Community College Updates
CCforIA Building is Under Construction
Our building is getting a makeover! The next few months will be a time of transformation as ISG implements structural and functional changes. While under construction, our team will be officing just across the neighborhood at Gravitate Coworking’s East Village location. Stay tuned on our social media for updates as the process continues!
Trustee Tip: There IS a handbook for this!
Being a Trustee at a community college is a unique role in so many ways. After many years of saying “there’s no handbook for this,” we decided to change that to ensure all trustees have the support they need in their vital roles. Launched this summer, the handbook’s sections detail best practices for board management, strategic planning, board-CEO relationships, and other areas in which Trustee governance and guidance are crucial. Moving forward, we will spotlight “Trustee Tips,” so you know exactly what’s available to you in the handbook and what’s top of mind for your fellow Trustees. Check out the full Trustee Handbook here!
Toolkit for your Campus: Free Google AI Training for Iowa Community College Students
Google’s relationship with Iowa community college has expanded to offer students free AI training and advanced AI tools! Colleges can spread the word on their campuses with an easy-to-use toolkit that provides copy and assets that can be used to announce on social media and share across your communication channels.
Key Resources to Deter Human Trafficking Now Available
Last week, the Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking hosted a virtual seminar in conjunction with Community Colleges for Iowa to provide training for spotting and countering human trafficking in higher education. Following the seminar, key resources were shared for spreading awareness and reporting suspected trafficking. See all of the resources here.
University of Dubuque honored for aiding community college transfers
The University of Dubuque is making the transfer process more accessible for community college students thanks to a new initiative: Community Reach 99! Students from Iowa’s community colleges now have more options to achieve a Bachelor’s Degree within 2 years to transferring. Read the full story from KWWL here.
Northeast Iowa Community College's DIID Team Honored with D2L Excellence Award at Annual Conference
Northeast Iowa Community College’s Department of Instructional Innovation and Design (DIID) were awarded a 2025 D2L Excellence Award at the D2L Fusion Global Conference! The team was honored for their implementation of Brightspace technology, which enhances the college’s accessibility, accommodation tracking, documentation, and support services. Read the full story from Decorah News here.
ORBIT Center quickly changing the Osceola landscape
The Highway 34 landscape on the western edge of Osceola is changing with the addition of the ORBIT (Osceola Regional Business and Industrial Technology Center), a $3.2 million project involving construction of an impressive 9,000 square foot training facility, made possible due to a partnership between the Clarke County Development Corporation (CCDC) and Southwestern Community College (SWICC). After years in the making, the Center is now a reality and already making a difference in students’ manufacturing education. Read the full story from SWICC here.
Northeast Iowa Community College gets $1.4M grant to help minority students
The U.S. Department of Education awarded Northeast Iowa Community College a $1.4 million TRIO grant, which marks an ongoing 24-year collaboration between NICC and TRIO Student Support Services. This partnership has helped 1,874 students earn their degrees to date. Read the full story from Iowa News Now here!
Kirkwood Joins Unlocking Opportunity Network
Kirkwood Community College has joined the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program’s Unlocking Opportunity network, joining 54 other colleges in an effort to ensure that students graduate with degrees that will lead to well-paying careers. Read the full story from Kirkwood here!
New Website – Iowa State University Community College Leadership Development
Iowa State University has released a redesigned website for the Community College Leadership Development Consortium! This network, established in 2022, aims to connect Iowa’s community college leaders and stakeholders with information and plans to continually address the needs of Iowa’s community colleges. Check out the new website here.