback to determine if there is value in an initiative providing additional supports for nontraditional students.
Additional supports will include meeting with success coaches, as well as work-based mentoring relationships.
On April 12, a survey was sent to all students (excluding high school) about their experience with nontraditional education. So far there have been 88 responses, including 17 from students enrolled in nontraditional programs of study. View survey results.
Based on this initial feedback from students and conversations with faculty and staff, these new supports will be available for students fall 2019. We continue to need faculty feedback. If you have questions, comments or concerns, reach out to Sheila Becker and Christa Burgess at the Peosta Campus, or Sherry Massman, Josh Shimak and Erin Powers-Daley at the Calmar Campus.
JUST DESSERTS | let's celebrate.
Welcome the Newest Member of the Stelken Family!
Congratulations to Caitlin and Travis Stelken on the arrival of their new son! Amil James Stelken was born at 4:43 p.m. on June 4, 2019, 7 lbs. 12 oz and 21 inches long.
Caitlin is a High School Partnerships Career Specialist at Peosta.
BIG FISH | be amazed.
Jesse Rhomberg
Social Science Faculty | Peosta
Where do you find the greatest alignment between the College’s Vision/Values and your own personal values and priorities?
If I were to select a singular value, I think I would have to choose Respect. Both from a personal and a professional standpoint, respect is a basic core value I believe all of us should demonstrate. Regardless of individual differences, it is important that we are mindful of others’ thoughts, feelings and actions. Furthermore, not only should we be aware; I believe we should learn to embrace difference. Wouldn’t the world be a pretty boring place if everyone was the same?
Which of the following aspects of your upbringing most contributed in shaping the person you came to be and why/how?
Aside from growing up in the Dubuque area, which I think has been a blessing, I believe my family dynamics really helped shape me into the person I am today. My parents divorced when I was roughly five years old. Eventually my mother and I got our own place, but over the course of the next 15 years, both of my parents had some legal issues that resulted in each of them spending time in prison. In my early adolescence, I made the tough decision to move in with my grandparents. The stability and privilege of learning life skills in a more traditional environment had a positive impact on who I have become as an adult. The struggles I endured during my adolescent years taught me how to persevere through adversity, which is a skill set that will be beneficial throughout the course of my lifetime.
What food will you absolutely not, under any circumstances, eat?
Cottage cheese. The idea of curdled milk does not sit very well with me.
What do you most want to accomplish at Northeast Iowa Community College?
The ultimate goal I hope to accomplish at the College is to make an impact on every student and colleague I interact with. With the platform my position provides, I believe it is essential that I utilize this opportunity to make a positive impact on others’ lives. Whether it is in the educational, professional or personal aspects of others’ lives, my goal is to create positive change that will have a lifelong impact.
Which famous person would you like to be BFFs with?
Will Smith.
If you have input on a upcoming feature, Big Fish, something to celebrate or a suggestion, email us at news@nicc.edu!