friday takeout

May 8, 2020

CUPPA JOE | straight up news.

  • City of Peosta to create student housing complex on former Northeast Iowa Community College campus property ... news


  • Northeast Iowa Community College instructors share the value our graduates bring to our community, our health and well-being, and the economy ... video


  • Dan Neenan, director of the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), publishes article on the impact of COVID-19 on farmers and their safety, in the May issue of BizTimes ... link


  • Winners of the Student Writing Contest announced! ... news


  • This week's edition of Business Insight includes information on new "Safe at Work" program developed by the College and our partners ... link

WEEKLY FEATURE | good to know.

New Report by Advancement Office Shows Real Impact of Giving

The Advancement office has created a new publication called Donor Impact Report. The publication highlights data and stories about the students and the donors who support their education.

The Advancement team is mailing this publication to all donors. The Donor Impact Report arrives in mailboxes this week and next.


APPETIZER | a little something for your appetite.

Thank you, Northeast Iowa Community College Faculty!

This is Teacher Appreciation Week and the Online & Blended Learning (OBL) department thanks all of our faculty for everything they continue to do to improve the lives of NICC students. We are #NICCproud of you!

  • We Love how you encourage students in special ways.
  • We Like what’s happening in virtual classrooms.
  • We Celebrate your investment in our students.
  • We Care about your commitment to students and their families.

The past eight weeks have turned education as we know it upside down. Our routine has changed. Our relationships have changed. We have changed.

The OBL department sees some very innovative teaching. Every day we are hearing from faculty who are taking advantage of extra time that they have, or trying even harder, to reach students in new and innovative ways using Brightspace and other educational tools. Harnessing the increased interest in utilizing Brightspace more, our department has been working extra hard on process improvement and training items to help you continue your own growth for the future. Please look for these announcements soon.

For now we want to share some resources with you that D2L Brightspace forwarded to us this week. We hope you find them helpful:

Another opportunity is the D2L Fusion conference this summer. Due to COVID-19, Fusion has gone virtual and will have focus area days of presentations over the next several months. We encourage you to take a moment to look at the Fusion Schedule and sign up for some of the opportunities available with Fusion - It’s FREE!

Again, THANK YOU for all you are doing to help students through this semester and into the summer. Your great work is being noticed by us and we want you to know that we will continue to be by your side through the months ahead. It is in these moments — the day-to-day, grit-and-grind efforts to reach students — we need to appreciate each other the most.

Stay well.

The Online & Blended Learning Department

BIG FISH | be amazed.

Leah Hoffmann

Respiratory Care Clinical Instructor


When you retire, and assuming you have enough money to do so, what is one cause you would give to because you are passionate about its mission and purpose?

I would donate to the March for Babies. I have had two premature children and really commend all the efforts put in place from this organization. It is a great cause that is near and dear to my heart, especially having lost one of my babies.


What is the age in your life that stands out as the most memorable, and why?

High school. I always had such a great time in high school with my friends. I graduated high school early, and it was one of my biggest regrets. I lost out on a lot of fun Senior days. I sympathize for the current high school graduating class because they too are missing out on so much.


If you could start all over again, what would be your career choice?

If I had to go back and start all my schooling again, I would choose to be a neonatal nurse practitioner. I love love love working with babies and their families. Having been in the NICU for an extensive amount of time with my daughter, I really grew fond of the profession. They get to do so many amazing things to better the lives of babies, all the while watching them grow and develop!


If you could be an Olympic athlete, in what sport would you compete?

I would be a gymnast. I did gymnastics as a young girl and always loved it. I wish now I would have stuck with it longer while growing up. I always say that gymnastics is the core to a lot of sports; if you can be flexible and your body adaptable, you can be successful at any physical activity you try.


If you had one million dollars to build anything you wanted, what would you build and why?

My family and I really enjoy the outdoors. If I could build anything, it would be a remote cabin with lots of land that we could hunt, fish, boat and ride our dirt bikes.

If you have input on a upcoming feature, Big Fish, something to celebrate or a suggestion, email us at news@nicc.edu!