It's Latino Heritage Month!
We have so many incredible Latinx leaders in higher education including Dr. Dalila A. Sajadian, Director of Learning Services at NIACC. She is an advocate for Community Colleges because of their welcoming environments and the many opportunities to succeed. Read her full story here.
First Lady Jill Biden Visited DMACC
Biden visited DMACC's Ankeny campus on Wednesday, September 15 to discuss the Build Back Better Plan's funding for more child care centers, universal preschool and two years of Community College. Read the article here.
Report: Community Colleges Drive Workforce Education and Training
A new survey found that Community Colleges play a huge role in workforce education and training. "Community and technical colleges educate more people per year than apprenticeship programs, coding boot camps and federal job training programs combined." Read the article here.
Reminder of Important ACCT Leadership Congress Information
If you are planning on attending the 2021 ACCT Leadership Congress in San Diego, please remember that you need to upload your proof of vaccination into the online portal OR you need to provide a negative COVID-19 test administered 72 hours before the event to be able to attend.
More information as well as cancellation and refund policies can be found here.
Diversity Week at Iowa Western
Iowa Western Community College's weeklong diversity focus brought in trainings, panels, and speakers, including one New York poet.
"I love people, I care about people, and I'm fascinated by learning more about the people that I encounter," said speaker and poet Carlos Andres Gomez during his visit to Iowa Western during Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion week. "More than anything my hope is to go into rooms of strangers and build connections in humanity and empathy between people."
Watch here.
Iowa Valley Powerline Alumni Return: Help with Incoming Class Orientation
Some Community College alumni believe in their program so much, that they return to assist in incoming class orientations. Two Marshalltown Community College graduates of the Powerline program did just that, when requested by Doug Curren, Powerline Technician Faculty.
MCC alumnus Ethan Ronnebaum commented: "Doug makes the program. Under his guidance in just a year, I can see how much it is improving. There is a lot of potential and it's going to continue to improve. MCC's program really is a blessing."
Read article here.
College Student Mental Health
Statistics show a large portion of our student population deal with a mental health disorder. Treating mental health is incredibly important, and unfortunately stigmas often prevent those suffering from seeking help. The good news is that all 15 of our Community Colleges offer mental health services and are ready to help.
AACC's Community College View
American Association of Community Colleges's President and CEO, Walter Bumphus, discusses a broad view of the challenges and opportunities Community Colleges across the country are facing.
Read article here.
Taking College Courses While in High School = Positive Impact
According to an Iowa Department of Education report, high school students who take college credit are more likely to enroll in postsecondary education after graduation and earn a degree or credential.
Read report here.
Motivational Stories
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Why do some of us not have a one true calling? Some of us are wired to be specialists and some of us are wired to be multipotenialites (yes, you read that right!) Link
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Google launches program to hire more people with autism Link
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Restaurant surprises customer with a message written in Braille Link
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One mom is braiding kids' hair for free, helping parents with back-to-school stress Link
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5-year-old hikes Appalachian Trail in 209 days Link
Mental Health of Students
The mental health of our Community College folks around the state is extremely important to us. There are so many factors that put a strain on our mental well-being, including new environments, the stresses of juggling school, work, and home life, not to mention the added fear and stress surrounding the pandemic. In conjunction with September being National Suicide Prevention Month, in the next weeks we will be posting about our Colleges' mental health service offerings, ways in which we all can take better care of ourselves, and how we can help those around us who are struggling.
Pell Grants
All 15 Iowa Community Colleges offer Pell Grants, and with the program expansion, inmates in 42 states can now receive this federal grant to earn trade certifications and associate's degrees from Community Colleges and universities. Link
DMACC Alum Won Olympic Bronze
Justin Phongsavanh, a 2018 DMACC alum from Ankeny, won Bronze for the U.S. in the F54 men's javelin this week in the Paralympics! Link