M AGA Z I N E
y d a Re to
Rock Metallica grant awards more than $60,000 in scholarships 8
Innovation Brought to Reality
Employer Paid College?
Community College Month
Student creates AVR training to spot child abuse 4
Companies cover tuition costs 7
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C O N T E N T S
M AGA Z I N E
SPRING 2022 4
Innovation Brought to Reality
7
AVR student designs training to help spot child abuse
6
Employer-Paid College? Employers use tuition reimbursement to attract talent
Woman in Charge
8
Ready to Rock
EICC graduate finds success in Supply Chain program
10 Voices of Diversity Bridging social understanding, cultural awareness and inclusivity
12 April is Community College Month Celebrate with free classes
13 Serving Students, Serving the Community
14 Breaking Ground Construction begins for EICC Career and Tech Centers
15 Program List Explore your options
Meet the larger-thanlife Criminal Justice Program Director
EDITOR'S NOTES As the signs of winter fade away and the first hints of spring begin to emerge, we’re all often reminded of the possibilities ahead. We remember there’s so much more to do, feel and experience. This is especially true as we reflect on the last two years. In this edition of THE Community’s College Magazine, it’s this spirit of “doing” that jumps off the pages. Our cover story features two students seizing the opportunity to start a new career thanks to the rock band Metallica (yes, you read that right!). We also introduce you to a student whose virtual reality training tool is being used to help prevent child abuse. Then, there’s the story of how a lost job lead one woman to take charge of her destiny. That’s really what Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is all about, helping our community build the skills needed to do everything you want to do — whatever it may be. We’ll even show you how you can start your own journey with free Community College Month classes being offered this April. We hope both this issue and the promise of spring breathes new life and inspiration into your day!
COVER STORY
Ready to Rock Metallica grant awards more than $60,000 in scholarships — PAGE 8
It is the policy of Eastern Iowa Community College District not to discriminate in its programs, activities, or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, religion, and actual or potential family, parental or marital status, as required by the Iowa Code §§216.6 and 216.9, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d and 2000e), the Equal Pay Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 206, et seq.), Title IX (Educational Amendments, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-1688), Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794), and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq.). If you have questions or complaints related to compliance with this policy, please contact Debora J. Sullivan, Equal Employment Opportunity Officer/Equity Coordinator, Eastern Iowa Community College District, 101 West Third Street, Davenport, Iowa 52801, 563-336-3487, djsullivan@eicc.edu or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Education, John C. Kluczynski Federal Building, 230 S. Dearborn Street, 37th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604-7204, Telephone: (312) 730-1560 Facsimile: (312) 730-1576, TDD (800) 877-8339 Email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov.
INNOVATION BROUGHT TO REALITY Scott Community College student creates virtual reality training for local non-profit organization
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S
itting behind his computer, light illuminating his face, keys clacking and mouse swirling, Chad Behal is able to flawlessly create immersive environments in virtual reality (VR). With skills learned from the Augmented and Virtual Reality (AVR) program at Scott Community College, 3D modeling, animation and programming have become a part of his daily grind. More importantly, it’s become his passion. This passion, and his impressive experience, is what ultimately led Behal to land an internship at EveryChild, formerly known as the Child Abuse Council of the Quad Cities. It’s an unlikely pairing — VR and child abuse prevention training — but it’s exactly why Behal was eager to get started.
“VR is a great, inexpensive tool for workforce training because you can create practically any environment, depending on your organization’s needs,” he said. Mark Mathews, Executive Director of EveryChild, said it was for this reason the organization looked to implement VR training for their Healthy Families program, as it requires intensive homevisitor onboarding to help employees find patterns, hazards, dangers and child abuse in homes. “To train employees, our clients have to open up their homes for roleplaying exercises. That oftentimes can be uncomfortable, having so many people in their home,” said Mathews. “Our in-office role-playing exercises often fail to account for key details like a potential client’s age, race and gender, for example.”
According to EveryChild's website, the program's mission is to, "lead community efforts to eliminate child abuse and neglect by strengthening children and families through treatment, education and prevention." This mission, Mathews states, is exactly why proper employee training is so vital to the future of our community. “The end result is identifying situations where a child could be hurt or worse. It’s the difference between a child living a healthy, full life, or not.”
