Tag Archives: education

Hawkeye’s Agriculture Programs Win Coveted Awards

WATERLOO–At the recent Iowa Association of Agricultural Educators (IAAE) Conference, Hawkeye Community College’s Agriculture Business Management program was awarded the 2013 Outstanding Post-Secondary Ag Education Program. This award recognizes post-secondary agricultural education programs for their overall success, growth, and motivation. The college was also awarded an Ideas Unlimited Award in the Continuing Education division for the new Brazil Study Abroad course for Ag Instructors.

Most careers in modern agriculture and related sciences are “hi-tech”, requiring postsecondary education. Hawkeye’s Ag Business program will now move on to the regional level for further consideration, and then potentially to the national level.

Hawkeye’s programs have educators who are innovators and catalysts for student success in agricultural careers. Hawkeye’s Agriculture instructors have been described as enthusiastic, motivating, and inspiring. The IAAE’s vision is to be the premier professional organization for advancing agricultural education.

Hawkeye has long been a leader in agriculture education in Iowa for many years on the postsecondary level. The college’s Agriculture Business Management program embodies the ideals of the agricultural teaching profession through instructional methods and has become a national leader. This specialized program is experiencing record enrollment, with students going straight to the workforce or transferring onto four-year programs after completing Hawkeye’s program. For more information, visit the college website at www.hawkeyecollege.edu.

The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber Launches New Data Tool Resource

As part of its portfolio of business services, the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber, in partnership with Far Reach of Cedar Falls, introduces the Cedar Valley Data Portal.

Through the Cedar Valley Data Portal website, statistics and data about the Cedar Valley, from a multitude of sources, is collected and routinely updated in one convenient location. Data available on the site includes general demographic, economic, social, and housing statistics along with a variety of additional information regarding Cedar Valley cities, seven county economic area and the state of Iowa. The site offers data comparisons through easy to create, customizable reports.

As an economic development organization, the Alliance & Chamber is the primary agent for the demographic information on the entire Cedar Valley region. It is a priority of the Alliance & Chamber to distribute this information and business intelligence in the most efficient and effective way possible. The information provided in the data portal presents the Cedar Valley as one economic region, positioning the region competitively for new jobs and investment. Site selectors from outside the region will especially appreciate the comprehensive economic and talent information available through the data portal.

“ Most companies and site selection influencers are conducting community data and property searches 24/7 and look to organizations like the Alliance & Chamber as a source. If this information isn’t readily available on our web site, we risk a lost opportunity,”notes Alliance & Chamber Economic Development Marketing Director, Lisa Rivera Skubal. “Companies and site selection influencers don’t call economic developers until they have already made a short list of potential sites. This interactive data portal complements our available property data base, further setting us apart.”

The data portal is also an avenue to support retail and service business with access to current information for planning.

Project History

A survey to Alliance & Chamber partner organizations such as utility partners, the Iowa Economic Development Authority, and the Cedar Valley Regional Partners showed need for such a system. From there, Far Reach developed the system for the Alliance & Chamber.

The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber is responsible for updating the information provided on the data portal. Alliance & Chamber staff use national reporting sources, such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau, Council for Community and Economic Research and Iowa Workforce Development to aggregate data. Far Reach Technologies will continue to providing reporting and analytics to guide the growth and enhancement of the site.

“The Alliance & Chamber works with these stats every day. The ability to collect, update, and distribute this kind of comprehensive business intelligence is bedrock to what our organization does. This is not only a value added benefit to our investors, the Cedar Valley Data Portal is a critical resource for attracting new business and talent to the Cedar Valley,” comments Steve Dust, CEO of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber.

The Cedar Valley Data Portal can be found by going to www.cedarvalleyalliance.com, http://data.cedarvalleyalliance.com/DataPortal.aspx. For more information on the Cedar Valley Data Portal and other information services provided by the Alliance & Chamber, contact Taylor King at tking@cedarvalleyalliance.com or 319-232-1156. Far Reach can be found on the web at www.farreachinc.com.

“College Planning Open House” for Veterans and Military Members at Hawkeye Community College

WATERLOO—Hawkeye Community College is hosting a College Planning Open House for veterans, military members, and their families on Thursday, May 23, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. The event will focus on providing information to help military personnel and their families transition into college life in order to build careers through education. The Open House will be held in Tama Hall on Hawkeye Community College’s main campus, located at 1501 East Orange Road.

Participants will learn first-hand about the more than 45 programs offered at Hawkeye, financial aid options, student support services, and career planning. Attendees will be able to talk with Robin Knight, Hawkeye’s Veteran Services coordinator, about the educational benefits earned through military service. Hawkeye has more than 300 student veterans, current military, and dependents and was named a Military Friendly School by Magna Publications, G.I. Jobs Magazine.

