News & Features
The making of an Edventure
February 19, 2019
By Rachael Koehler Edventure, Iowa Valley Continuing Education’s course schedule, contains course offerings that enhance career development and deepen personal enrichment. Our mission is to provide courses that increase your skills and knowledge to boost job productivity and career potential or fulfill personal desires. As an IVCE Program Developer, I look for courses that are…
The legislative priorities of Iowa’s community colleges
January 28, 2019
By Cindy Schulte After the Iowa Legislature adjourns, Iowa’s Community College Presidents and Trustees review the activity of the past session and look to the future to identify issues that impact the statewide system before they prepare for the upcoming session. The list of legislative priorities are established based on the critical needs of the…
MCC is focused on Student Success & Retention
January 9, 2019
By Angie Redmond The issues of student success and retention are something on which all colleges across the United States are focused. The goal of retention is to have students remain enrolled from fall to spring semester and from first year to second year. Retention and student success are campus-wide strategic initiatives at Marshalltown Community…
PACE turns educational dreams into reality
December 18, 2018
By Jennifer Rice Returning to school, whether for your high school equivalency diploma (HSED) or a college degree, presents numerous barriers for many students. Financial concerns – not just how to pay for school, but how to pay all of the everyday bills – can make attending school seem like an impossibility. Then there are…
Orpheum asks for an exchange of commitments
November 29, 2018
By Bob Untiedt Earlier this year, a senior manager at a large company, new to town, mentioned that he and his family came to a movie the Orpheum had offered for free to his child’s elementary school. He said that he was not looking forward to this very much, but his kid really wanted to…
Financing a college education
November 7, 2018
By Dr. Robin Lilienthal For most people a college education is a significant financial commitment. According to a Lumina Foundation report, only 25 percent of American adults believe that college is affordable for all. The Iowa College Aid Commission reports that because of the perception that college is too expensive, many potential students don’t even…
IVCCD’s ongoing commitment to its mission
September 26, 2018
By Dr. Chris Duree Many, if not most, organizations have a mission statement which is intended to make a claim about their passion, purpose, and commitment. More than simply publishing an institution’s mission on documents, websites, or posting on walls and marketing brochures, the statement should become embedded in the culture and backed by multiple…
The Orpheum Theater is part of a sound educational strategy
April 24, 2018
By Bob Untiedt An important part of the Iowa Valley Community College District’s current strategic plan is this core value: Partnerships – We believe in constructing effective alliances to create educational opportunities, strengthen our communities, and foster economic development. Current Orpheum partners include three different daycare centers, every elementary school in town, the YMCA/YWCA, the…
MCC turns language barriers into building blocks
April 13, 2018
By Theresa Orlovsky Most Americans grow up only speaking English, and if they have any experience with a second language, it may be limited to a high school foreign language class. But what if foreign language wasn’t just a school subject, but the medium through which you learned other subjects, such as biology, history, or…
Adult Basic Education improves skills, changes lives
February 21, 2018
By Jon Núñez and Kathy Siebring Have you ever traveled to a foreign country and found it difficult to read and understand menus or street signs? Was it impossible to communicate with the locals? Believe it or not, there are people in our own communities who face this situation every day, and it’s not necessarily…