The Project With guidance from Mathews, Behal got to work. His directive was to create a home environment with a provided list of 3D modeling assets. That list ultimately included common signs of things found in households that could lead to a cycle
of child abuse; some, easy to identify, others, much harder. For example, Behal’s environment included a gun leaning up against a wall, cleaning supplies in easy reach and uncovered electrical sockets. Not only this, but filled dog bowls on the floor, super glue left out and a stove pan with the handle facing outwards. “I grew up in a pretty normal household, so recognizing the different signs of possible child abuse was a little bit harder for me,” explained Behal. “They had to describe them to me and show me different pictures of stuff. It was just not something I thought about every day.” Behal spent the first month of the project prototyping the room, coming up with a layout, creating structure and an environment on the Engage Platform, one of many computer programs used to build AVR applications. After solidifying certain details, he then made sure the lighting, spacing and texture of each item was just right. “The main concerns for me were having enough space and keeping the environment believable,” he said. “I used Blender to 3D model the objects, like the couch, shotgun and dog bowls, and Substance Painter to texturize them. I then imported the files into Unity to create the final scene.” He even maximized the project budget by adding unexpected features. The first included an observation deck
“Thanks to the AVR program, I was able to apply all of the skills I learned in class and translate them to this VR project.”
so others could view training sessions in progress, and the second included short descriptions of the items for employees to find or review if they'd missed them during the training session. In a little over two months, Behal had a fully operational VR apartment space ready for testing. After EveryChild employees experienced Behal’s creation for the first time, any doubt about the platform’s ease-of-use vanished. “Employees were more enthusiastic after going through the testing, firsthand. It was noted in the survey that any basic beginner could use this technology and benefit from it. That finding was really transformative," said Mathews.
The Results The VR training simulation was welcomed with open arms, and now serves as a permanent fixture of EveryChild's employee training protocol. For family support specialists and community doulas, being able to prepare for the situations they will encounter during real, in-person home visits makes all the difference. The platform even includes avatars that allow employees to simulate people of any background. “Identifying concerns and practicing those difficult conversations and possible de-escalation skills ahead of time is so important,” said Mathews.
Virtual reality learners are:
4x
faster to train than in the classroom
275%
more confident to apply skills learned after training
3.75x
more emotionally connected to content than classroom learners
“As a strength-based program, our specialists are then able to focus on the positives, with the emphasis of being helpful and supportive for the families moving forward.” Eventually, EveryChild hopes to share the benefits of VR training with other non-profit agencies in the area. “With the program here at EICC, and local cutting-edge VR businesses, the Quad Cities really is at the forefront of this technology. It means big things for our community, as far as staff training, cost efficiency and employee retention. I’m just excited to see what the future holds,” Mathews said.
Learn more about the Augmented and Virtual Reality program at eicc.edu/avr
4x
more focused than their e-learning peers
Source: Likens, S., & Eckert, D. L. (2021, June 4). How virtual reality is redefining soft skills training. PwC. Retrieved January 2, 2022, from https://www.pwc.com/us/en/tech-effect/emerging-tech/virtual-reality-study.html
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Woman in Charge EICC graduate finds success in Supply Chain program
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aren Bell is a busy woman. As a manager for Promotion Fulfillment Center, a local product fulfillment and promotional services company, she’s on the go 24/7. “We’re a third party center,” she said. “Clients send their inventory and we ship it out. We work with leading brands in e-commerce, apparel, bicycles…you name it, we handle it.” Supply chain and logistics has always been a critical piece of most businesses. Over the last year, the importance of this field has especially been in the spotlight. We all have experienced shortages on store shelves, or heard stories of supply chain concerns, disruptions and triumphs. As Bell will tell you, moving product from point A to point B, C, or D is no easy task — but she’s always enjoyed a challenge. “When COVID started, everything came to a halt, except the supply chain,” she said. “There have been so many changes during this time. Space
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issues have always been a problem, but especially now with back-ups and clients over-ordering inventory because they couldn’t get it last year.” “I do well with a challenge though, I know how to handle it,” she smiled. That’s because in addition to more than a decade of experience in fulfillment, she’s a graduate of Eastern Iowa Community Colleges' (EICC) Supply Chain and Logistics program. It’s made all the difference in both her ability to excel in her work, and quite frankly, get the job she wanted. “The last company I worked for I was there 13 years,” she said. “However, they got bought out and shut-down.” Despite the hardship of losing her job, Bell was confident she’d soon land something new. However, after several months of job hunting, her confidence began to wane. “I was getting interviews, but not getting hired anywhere,” she said. “What I was finding out is not many places were looking at experience, and everyone wanted a degree or some kind
of formal training.” With that knowledge, she enrolled in EICC’s online Supply Chain and Logistics program. Within one month of starting classes, she received a job offer. Bell says when she started, she didn’t really think she had much to learn. She’d been in the field for over a decade, after all. “When I first met and sat down with the instructor, Susan, I thought I knew everything,” she said. Once classes started, her attitude changed pretty quickly. There was still a lot left to learn, such as international shipping and radio frequency identification systems or RFID, return on investment and how it affects the business, how to communicate with corporate and upper level management — the list goes on. “It made a huge difference, number one in my confidence, and dealing with anything in the supply chain. I now deal with international shipping all the time, and I'm the only one in the company who knew how to handle the
shipments when they got backed up.” It's made her a woman in demand, a woman who solves problems, and a woman whose expertise others value. Simply put, a woman in charge.