“Leaving military service and coming to college can be a daunting process. Many times the application processes for education benefits can be overwhelming. Our goal is to make that transition easier,” explains Robin Knight.

If you or a family member are a veteran or an active duty member of the military, explore your education options at Hawkeye. Stop at the college anytime between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. for more information and one-on-one assistance. For more information, contact Jason Streed at 319-296-4206 or jason.streed@hawkeyecollege.edu.

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Upper Iowa University names William Duffy as 22nd president

FAYETTE, Iowa (April 26, 2013) – The Upper Iowa University Board of Trustees has named William R. Duffy II, Ed.D., as the 22nd president of the Fayette-based University. Board Chair Bob Firth and Trustee Bill Cook, chair of the presidential search committee, made the announcement Friday at the end of its regular Board meeting.

“We have conducted a nationwide search for a new president, and recommended five candidates to the Board from which it could choose the three finalists to bring to campus for interviews,” said Cook. “The Board deliberated very carefully, but unanimously decided to forego further interviews and to select our internal candidate, who knows the University extremely well – especially its potential for growth through Academic Extension – and who has already proven that he shares the University’s mission and vision.”

“We are very grateful to the Search Committee for the excellence of the Search Process, and we are very grateful to Dr. Richard Patrick, who has done an excellent job of leading the University as acting president since last September,” Firth added. “We thank all the faculty and staff at UIU for working together without a hitch throughout this transition, and we are confident that we have found the right leader for our future.”

“I am deeply honored and humbled to have been chosen by the UIU Board,” Dr. Duffy said. “I am committed to the success of this University, and I believe fully in its ability to change the lives of students. I am especially honored to lead a University that proudly serves a large number of the U.S. military family and a wide diversity of international students.”

Dr. Duffy has served Upper Iowa as senior vice president for Academic Extension for four years. He has been responsible for all off-campus offerings, including 19 UIU education centers in the United States, and the UIU distance education programs, which include online and independent study. Since last fall, he has also assumed leadership of the UIU Integrated Enrollment Center that provides student services to all elements of the University from recruitment, through admissions, enrollment, financial aid, registration, matriculation and commencement.

Before joining UIU, Dr. Duffy served for 12 years as the executive director at the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he had similar responsibilities. Dr. Duffy is a retired colonel in the U.S. Army, in which he held numerous leadership positions that involved planning, organizing, managing resources/equipment and recruiting, among other responsibilities. He received his bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Military Academy, a master’s degree and Education Specialist degree from Appalachian State University, and his Ed.D., from the University of Memphis.

Dr. Duffy assumes his new responsibilities as University President immediately.

Dust Optimistic About Cedar Valley Economy – Part 2

View the three part video of Steve Dust, CEO of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber on KWWL’s Steele Report.

Click Here.

University of Northern Iowa and Hawkeye Community College to Introduce Covey’s 7 Habits

Leader Valley, an initiative of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber, is excited to announce two new opportunities for area educators lead by University of Northern Iowa and Hawkeye Community College education faculty.

On April 20, 2013 all pre-service teachers from both UNI and HCC are invited to attend a 7 Habits introductory session. Led by Catharine Freeman from HCC, and Teri Lasswell and Mary Beth Rygh from UNI, the college students will be introduced to the world of Covey’s 7 Habits.

Additionally, June 26-28, a 7 Habits Signature Session will be offered for Leader Valley educators at Hawkeye Community College. UNI Grad credit will be offered for the three day session.

The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber Leader Valley Talent Initiative is an effort to make the Cedar Valley a better place for students to excel and become well prepared for citizenship and their future careers. This is achieved through high levels of community collaboration. Through Leader Valley, strong partnerships amongst Cedar Valley businesses, area school district administrators and school boards, parents and the community are being built. Leader in Me is a program of the Leader Valley Talent Initiative being implemented in schools throughout the region. More information can be found at www.cedarvalleyalliance.com/LeaderValley or by contacting Leader Valley Program Director, Melissa Reade by calling the Alliance & Chamber at 319-232-1156 or by email at mreade@cedarvalleyalliance.com.

The Business Case for Education Reform

By John Stineman, Executive Director, Iowa Chamber Alliance

The 2013 legislative session presents many opportunities for business — property tax reform, economic development incentives, transportation infrastructure to name just a few issues that perennially top the agenda of Iowa’s businesses and economic development community. Standing atop these important issues is education reform.

Education?

Yes, business considers education reform to be at least as important as the other core issues within our policy agendas.

The fact of the matter is that Iowa’s once vaunted public education system is no longer as competitive as it was just half a generation ago.

It’s not so much that Iowa has gone backward as much as it is that the rest of the country has improved at a far greater pace. We used to be at or near the top and now dwell in the lower end of the middle of the pack.

