Iowa Legislative Leaders Elected
Following the election, the majority and minority parties in the House and Senate have elected their leadership for the 91st General Assembly. In the Seante, Majority Leader Jack Whitver and President Amy Sinclair were re-elected to their posts. In the House, Speaker Pat Grassley and Majority Leader Windschitl were re-elected to their positions as well. House Democrats re-elected Jennifer Konfrst to serve as Minority Leader, and it appears that Senator Weiner will serve as the Senate's Minority Leader this upcoming year. The House GOP and Senate GOP head into 2025 with supermajorities of 67-33 and 35-15; their largest majorities since 1970.
The Iowa Lakes Community College Aviation Program is Soaring to New Heights with a Grant from the FAA
Iowa Lakes Community College has received a $493,657 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration's Pilot Workforce Development Grant Program to enhance its Aviation and Airport Management Program. The funding will support the launch of a Remote Pilot Course in early 2025, enabling high school students from Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Kossuth, and Palo Alto counties to earn up to four college credits while learning to operate drones. Additionally, the grant will facilitate the development of a Rotary Wing curriculum, making Iowa Lakes the first community college in Iowa to offer helicopter pilot training. These initiatives aim to address the growing demand for pilots and aviation professionals by providing early career preparation and hands-on experience. High school students interested in the drone course can contact FAA Grant Coordinator Emily Mullaly at emullaly@iowalakes.edu to join the prospective student list.
FISCAL TOPIC ALERT!
Each year, the Iowa Legislative Services Agency Fiscal Services Division produces fiscal topics on various funds and programming that apply directly to the community college sphere. On November 18th, they published a note on the Iowa Skilled Worker and Job Creation Fund, which was established in 2013. When it was created, it was decided that, annually, $66 million in Stage wagering tax receipts would be deposited to the SWJCF. This amount is then distributed across multiple agencies for various programs related to workforce training. In 2018, $10 million was deappropriated and transferred into the General Fund. Appropriations for this fund occur in both the Economic Development and Education Appropriations Bills each year. On November 21, LSA published a note on Career and Technical Education. In 2018, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, commonly referred to as Perkins V, reauthorized and updated the Cal D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. In the State of Iowa, CTE is divided into six pathway areas: agriculture, food, and natural resources; information solutions; applied sciences, technology, engineering, and manufacturing; health sciences; human services; and business, finance, marketing, and management. Finally, on November 25, they published a note on the Iowa New Jobs Training Program Tax Credit, which allows a diversion of State withholding tax to assist qualified businesses that are creating new positions by supporting new employee training. A participating business partners with a community college, which sells bonds to finance the cost of the newly established training. The New Jobs Tax Credit allows a 6% credit of the taxable wages for the new jobs up to the amount that the employer is required to contribute to the State Unemployment Compensation Fund.
Meet the Expert for the 2025 ACCT Governance Leadership Institute
This year's GLI is titled Strengthening the Leadership Team of the Board and will take place Sunday, March 16th to Tuesday, March 18th, 2025, at the University of Hawai'i Windward Community College located on Oahu, Hawaii. To register, click here. Dr. Bruce Leslie will serve as the GLI facilitator and will empower you with practical insights into board development, trustee-CEO relationships, strategic planning, and more. By attending, you can connect with trustees and presidents from all around the country and beyond in an unparalleled setting; strengthen leadership and board governance through expert-led sessions; and return inspired and equipped to address the challenges facing your institution.
Alburnett Student Becomes the First to Complete Welding Apprenticeship Program
Alburnett High School student Riggs Martin has become the first individual to complete Iowa's High School Registered Apprenticeship program in welding. This achievement was celebrated on November 13 at IFP Motion Solutions in Cedar Rapids, where Martin completed 2,000 hours of hands-on experience following a year of college-level training at Kirkwood Community College's Regional Center Welding Academy. The apprenticeship program, sponsored by Grant Wood Area Education Agency, aims to prepare students for in-demand careers and address Iowa's workforce needs through diverse educational pathways. Martin's journey into welding began with FFA projects and work on his grandfather's farm, leading him to pursue a trade-oriented career path.
Southeastern Community College Great Tastes Raises $60,000 for Scholarships
SCC hosted its annual Great Tastes fundraiser on Friday, November 1, at the Catfish Bend Convention & Event Center, raising over $60,000 for student scholarships and educational initiatives. The event featured gourmet food and drink tastings and a silent auction featuring items from local businesses. SCC Foundation President Val Giannettino expressed gratitude for the community's generosity. The fundraiser is one of the SCC Foundation's signature events, with proceeds directly benefitting scholarships and other initiatives that support students in achieving their educational and career goals. The SCC Foundation thanks the event sponsors, donors, and attendees for making this year's Great Tastes a tremendous success. The date for next year's Great Tastes event will be November 7, 2025.