SUPPLY CHAIN AND LOGISTICS ▶ 100% online program ▶ Perfect for working adults ▶ Two-year degree, diploma or certificates ▶ 30% projected job growth through 2030 ▶ $76,270 median annual wage U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
eicc.edu/logistics
Employer-Paid College? How tuition reimbursement can be your path forward
Do a simple Google search, and dozens of articles published within the last year showcase just how many companies are embracing this method of workforce education.
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hen most people think about starting or continuing their college education, having their employer help foot the bill is usually not the first thing that comes to mind. And yet, more and more employers are offering this great benefit, most commonly referred to as “tuition reimbursement.” It’s an idea that’s been around for a while, but as local employers struggle to retain and attract talent, a growing number of companies are reimagining or even adding programs. “It’s one more tool in our toolbox and another way to get employees to choose us over another job,” said Delia Meier, Senior Vice President of Iowa 80 Group, which offers up to $1,500 each year to employees pursuing higher education. “We believe in promoting from within, and our best recruits are from within. It makes perfect sense to invite employees to continue growing their skillset any way we can, and education is an obvious choice,” she said.
Here's how it typically works: an employee pays up front for college, graduate or continuing education classes. Then, once they’ve passed their class, the employer will refund a portion of the money spent, or the full amount. The amount covered, as well as qualifying programs of study, varies from company to company. Some companies may only cover course costs if the path of education is related to your job. Others may require you to remain with the company for a certain period of time after completing your degree. No matter what way the program is structured, one detail remains the same — you can earn a steady paycheck and credits at the same time for a fraction of the cost. “Continuous learning benefits everyone involved,” said Jenna Bevan, Lead Policy Manager at AT&T. In the last five years, nine employees have earned college credit with Eastern Iowa Community Colleges thanks to the company’s policy, which encourages employees to earn degrees or even certifications
in areas such as data analytics, cybersecurity or management. “One thing we see is that people feel like they have to make a decision or struggle with the question of whether they want to be in school or start a career,” Bevan said. “We like to recruit from colleges and show how we can help people continue their education while they're working. It doesn’t have to be an either/or choice.” Bevan knows firsthand. This year, AT&T added professional certifications to its line-up of qualifying tuition reimbursement programs, and after 28 years with the company, she decided to head back to class. “It motivated me to take the plunge and go back to school,” she said. “I knew I needed to go back, but it was daunting.” The option to enroll in a professional certification program, paid for by AT&T, made the decision feel a lot less overwhelming. “I'm now a certified HR Manager and AT&T paid for it for me. That’s a win-win,” Bevan said.
In fact, many Quad Cities employers have programs in place, such as John Deere, UPS, Walmart and Vibrant Credit Union, just to name a few. With more than 30 career programs, 15+ transfer majors and a wide variety of Continuing Education offerings, employers consistently choose EICC to help train their employees. We’d love to partner with your employer to help you further your education. Explore our programs at eicc.edu/ourprograms THE Community's College |
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y d a e R to
Rock Metallica’s All Within My Hands grant is music to students’ ears 8
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YES, YOU READ THAT RIGHT. THE METALLICA. The Metallica that has sold over 125 million album copies worldwide. The Metallica that has received nine Grammy Awards. The Metallica that has over 17.4 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Add yet another thing to that list of accomplishments: The Metallica that created All Within My Hands (AWMH), a non-profit, philanthropic organization. In 2019, AWMH partnered with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to create Metallica Scholars, a major workforce education initiative that supports relevant job skills training for community college students. Now, you may be thinking, why would a rock band choose to support career and technical education? According to James Hetfield, Metallica’s guitarist and vocalist, the band wanted to give back to the communities who support them while touring across the country.
