LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
LETTER FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND BOARD CHAIRS
This last year presented many challenges, yet also opportunities to collectively adapt to the unfamiliar and find new ways to carry out important work. You—our steadfast advocates, dedicated partners, and loyal donors—were critical to our success. Thank you! As we continue into the future, your partnership remains essential to help students succeed by removing obstacles, build a more equitable and resilient community, and ultimately support student persistence
Dear friends,
to graduation. As we strive to do this good work, we remain committed
Our faculty, staff, and students continue to successfully navigate a primarily online learning environment, on-campus
to the responsible stewardship of the financial resources generously
safety protocols, and personal and professional fatigue within a landscape of continually changing community
entrusted to us.
guidance. I’m so proud and grateful for their resiliency during this difficult time. Even while managing the pandemic, our colleges have continued to move forward as aligned institutions. This fall we
Kim Shaff
rolled out our new 2021-2025 Strategic Plan. Through this shared plan, we are committed to closing our educational
DCTC and Inver Hills Foundation Executive Director
equity gaps and increasing access to higher education and student success. We will increase access through additional outreach efforts to high schools, to historically underserved populations, and to adults looking for career advancement. Both colleges successfully completed accreditation reviews from the Higher Learning Commission. Inver Hills passed its four-year Assurance Review, and DCTC passed its 10-year Comprehensive Evaluation with the condition that we provide an update at our next four-year review on our new processes for assessing student learning. The colleges worked very hard to prepare for these reviews, and it gave us opportunities to identify areas of strength and opportunity.
On behalf of the Dakota
The Inver Hills Community
County Technical College
College Foundation Board
Foundation
thank
is incredibly grateful for
you. Thank you for your
your partnership and shared
dedication, engagement, and
mission to provide resources
your unwavering commit-
that transform the lives of
ment to change the lives of
students. I am excited to lead
advance the goals of economic prosperity and equity within our communities.
students and to continue to
the Inver Hills Foundation
Sincerely,
elevate DCTC as one of the
Board
and
continue
best
foster
the
community’s
We also completed a five-year Title III grant. The grant supported work across both colleges to better serve adult students. This included the implementation of an early alert system, a new Center for Teaching and Learning, expanded course delivery options, and expanded outreach to senior citizens, CareerForce Center clients, and currently or formerly incarcerated students. In closing, our Foundations continue to increase their engagement with the broader community. We invite you to join us in this work. Everyone’s collective experience and creativity is needed to not only achieve our strategic plan but to
Michael
Board,
education
programs
to
in the nation. Great things
enthusiasm of supporting
were accomplished last year, education programs were
students. While the pandemic has changed how we reach
improved, and students achieved great success. We are
out to the community, it confirmed that support provided
eager to accomplish more through new and existing part-
by generous donors puts students on the path to success.
nerships and additional donor support. Your generosity fuels the work of creating futures and life-long growth.
Jake Sedlacek Inver Hills Foundation Board Chairperson
Stephen Engel DCTC Foundation Board Chairperson
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