Iowa Supreme Court Sides with District Court in DMACC Construction Project Case
The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) was not obligated to release retainage funds to Graphite Construction Group before the completion and final acceptance of their construction project. This decision overturns a prior appeals court ruling that had favored Graphite's request for early payment of the withheld funds. The court emphasized that, under Iowa Code chapter 573, retainage is intended to ensure the fulfillment of all project obligations and should not be disbursed until the project is fully completed and accepted. This ruling reinforces the importance of adhering to statutory requirements designed to protect public entities and subcontractors in public construction projects. For questions or further details about this case, or how it may impact any claims on your current projects, you may contact one of the attorneys in the Construction Law Practice Group at Ahlers and Cooney.
Northeast Iowa Community College Launches Groundbreaking Super Lab
Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) is investing approximately $704,000 to develop an advanced manufacturing "super lab" at its Peosta campus, aiming to integrate cutting-edge technologies such as the Industrial Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, and big data into its curriculum.
Education Committees Announce WIOA Deal
After extensive negotiations, House and Senate education committees have reached a bipartisan agreement to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The proposed legislation includes the authorization of the Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grant program, now renamed the Strengthening Community Colleges Workforce Development Grant program, ensuring its continued support for workforce development initiatives. However, the bill does not incorporate the automatic inclusion of community college programs on the Eligible Training Provider List, a provision that had been advocated by the American Association of Community Colleges. The compromise maintains a requirement that 50% of local area funds be allocated to skills development, with a modification allowing up to 8% of that allocation to be used for supportive services. The path forward for the bill remains uncertain, with discussions of potentially attaching it to the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act to expedite its passage.
National Legislative Summit: February 9-12 in Washington, D.C.
As we prepare for the start of the 119th Congress in 2025 and the start of the second Trump Administration, ACCT encourages all community college leaders and stakeholders to join us in Washington, D.C. this February for the 2025 Community College National Legislative Summit. The new year brings a new administration, new committee leadership in both chambers, and 79 confirmed new federal lawmakers joining Congress. To register, click here.
Webinar Recap: Unveiling the Richmond Fed's 2024 Survey of Community College Outcomes
On November 19, 2024, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond unveiled the results of its 2024 Survey of Community College Outcomes, highlighting the significant role of community colleges in workforce and economic development and addressing the challenges of measuring success with inconsistent data. Community colleges play a vital role in the education and workforce development for millions of students across the United States. During the webinar, Laura Ullrich, senior regional economist and director of the Community College Initiative at the Richmond Fed, spoke with two community college presidents who reflected on the evolving landscape of higher education and the impacts dual enrollment, technical, and transfer programs can have on developing our workforce. The discussion highlighted the significant role of dual enrollment programs in shaping student success. As the panel wrapped up, Ullrich emphasized the need for continued innovation in how community colleges define and measure success, especially as they adapt to the diverse goals of their students. After the panel discussion, Ullrich and Stephanie Norris, associate director of the Community College Initiative at the Richmond Fed, gave a first look of the SCCO data. To illustrate the flexibility of the Richmond Fed Success Rate, Ullrich showcased how the drivers of success vary across state, institution, and student type. In urban areas, compared to rural areas, the success rates of schools - the way in which students are achieving success - is also very different. Comparing full-time to part-time students showed the greatest variation in success rates, 57.1 percent to 38.8 percent, respectively. The survey also highlighted the growing prominence of dual enrollment programs, which allow high school students to earn college credits while still in secondary school. A notable gender trend also emerged from the data, particularly in the non-credit enrollment segment. Finally, the survey underscored the critical role of wraparound services in supporting student success. The webinar ended with an exciting announcement about the survey's future. Beginning next fall, data will be available at the institution level via public dashboard that can be used by a wide range of community college stakeholders and the institutions themselves. The community college team will continue to analyze the 2024 data and provide comprehensive written analysis in the coming months.
Legislative Leadership Signals Property Tax Legislation in Multiple Meetings
In at least two separate meetings, legislative leaders of both parties signaled their desire to work in earnest on property tax reform and reduction. To learn more about various issues, ABI will be hosting an advocacy 101 webinar on January 9 at 10am to boost your advocacy skills and deepen your understanding of the legislative process. Then, on January 15, they will be hosting a legislative briefing at 3pm as they share their 2025 priorities and insights into the issues impacting Iowa businesses.
Trustee Survey
Calling all trustees!! We are reaching out to you all to ask for your participation in ACCT's Survey of Community College Trustees, which can be accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ACCT-CSCC-trustee-survey Some of the questions include (1) What criteria should be used to evaluate a college President or Chancellor? (2) Do Trustees put Their Own Special Interests or Values Above the Needs of their Colleges? (3) What are the top 5 Priorities for Future Trustee Professional Development? ACCT membership is NOT required to complete the survey, so you are all encouraged to participate. So far we have 32 participants for the State of Iowa, but we have 124 trustees across the state, so please help us in getting the highest participation rate across the nation!
Kirkwood Community College is Bridging the Gap
Kirkwood Community College is actively addressing workforce challenges in Benton County by engaging local leaders through its Benton County Leadership Council, focusing on educational achievements and obstacles. Additionally, the college is decommissioning its wind turbine due to rising maintenance costs and the closure of related academic programs, while simultaneously implementing a comprehensive climate action plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040.