“We are in direct involvement with multiple essential career choices along our path. From electrical, professional driving, culinary, mechanical maintenance, public safety, logistical organizers. And that just scratches the surface. Those, along with a multitude of other technical careers, make our touring and our performances possible. We are passionate and grateful to these trades and tradespeople.” 'Grateful' is the same word Clinton Community College's (CCC) president, Brian Kelly, uses to describe how he feels about Metallica. After discovering AWMH's grant, he decided to take a chance and apply for it. Much to his surprise, CCC was chosen out of a highly competitive applicant pool to receive a $100,000 grant to help cover costs for students enrolled in the college’s Engineering Technology program. Only 23 colleges in the nation made the cut. “There is a significant industry need for trained team members, so this opportunity for our students is tremendous,” said Kelly. “For 40 years, the band has meant so much to so many people, and we are thrilled they have chosen to invest in our community and local economy.” To date, the college has awarded $60,000 in scholarships, with ten students receiving full tuition coverage.
One of those scholarships went to Alisha Lemon. Her passion for engineering technology came while on a night shift at Little Trees, a manufacturer of air fresheners in DeWitt, Iowa. “I was talking with one of the mechanics one day when they had the back of our machine open with all the lights of the circuit board,” explained Lemon. “And I was like, 'I want to do that, how do I get there?' He recommended programmable logic controller (PLC) programming and that’s how I found CCC.” As a full-time Quality Control
“Having a scholarship like this…it’s enabling me to do something I think I’ll really love to do.”
Inspector, the program’s flexibility is what sealed the deal for Lemon. Since the majority of coursework can be done online and at her own pace, it’s made it possible for her to complete classes. “I go in to work at 5 at night and I get off at 3:30 in the morning. What that enables me to do is after I get off of work, I can work on my online assignments at home. Then when the lab opens at 7:30 in the morning, I’m able to come in and get my lab work done for a couple of hours, go home, go to sleep, and do it all again.” Yet, engineering tech wasn’t always the career path she intended to follow. Lemon earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre from the University of Iowa in 2016. After taking a crack at a professional career in stage management, she found it was not a stable job, financially speaking. “I was a theatre kid in high school and knew that’s what I wanted to do. But the one thing you realize is, the whole starving artist thing is very real.” When she came back to her small hometown in Iowa, she discovered her
own ‘production’ in a manufacturing facility setting. “I decided to pursue this because it’s not much different, in my opinion, than being a stage manager in a theatre production.” Lemon, who was already enrolled in CCC’s Engineering Technology program at the time, was overjoyed when she saw that she could apply to become a Metallica Scholar. Just the possibility of it was exciting. “My first reaction was, there’s no way they would pick me, because I thought they’d want to give it to someone younger — just out of high school — and not someone who already has a bachelor’s degree and is kind of wayward in their life.” But, everything fell into place. Even when she received a formal letter in the mail from the college, she still couldn’t believe it. “It’s been the biggest blessing to have that weight lifted off of my shoulders. It has allowed me to do a lot of the things that I had set out to do when I first decided to go for this program.”
Another scholarship went to Luke Holtorf. Much like Lemon’s journey, Holtorf started his education at the University of Iowa. If it wasn’t for the Metallica Scholars Initiative, he would still be at the university, completing a degree he wasn’t sure he was fully passionate about. “Having a scholarship like this, in a field that’s touched me my entire life, it’s enabling me to do something I think I’ll really love to do.” With an Engineering Technology degree from CCC, Holtorf hopes to one day make advanced prosthetics for amputees. This idea spurred from a video he saw at a young age. “There was this man, he was a double-amputee from the shoulders down who had these mechanical prosthetics with electrical signals,” Holtorf described. “With muscular movement from his body, those prosthetics functioned like real limbs and it was something that really stunned me. So, if I can help people that would be fantastic.” Holtorf credits Metallica's generosity for allowing him to achieve his goals. “No matter what obstacles face me in the future, I’ll have the assurance that it won’t be hard to find work with the tools this program will give me. I’ll be confident going into any situation, because I’ll know I have the education.”
Scholarships are still available! Learn more at eicc.edu/metallica
Get your tuition paid, down to the very LAST DOLLAR. Iowa's Last Dollar Scholarship covers tuition costs in more than 30 programs. Scan the QR code to learn more.
THE Community's College |
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VOICES OF
Diversity Bridging social understanding, cultural awareness and inclusivity Life is all about struggles and never letting your weaknesses define who you are. Be open-minded, ask questions and never give up.”
