SCC's Business and Computer Clubs Earn High Ranks at State Competition
Nine students from Southeastern Community College's Computer Club and eleven from its Business Club earned top ranks at the Iowa Business Professionals of America State Leadership Conference held in February. Students competed against 2- and 4-year colleges from across the state in several categories, including Computer Programming Concepts, Business Law and Ethics, Computer Security, and Digital Communication and Design. Brenda Wamsley, SCC's network administration and cybersecurity instructor and co-advisor of the Computer Club, recognized her students' impressive achievements. Computer Club members Alex Boysen, Morning Sun; Jakin Bunnell, Mt. Pleasant; Trevor Kelly, Burlington; Alyssa Krestan, Lawrence, KS; Steven Lively, Cleghorn; Charles Mutchler, Burlington; Crystal Timmerman, Burlington; Jalen Walker, Henderson, NV; and Gabriel White, Winfield earned multiple honors at the state competition. Trisha Hopper, SCC business administration instructor and co-advisor of the Business Club, was proud to see her students excel. Business Club members Kaleb Klein, Danville; Noelle Rowe, New London; Tanner Waddell, Burlington; Alix Godwin, Burlington; Joe Hedgecock, New London; Kinzey Kroll, Mediapolis; Eli Hawley, Clark County; Macklyn Palmer, Burlington; Brian Tiet, Mt. Pleasant; Yehor Rozum, Burlington; and Amber Woodward earned multiple honors at the competition including fourteen 1st place awards.
Eastern Iowa Community College Offering 2-day Course to Address Substitute Shortage
To address the substitute teacher shortage, EICC is offering a two-day substitute authorization course, enabling participants to become eligible for substitute teaching in Iowa's K-12 schools.
Northwest Iowa Community College Awarded Funding for Regional Center in Marcus
Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education have awarded nearly $4 million in grants to four Iowa community colleges through the state's Career Academy Incentive Fund. NCC will use its portion to establish a new 7,000-square-foot regional center in Marcus, featuring classrooms and healthcare lab space, and to renovate existing labs at MMC-RU High School, benefiting five additional northwest Iowa school districts.
Iowa Community Colleges Studying 4-Year Degrees
Iowa's community colleges are exploring the feasibility of offering four-year bachelor's degrees to address workforce shortages and educational gaps, particularly in rural areas. This initiative responds to a request from state lawmakers aiming to meet the demand in high-need sectors such as health care, business, and computer science. Currently, 24 states permit community colleges to confer bachelor's degrees in specific fields, and Iowa's institutions are assessing similar possibilities to enhance educational access and support the state's workforce needs.
U.S. Department of Education Releases Frequently Asked Questions on Dear Colleague Letter About Racial Preferencing
The U.S. Department of Education, Saturday, released Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in connection with its February 14 Dear Colleague Letter (DCL). The FAQs provide information on issues including: Can schools separate students by race or encourage students to self-separate by race? Are Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs unlawful under Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard? As part of their admissions process, may schools include application essay prompts that invite discussions of race? How will OCR investigate allegations of covert discrimination? How will OCR proceed with schools that it determines are out of compliance with Title VI? Read the FAQs here. This FAQ document will be updated periodically as questions arise.
Federal Policy Primer and Discussion Guide: Immigration and International Enrollment
The Trump administration's second term has introduced significant changes to federal immigration policy, intensifying its hardline approach. These policy shifts, implemented through executive orders and agency directives, aim to comprehensively reshape the U.S. immigration system, presenting substantial challenges for colleges and universities. Higher education leaders must now navigate a complex landscape, balancing legal obligations with their commitment to fostering strong academic communities. EAB's policy primer offers guidance on these developments, detailing changes affecting undocumented students, international students and staff, and institutional compliance requirements.
