Iowa Capital Dispatch: "Four-year community college degrees can address unmet needs for students, employers"
In an op-ed written by Central Iowa Community College President Jesse Ulrich, he states: “"The bottom line is simple. There are students in our region who want a bachelor’s degree and do not currently have an option that works for them. There are employers who need those graduates to stay and work here. At Iowa Central Community College, we believe higher education policy should put students first, strengthen the workforce, and reflect the realities of today’s learners and communities.” We're grateful to Jesse for contributing to the conversation on bachelor's degrees at community colleges. Read the full article from Iowa Capital Dispatch here.
The Daily Iowan: "How the Looming Enrollment Cliff May Impact Iowa’s Workforce"
With national high school graduation rates expected to decrease by 13% by 2041, Iowa’s community college system anticipates smaller class sizes, fewer graduates, and higher competition for student enrollment. Community colleges are already looking ahead to manage the enrollment cliff’s impact, which will potentially affect all areas of community college education, from funding to adjunct faculty positions to the availability of skilled labor for the state’s workforce. Read more from the Daily Iowan here.
WHO-13: Iowa community colleges struggle to fill need for trade teachers
With more students leaning toward learning a trade, Iowa’s community colleges are facing challenges filling teaching roles that require experienced tradespeople. Many schools, including DMACC, have job postings that are open to part-time and full-time teaching from skilled professionals who would like to make a difference in their community. Read more from WHO-13 here.
KWQC: "Riverbend FAME debuts at EICC as Iowa’s first advanced manufacturing training chapter"
A new workforce pipeline creates a paid, earn‑and‑learn route into high‑demand industrial maintenance careers as EICC, Grow Quad Cities, the Manufacturing Institute and regional employers launch Riverbend FAME, Iowa’s first Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education chapter. Students who participate in Riverbend FAME will work directly with sponsoring manufacturers while completing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Maintenance Technology through Eastern Iowa Community Colleges. Read the full story from KWQC here.