W
ith a geographic area reaching more than 120 miles from north to south and multiple learning sites, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges features a vibrant combination of urban and rural landscapes. This creates an incredible diversity of ages, ethnic backgrounds, experiences and cultures among our students and the communities we serve—enriching our learning
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environments and the opportunities we can offer our students. To celebrate this diversity, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges' (EICC) Diversity Council created an installment named "Voices of Diversity." Its purpose: “To provide a method where expressions of the heart, mind and soul can be channeled, free of judgement, to promote inclusivity in understanding cultures throughout the college community and to foster meaningful connections.”
As a permanent fixture at each of our campuses, students, faculty, staff and alumni stories will be featured in the hallways most frequented. Passersby can learn more about each participant’s story by scanning a QR code and reading on. Each story brings to light what makes our campus community unique, with subjects ranging in age, ethnicity, socio‑economic class, race, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, education and culture.
The Council hopes that "Voices of Diversity" will provide a venue for our campus community to feel supported, accepted and heard.
Over the next several issues of THE Community’s College Magazine, you will hear from participants in their own words, beginning with students from Muscatine Community College. These are their stories.
It is true that others might have an advantage or two over you, but you have the advantage of being you.”
Nadeesh
MCC Student, Nursing Program Please list all the ways in which you identify. “My first nationality is Cameroon, which is situated in the West-Central part of Africa. Cameroon is a bilingual country, as we do speak both English and French. I speak four languages; my dialect (commonly known as Mother’s Tongue), Pidgin English, French and English. I’m a Christian in the Presbyterian Church. I did all my schooling up to high school in Cameroon. I moved to the United States in December 2017.”
Briefly describe a barrier you overcame or lesson you learned as it relates to one or more aspects of your identity. “Everything here is different from where I came from—the lifestyle, the food, etc. When I first moved here, more than three years ago, I found it so difficult to eat a lot of meals. This was because I was unfamiliar with almost everything. Most grocery stores in Africa were not close by. As time passed, I started eating some of the food. I can now say I eat nearly everything. Secondly, as I was preparing for college, I had to learn how to type. Here was totally different, because everything is computer-based. This became my greatest worry as I was about to begin my first year of college. I decided to practice typing every day. In the span of
three months, I was seeing progress. I’m so happy now that I can do both—note taking and typing—well.”
Tell us more about how your multiple identities have impacted your life. “Having multiple identities has impacted my life greatly. I’m able to blend my culture with the Western culture and interact with different people. I’m also learning a lot of new things every day. There are a lot of opportunities here in comparison to my country of origin.”
What do you hope others will gain from reading your story? “Life is all about struggles and never let your weaknesses define who you are. Learn to be patient and connect with others. Be open-minded, ask questions and never give up—no matter who you are or where you are coming from. Together we will build a better future.”
Daniel
MCC Alumnus Please list all the ways in which you identify. “Mexican-American, Latino, Iowan, Texano, American, Catholic, middleclass, third-generation, he, him, his, Latino-American, young, leader.”
Briefly describe a barrier you overcame or lesson you learned as it relates to one or more aspects of your identity. “I have learned that I am a Latino in America. Growing up in the Midwest, that was not something I really thought about. As I became more mature and had a better understanding for the world around me, I became more aware of what I looked like—the involuntary code switching that I had done for most of my life. I came to realize that I was a person of color and needed to explore and learn more about my own culture, as well as others. I often think about my grandparents and how they made their journey to America, leaving everything they knew behind and working hard to get here. They wanted to come to America to live a better life and pursue the American dream. I feel as though I have a responsibility to build on the life that was provided for me. By educating myself and chasing my goals, I try to embody the American dream that my grandparents had by making it an American reality.”
Tell us more about how your multiple identities have impacted your life. “It’s been a fight and a learning experience to find what identity is dominant. How to balance them out and respect each one as a piece of the puzzle that is me. As an American, I find it an honor to be part of an idea so great, yet a responsibility to help form a more
perfect union. As a Latino-American, I recognize the unique position that I am in and how much my Latino upbringings are a part of me. I fight myself to not suppress who I am or my family. It is for this reason that I find it so important to wear my cowboy boots and hat proudly, because it is a part of my heritage and culture.”
What do you hope others will gain from reading your story? “I hope people can understand that anyone with the willingness to work hard and ask for help when needed can accomplish a lot. Anyone can make a change in the world, in their communities, if they just try to. Understand that it is ordinary people who can do extraordinary things. In this race of life, it is true that others might have an advantage or two over you, but you have the advantage of being you. Make a life that you’re proud of.”