Distinguished Community College State Director Award
Please help me in congratulating our very own Executive Director, Emily Shields, as she was selected as a Distinguished Community College State Director on behalf of Phi Theta Kappa and the Phi Theta Kappa Board of Directors. Her nomination came from the students and advisors of Beta Zeta Mu, one of Phi Theta Kappa's most outstanding chapters at WITCC.
SCC Dedicates New Activity Hall in Honor of Rev. Dr. William Amos "Booker" Smith, Sr.
SCC celebrated the dedication of the Rev. Dr. William Amos "Booker" Smith, Sr. Activity Hall with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, February 25. Located next to the Blackhawk Recreation Center and connected to Loren Walker Arena, the hall features a 5,000-square-foot event space, locker rooms, showers, and storage area. The $4.2 million project was largely funded through FEMA, covering the majority of construction costs. This facility is named in honor of Rev. Dr. William Amos "Booker" Smith, Sr., SCC's first Black graduate (formerly Burlington Junior College) in 1931. Smith attended Crozer Theological Seminary at the same time as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., sharing a deep commitment to faith and social justice. Dr. Smith's nieces, Evangeline Ray and Charlotte James, were guests of honor and joined other SCC dignitaries in cutting the ribbon. Though unable to attend in person, his daughter, Wilmetta Smith Langston, shared heartfelt remarks that Dr. Ash read during the ceremony, reflecting on her father's lasting impact. The event was attended by over 50 community members, including civic leaders, business leaders, SCC Board of Trustees members, SCC Foundation Board members, faculty, staff, and students. View photos from the event and learn more about the legacy of Rev. Dr. William Amos "Booker" Smith, Sr.
10KSB Applications Open
Goldman Sachs is again accepting applications for the fall cohort of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program in Iowa. Nationally, 10,000 Small Businesses will be celebrating their 15-year anniversary in 2025. You can participate in a fully funded 12-week business education program and develop an actionable growth plan.
Big Stakes for Community Colleges in Budget Debates
The fiscal year 2026 budget resolution proposed by congressional Republicans carries significant implications for community colleges and their students. The reconciliation process allows for the passage of legislation affecting mandatory programs, such as student loans and public benefits, with a simple majority in the Senate. Potential cuts under consideration include reductions or eliminations of the Grad PLUS and Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs, as well as modifications to loan repayment plans like the Biden administration's SAVE income-driven repayment plan. Conversely, there is an opportunity to make Pell Grants fully tax-free through bipartisan tax legislation, a change long advocated by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). AACC remains actively engaged with key committees to navigate these developments and mitigate adverse effects on community colleges.
Other Federal Updates
Monday night, in a 51 to 45 vote, the Senate voted to confirm Linda McMahon as the United States' 13th Secretary of Education. The Trump administration has removed from its websites online applications for income-driven repayment (IDR) plans and the option for online loan consolidation. With the funding deadline of March 14th, neither Committee on Approaches in either chamber of Congress has a finalized draft of FY 2025 funding legislation. The Department of Health and Human Services has issued a notice of a competitive grant opportunity to provide funds for Head Start and/or Early Head Start services to eligible children and families. The next LAW Live Webinar is March 14 at 1:00pm EST.
Another Round of CCTC Grants
The Iowa Department of Education will be opening up another round of College and Career Transition Counselor (CCTC) grants. If you have any general questions about the CCTC grants, please reach out to Erica Woods-Schmitz at erica.woods-schmitz@iowa.gov. Click here to apply.
Adult Education Funding Opportunity
Iowa Workforce Development today announced a two-year competitive grant opportunity to help advance Adult Education and Literacy Services across the state. The announced grant is for the purpose of seeking service providers for the Iowa Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) program for a period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. The AEL program assists adults by helping them develop basic skills in the area of reading, writing, and math; prepare for high school equivalency diploma exams; and become proficient in the English language in order to reach their employment goals. Interested applicants can visit https://workforce.iowa.gov/ael-grants to view the notice of funding and other important documents to support applications.