Iowa Community Colleges Say Few Changes Needed to Meet DEI Recommendations
Several Iowa community colleges, after reviewing their DEI activities to come in line with recommendations from CCforIowa, have concluded that they were already on the right track in their mission of supporting all students. The presidents of DMACC, IHCC, and ICCC gave that assessment as state lawmakers - who have already restricted DEI activities at state universities - are preparing to take a closer look at Iowa's higher education system. CCforIowa released recommendations relating to DEI on community college campuses in May at the prompting of legislators. The organization worked with college leaders to craft the recommendations, which included reviewing positions, groups and policies connected to DEI and adjusting them if found not necessary for accreditation or compliance with the law, and ensuring transparency for campus and larger communities. CCforIowa Executive Director Emily Shields said the colleges took these recommendations as a chance to look at their practices and how they aligned with their mission, as well as laws and accreditation standards. Now, more than six months after the list came out, each president said the recommendations emphasized the practices and policies they already had in place and they are ready and willing to keep the conversation going with legislators if necessary. Jesse Ulrich, president of ICCC, said he appreciated how the recommendations solidified for the entire community college system that their efforts are focused on students and furthering their success, not politicizing issues. To read more, click here.
Iowa House and Senate Committee Rosters Beginning to Form
Every two years, after each general election, legislative leaders are tasked with updating the membership of the various policy and appropriations committees for their respective chambers. Our elected Representatives and Senators are citizen legislators, not professional office-holders. Last week, House Speaker Grassley released the committee rosters for the republicans serving in the house.
Job Openings!
At Southeastern Community College, they have 12 job openings with two of them needing extremely qualified and experienced candidates. Right now, they are hiring a new Dean of Career and Technical Education, who will work to promote a culture of accountability and excellence to improve student learning. This position is a full-time position with an annual starting salary of $90,000 and start date of July 1, 2025. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: embracing SCC's mission, vision, values, and goals; providing the institutional leadership necessary to develop and maintain CTE programs of study which, within legal and fiscal restraints, meets the needs of students; developing and maintaining regional business and industry relationships which will serve the interests of SCC; preparing, in collaboration with CBIZ, a long-term plan for alignment between workforce-centered credit and non-credit initiatives at SCC; and acquiring and applying knowledge of trends in business and industry training and consulting services in collaboration with CBIZ. They are also hiring a Director of Assessment and Curriculum, who will be a member of the Academic Leadership Team (ALT) led by the Vice President of Academic Affairs. This position is a full-time position with an annual starting salary of $60,000 and start date of July 1, 2025. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: developing assessment processes and procedures that establish an assessment system both in academic and non-academic areas of the college. To see SCC's position openings, click here.
2025 National Legislative Summit
The early registration pricing for the 2025 NLS ends today! By attending, you will learn about the broad array of issues confronting community colleges; advocate on behalf of your college's and your students' interests; hear directly from members of Congress, leading journalists, and analysts; meet with members of Congress and their staffs; find out how to maintain these relationships year-round; introduce students to federal policy and teach them the importance of civic engagement; and network and share knowledge with other college leaders from throughout the country.
Governor Reynolds Appoints Senator Chris Cournoyer as the 48th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
Gov. Reynolds announced Monday that she has appointed Chris Cournoyer as LG of Iowa. Cournoyer has extensive experience in the technology sector, artificial intelligence, and K-12 education. Named an "Iowa Woman of Innovation - STEM Champion" by the Technology Association of Iowa, Cournoyer maintains a personal connection to the classroom as a robotics and coding teacher and an active substitute teacher in her community.
Register for the Governance Leadership Institute!
Maximize your experience by attending the ACCT GLI as a team, including your board chair, college president, and trustees who are poised to step into leadership roles. Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your leadership perspective. ACCT Members will be charged $650/person and non-members will be charged $850/person. Breakfast, Lunch and Transportation to and from the college is included. For a look at the draft agenda, click here.
Federal Updates
Last week, President Biden officially signed the FAFSA Deadline Act into law. Now the Department of Education is required to make the FAFSA available by October 1st and obligates the Secretary of Education to testify before Congress if there is anticipation by September 1st that the form would not be ready by the October 1st deadline. As of late last month, Democrat and Republican staffers from both the House Committee on Education and Workforce and HELP unveiled a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) reauthorization bill. While there is the hope this bill would land on the president's desk, currently there are several senate hold outs. President-elect Trump's pick for Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, is already preparing for a future Senate confirmation hearing by courting Senate Republicans to persuade them of her fitness for the role. For perspective, President Biden announced his nomination of Dr. Miguel Cardona as Secretary of Education on December 22, 2020.
Grant Opportunities
U.S. Embassy in Namibia is inviting organizations to apply to run the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs program. This program is designed to help women entrepreneurs in Namibia grow their businesses, overcome challenges, and create a network of women-led businesses. The Department of Health and Human Services announced a competitive grant to expand access to high-quality, comprehensive early learning services for newly-enrolled, income-eligible American Indian/Alaska Native pregnant women, and children from birth to compulsory school age through Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships, or through the expansion of Early Head Start services. Applications may come from Native American tribal organizations; Native American tribal governments; as well as public entities such as community colleges. The National Endowment for the Humanities is seeking applications for their Institutes for Higher Education Faculty and Institutes for K-12 Educators programs. Institutes are residential, virtual, and combined format that convene higher education faculty or K-12 educators from across the nation to enrich their understanding of topics in the humanities and deepen their capacity for scholarship and teaching.
Southeastern Community College's 2024 Audit Available for Viewing
Denman CPA LLP has released the audit report on SCC in West Burlington, Iowa for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. A copy of the audit report is available for review by contacting the College Board Secretary, in the Office of Auditor of State and on the Auditor of State's web site at https://auditor.iowa.gov/audit-reports.