Scan the QR code to learn more about Voices of Diversity.
eicc.edu/voices
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Did you know Iowa’s community colleges create a significant positive impact on the business community and generate a return on investment to their major stakeholder groups—students, taxpayers and society. In fact, community colleges made a $5.5 billion impact to Iowa’s economy, including the support of 87,149 jobs to Iowans during the last year.
Let's break it down: ▶ Students see a return of $6.30 in future earnings for every dollar they invest in their education and an average annual rate of return of 24.9%.
April is Community College Month As THE Community’s College, there’s nothing more important to Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) than making a difference in the communities we serve. Throughout the year we try to do that in a number of ways, from offering seamless transfer opportunities to providing education and training for more than 200 local employers. But in April we get to do something really special, something we look forward to all year long: Celebrate Community College Month! It’s the perfect time of year to celebrate all Eastern Iowa Community Colleges has to offer. We can think of no better way to do that than inviting you to attend a class free of charge. It’s just our way of thanking our supportive
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community and introducing you to the many great classes we have available. “Community College Month is a great time to connect with EICC,” said Paula Arends, Director of Workforce Innovation. “Throughout the entire month of April, we will offer an opportunity for our community to learn, be entertained, and possibly plant a seed for future career or life goals." A wide range of classes are scheduled both in-person and live online using Zoom, with a number of times available. Each session will run anywhere from one hour to 90 minutes long. Whether you’re interested in improving a skill or just want to explore something new, we have a class sure to spark your interest and curiosity! Did we mention they’re all free?
Free Classes ▶ Intro to Delivering a Baby ▶ Furnace and Air Conditioning Tips for Better Comfort and Efficiency ▶ The Psychology of Change and Understanding Your Personality ▶ You Can Build a Website! ▶ Magnetic Technology ▶ Spring Bicycle Maintenance ▶ Intro to Photogrammetry: Turning One-dimensional Items Into 3D Models ▶ Let’s Get “Shrimpy” ▶ Diesel Engine Basics ▶ Self-publishing Basics: Go From Blank Page to Published Author ▶ Plus many more! To learn more and view a full list of free classes, visit eicc.edu/freeclasses
▶ For every dollar of public money invested in the Community Colleges, taxpayers receive $2.50 in return and have an average annual rate of return of 6.2%. ▶ Society benefits from $277.9 million of public and private sector savings, receiving $8.60 in return for every dollar spent for as long as students remain active in the state workforce. ▶ Iowa’s 15 Community Colleges and their students support one out of every 23 jobs in the state. Construction spending supports 352 jobs Student spending supports 3,936 jobs Alumni working in Iowa support 71,230 jobs Source: Iowa Association of Community College Trustees, 2022
Serving Students, Serving the Community EICC’s Criminal Justice program celebrates a successful start under the lead of Michael Birmingham
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hen it comes to Eastern Iowa Community Colleges’ Criminal Justice Program Director, Michael Birmingham, there is much more than meets the eye. Picture this: You’re sitting across the table from Birmingham. He swiftly hands you his resume, filled to the brim with a list of various accolades and certifications. Upon first glance, your eyes jolt across the page to find bolded titles including: Professional Baseball Player, Deputy Sheriff, Internationally Certified Prevention Specialist, Bond Supervision Officer, Behavioral Health Consultant, Drug Recognition Expert, Non-Profit Founder & CEO, Juvenile Corrections Officer and Ordained Minister. Then, you realize that’s just scratching the surface. At the very top of the resume, alongside his EICC Criminal Justice Program Director title, your eyes take in EICC Criminal Justice Instructor, too. On a typical day, Birmingham can be found riding his bike along the river trails of the Quad Cities, sharing material via Twitter to help young, aspiring athletes or picking up a pencil to sketch a beautiful landscape. However, his true passion is teaching. “Every day I get to utilize my realworld working experience to ensure that students are well prepared and well aware of what they are getting themselves into when entering various roles in criminal justice,” said Birmingham.
It’s this real-world experience, Birmingham explains, that likely landed him the job here at EICC. “If you can think it, I’ve experienced it,” said Birmingham. “From first-hand car pursuits, officer-involved shootings to breaking up fights in a prison or jail setting. My students are able to benefit from hearing how things unfolded, how I responded and how it’s affected me, as well as those around me.” Birmingham provides instruction at Scott Community College’s Urban Campus. His class roster includes Introduction to Corrections; Ethics in Criminal Justice; Juvenile Delinquency; Law Enforcement; Vice and Drug Control; and Criminology, as well as the WorkBased Learning (WBL) Career Exploration course for Government and Criminal Justice. “For me, being able to oversee the startup of the Criminal Justice program was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Birmingham. “I was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas, and I had only been to the Quad Cities once prior to relocating here.” From day one, Birmingham hit the ground running. With solid enrollment numbers, plans are already underway to add a Criminal Justice Career Academy at Muscatine Community College for the fall 2022 term. EICC’s Career Academies allow high school students to earn college credit before high school graduation.
