Enrollment Increase Across the State
As of yesterday, the Iowa Department of Education reported a 2.2% increase in Fall enrollment compared to last year. This represents 88,530 students and an increase of 7.2% in credit hours. Enrollment for Iowa’s community colleges is back above pre-pandemic levels, a huge accomplishment not being seen in all states.
CCforIowa Highlights
Directory as a Key Resource for Network
Are you in our directory? We use the directory to find contact information and send messages to work groups. There are many tools, only for our network, just a few clicks away! Sign up here.
Trustee Tip: Open Meetings Training
A new state law took effect on July 1, 2025, creating a requirement that all newly elected and appointed officials of a government body attend training on Iowa’s Sunshine laws, codified in Iowa Code chapters 21 and 22. The government body must retain a certificate verifying completion for the elected and appointed officials. The legislation also allows third-party providers to conduct this training after receiving approval of the training by the Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB).
Learn more about trainings offered by IPIB and other training partners:
https://ipib.iowa.gov/trainings/ipib-training-newly-elected-and-appointed-officials
https://ipib.iowa.gov/trainings/ipib-approved-training-providers
CCforIowa is not currently an approved training provider. If you are having trouble finding a training that works for you, please reach out to Annette at aheffron@ccforiowa.org.
News
Iowa Central Dental Hygiene Program Seeks to Expand with Bond Renewal
With growing demand for dental healthcare professionals, Iowa Central Community College is seeking community support for a GO bond renewal, which would uphold an existing levy without any tax increase for community members. The proposed bond renewal would also assist in the following areas:
Healthcare Workforce Development: The proposed bond will help fund expanded workforce training for students pursuing careers in healthcare, including dental hygiene and nursing, meeting the rising demand for healthcare professionals in the region.
Expanded Workforce Training: The bond will fund enhanced training programs in critical trade fields, including HVAC, plumbing, and welding, addressing the growing demand for skilled tradespeople in the local economy.
New Center for Ag-Science: The proposed bond will fund the construction of a state-of-the-art Center for Ag-Science, dedicated to training students in agribusiness, agriculture science, animal science, precision agriculture, and veterinary science. This center will be a crucial step in maintaining the region’s strong agricultural industry and supporting the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Building Repairs & Maintenance: The bond will support critical building repairs and upgrades, ensuring that older facilities are well-maintained and reducing ongoing maintenance costs, ultimately saving taxpayers money in the long run.
Continued High School Career Training: More than 2,000 local high school students will benefit from expanded career and job training programs, preparing them for success in both higher education and the workforce.
Iowa Central will be hosting several community meetings in the coming weeks to provide more information about the GO bond and to answer any questions from the public. The developing story is available at Iowa Central’s official website.
Iowa Hospital Association develops Iowa Health Education Portal
Iowa’s demand for healthcare and especially nursing positions remains high, and nursing programs are working to fill every seat in order to help meet workforce needs. The Iowa Hospital Association has developed the Iowa Health Education Portal in order to increase awareness of nursing and other healthcare education opportunities and spread awareness to encourage potential students to seek a career in healthcare.
The portal currently offers:
An interactive map and search tools
A feature allowing students to request more information directly from colleges that match their interests
Automatic notifications to colleges with the user’s name and contact information, along with their anticipated start date
Additional features will be added to make the portal more robust in addressing Iowa’s healthcare workforce needs. See the portal here!