From a strictly business perspective, we must address education reform because of Iowa’s growing skills gap. Today in Iowa about 18% of available jobs are considered to be “low skill,” but about 38% of the available Iowa workforce is classified as “low skill.” Middle skill job openings represent half of all open positions in Iowa, but only one-third of available workers are considered to be middle skill.

The skills gap is real, it is growing, and, unfortunately, our education system today is not geared to address it.

Beyond the immediate workforce needs, consider our education outcomes today. 36% of the “Class of 2012” that went on to higher or vocational education after high school required some sort of remedial education after high school. This is stark evidence we are not systematically equipping our kids with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed after high school.

Of course, it’s not just about the skills gap or what kind of access employers need to qualified workers.

It’s about Iowa’s kids. It’s about our kids and grandkids.

We’ve all chosen to live in Iowa, to raise our families here. Making sure our kids have access to a quality education that will help prepare our kids to compete in a global economy and pursue their dreams is among our most important duties.

That’s why education reform is so important.

The reforms proposed by the Governor and now being vetted by the Iowa House of Representatives are a solid start on turning the tide for Iowa’s schools. The reforms bring with them substantive changes that will fuel teacher leadership from mentor teachers and teacher leaders to drive innovation and energy into subject matter teachers.

The proposal elevates the profession of teaching – increasing first year pay and providing a longer student teaching period so new teachers can hit the ground running when given their own classroom.

The reform proposal expands online learning opportunities by bringing students from across Iowa together to learn online from Iowa teachers in districts that offer subjects not offered in other districts.

Teacher accountability is also important. A statistic often cited at the Capitol is that 98% of Iowa teachers receive favorable reviews. While there are many, many quality teachers across Iowa, it is simply not realistic to believe that only two in every 100 are in need of improvement. Evaluations must include student performance as well as peer reviews and other measures.

The Iowa Chamber Alliance is supportive of the reforms proposed and interested in other ideas that will help improve Iowa’s schools as well. We are hopeful partisan differences and political arguments can be set aside so that meaningful reform can be achieved.

There is simply too much at stake for us not to succeed in improving our schools. It truly is the most important thing we can do this session.

For more information, please contact Iowa Chamber Alliance Executive Director, John Stineman, at (515) 226-1492 or john@iowachamberalliance.com.

The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber is an active member of the Iowa Chamber Alliance. Alliance & Chamber CEO Steve Dust is the current Chair of ICA board of directors. Steve Firman, Alliance & Chamber Director of Gov’t Relations is also on its board.

Governor to Visit Cedar Valley

“Our Opportunity. Our Iowa.” Govenor Branstad’s Condition of the State Tour/ Cedar Valley Stop
01.24.13, 8:15 am, Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center

All Alliance & Chamber investor/members are encouraged to demonstrate the strength and vitality of the Cedar Valley business community and hear about the issues that affect you and your business by attending this special event, Thursday, January 24th. The public is invited to attend.

Highlights:

Providing Property Tax Relief
Making our Schools the Best in the Nation
Improving Iowa’s Quality of Life

Registration is appreciated. Click here.

Read the Govenors 2013 Condition of the State Address

“Our Opportunity. Our Iowa.” here.

Dr. Linda Allen Elected to National Council of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships Board

WATERLOO—The National Council of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships announced that Dr. Linda Allen, president of Hawkeye Community College, was recently elected to the Board of Directors. Dr. Allen will fill a 3-year at-large seat on the Executive Committee.

The National Council of Concurrent Enrollment Partnership or NACEP is the sole accrediting body for concurrent enrollment (also referred to as dual credit) partnerships. The NACEP accreditation helps to adhere to the highest standards for concurrent enrollments to provide students a seamless transition to college.

Concurrent enrollment partnerships enable qualified high school students to earn college credit prior to graduation. NACEP-accredited programs use college-approved instructors and are the same high quality courses as those offered on the campus of the college. Students are exposed to the same rigorous academic challenges. According to NACEP, students are better prepared for college by gaining exposure to college expectations and workload. Concurrent enrollment courses have grown in popularity and allow families to save on college tuition.

Currently, there are only 83 two-year and four- year institutions of higher education in the nation that have earned NACEP accreditation. Hawkeye Community College was one of the 15 Iowa community colleges to earn the coveted NACEP accreditation this year.

Hawkeye currently serves all 27 schools in its service area through its concurrent enrollment program known as CollegeNow. During the last year, Hawkeye had 1,804 high school students enrolled in CollegeNow courses with the average student taking two college-level courses. Approximately 25 percent of all of Iowa’s community college students are jointly enrolled in high school, making Iowa a leader in aligning secondary and postsecondary programs in the country.

Grow Cedar Valley