“I anticipate the Criminal Justice Career Academy to expand to the Clinton and Scott service areas as well over time,” he said. “The program really has potential to evolve into a multitude of offerings with regards to specializations once the curriculum is stabilized to represent the field as a whole.” For those looking to pursue a career in criminal justice, or get started in EICC'S Criminal Justice program, Birmingham shares this advice. “There are many opportunities the field presents after you get in and get your feet wet,” he explained. “Do your research, gain some familiarity, talk to working professionals, arrange a ride-along. Whatever you can do to better understand exactly what various roles consist of. Don’t think you have to only serve in one capacity to make a difference.”
About the Program The Criminal Justice program prepares students to perform the duties of police and public security officers in law enforcement, corrections and judicial
service. With curriculum backed by local law enforcement agencies, students will learn: ▶ Law enforcement patrol and investigative activities ▶ Traffic control ▶ Crowd control ▶ Public relations ▶ Witness interviewing ▶ Evidence collection and management ▶ Basic crime prevention methods ▶ Weapon/equipment operation and maintenance ▶ Report preparations Award options for the program include the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree, a one-year Criminal Justice Diploma and a semester-long Criminal Justice Certificate. Students interested in a four-year Bachelor's Degree can pursue our Criminal Justice Transfer Major.
Learn more at eicc.edu/criminaljustice THE Community's College |
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Pictured: Architect's rendering of MCC's new Career and Technical Center
BREAKING GROUND
Construction underway for EICC’s new Career and Tech Centers
I
f you’ve visited Eastern Iowa Community Colleges’ (EICC) Clinton or Muscatine campuses lately, you’ve most likely noticed folks in hard hats, the roar of an excavator and leveled dirt. In other words, the hustle and bustle of an active construction site! The work is just part of a long list of projects being funded by the college’s $40 million bond, which passed last year with more than 70 percent of voters supporting the expansion of EICC’s career and technical education through new facilities and renovations. “This is a really ambitious project,” said Clinton Community College (CCC) President Brian Kelly. “We really see this as a priority for the region and are working as hard as we can to respond to community need.” At CCC, foundation and dirt work is currently being done on a modern 26,700 sq. ft. facility located across the street from the main campus. The building will support many existing programs, and even several new offerings, with multi-purpose labs, classrooms, a student commons/lobby area and offices for instructors. Similar work is being completed at Muscatine Community College (MCC). The new Career and Technical Center there is adjacent to the main campus. The pre-engineered buildings for both sites are on schedule to be delivered this month, with construction and equipment installation to be completed in time for the start of fall classes. “We hope to see the steel structure of the building going up soon,” said Jeremy Pickard, MCC’s Dean of Instruction. “We’ve been talking about this for two years, so there’s a lot of excitement.”
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The new centers will allow for increased services for all EICC students, as well as those in the college’s Career Academies. Career Academies provide high school students with the opportunity to receive hands-on career training, and college-level credits, while still in high school. By providing students with the training needed to enter high-demand, skilled trades at no charge, the academies especially answer a need for those students who might not normally continue their education past high school. “We’ll be able to provide programs we’ve never been able to offer and help both high school students and adults train for high-demand jobs available right here in our community,” Pickard said.
Planned academies for the buildings currently under construction include: Clinton Community College f f f f f f f f f
Agriculture Automotive Technology Construction Technology Culinary Education Engineering Technology Healthcare Information Technology Welding Technology
Muscatine Community College f f f f
Allied Health/Nursing Automotive Technology Construction Technology Criminal Justice
Meanwhile, plans for other projects included in the bond are moving forward as well. f CCC Career and Technical Center in DeWitt, Iowa: Delivery of the pre-engineered building for this site is scheduled for fall 2022, project completion expected in summer 2023. f Scott Community College (SCC) Allied Healthcare Wing: Renovation is scheduled to begin in 2023. f SCC Blong Technology Center Expansion & Ag Innovation Center: Construction is scheduled to begin in 2024.
To view a full list of projects and renderings, visit eicc.edu/breakingground
In addition to providing more educational and training opportunities to the community, construction of these new centers is helping boost the local economy. EICC’s partners include local companies Estes Construction, IMEG and Studio 483.
Programs Of Study Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Associate’s Degrees, Diplomas and Certificate Options
Government and Criminal Justice
Agriculture Education Transfer Major, AA – E Agriculture Education Transfer Major, AS – E Agribusiness Equipment Sales and Service, Diploma – M Agribusiness Equipment Technician, AAS – M Agribusiness Management, AAS – M Agriculture Business Transfer Major, AS – E Agriculture Systems Technology, AAS – M Agronomy Transfer Major, AS – E Agronomy, Diploma – M Animal Science Transfer Major, AS – E Conservation Pathway, AS – E Environmental, Health, and Safety, AAS, Diploma, Certificate – E, O Environmental Science Pathway, AA, AS – O Farm Management, AAS – E Industrial Hemp Production, Diploma – M Precision Agribusiness Management, AAS – M Sales & Service, Diploma – M Turf and Landscape, AAS, Diploma, Certificate – M Veterinary Technician, AAS – M
Applied Digital, Visual and Communication Arts Communication Transfer Major, AA – E English Transfer Major, AA – E Journalism Pathway, AA – E Graphic Arts Technology, AAS, Diploma – O y Digital Photography Certificate – O
Fine Arts Art Pathway – E Music Pathway – M Theatre Pathway – M, S
Business, Finance, Marketing and Management Accounting Management, AAS, Diploma – E Administrative Office Professional, AAS, Diploma, Certificate – E, O Business Professional, AAS, Diploma, Certificate – E y Small Business Management Certificate – E Business Transfer Major, AA – E Data Analytics, Certificate – O Inventory Control, Certificate – O Logistics and Transportation, Certificate – O Supply Chain and Logistics, AAS, Diploma – O
Criminal Justice Transfer Major, AA – E Criminal Justice, AAS, Diploma, Certificate – E Cybersecurity, AAS, Certificate – E Networking for Cybersecurity, Diploma – E Political Science Transfer Major, AA – E Pre-Law Pathway, AA – E History Transfer Major, AA – E
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
Hospitality and Tourism Baking, Certificate – M, S Culinary Arts Apprenticeship, AAS – M, S Culinary Arts, AAS, Diploma, Certificate – M, S
Human Services Human and Family Services Transfer Major, AA – E Psychology Transfer Major, AA – E Social Work Transfer Major, AA – E Sociology Transfer Major, AA – E
Health Sciences
Biology Transfer Major, AS – E Chemistry Transfer Major, AS – E Mathematics Transfer Major, AS – E Physics Transfer Major, AS – E Renewable Energy Systems Specialist, AAS – E Technical Studies, AAS – E
Transportation Technology
Industrial Technology
Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, Certificate – E Associate Degree Nursing, AAS – C, S Cancer Information Management, AAS, Diploma, Certificate – O Certified Nurse Aide – S, CE Community Dental Health Coordinator, Certificate – E Dental Assisting, Diploma – S Dental Assisting Expanded Functions, Certificate – S Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography, AAS – S Diagnostic Medical Sonography, AAS – S Emergency Medical Services, AAS, Certificate – E, CE Emergency Medical Technician, Certificate – E Exercise Science and Kinesiology Transfer Major, AA – E Health Information Management, AAS – O Medical Assistant, Diploma – S Phlebotomy – S, CE Practical Nursing, Diploma – E Pre-Health Professional Pathway, AA, AS – E Pre-Chiropractic Pathway, AA, AS – E Pre-Dental Hygiene, AAS – E Radiologic Technology, AAS – S Respiratory Care, AAS – E Surgical Technology, AAS – S Veterinary Technician, AAS – M
Human Services and Education
Architecture and Construction Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, Diploma – S Mechanical Design Technology, AAS, Diploma, Certificate – E y Solid Modeling, Certificate – E
Manufacturing CNC Machining, AAS – S CNC Manual Machining, Certificate – S CNC Programming, Certificate – S Engineering Technology, AAS – E y Basic Electricity, Certificate – E y Basic Electronics, Certificate – E y Electromechanical, Diploma – E y Electrical Systems, Diploma – E y Process Control Technology, Certificate – E Welding, AAS, Diploma, Certificates – S
Information Solutions Data Analytics, Certificate – O Augmented and Virtual Reality, AAS, Diploma – S, O Cybersecurity, AAS, Certificate – E, O Networking for Cybersecurity, Diploma – E, O Networking for Systems and Security, AAS, Diploma, Certificate – E, O Programming, AAS, Diploma – E, O Web Development, AAS – E, O
Education and Training Agriculture Education Transfer Major, AA, AS – E Associate of Science, AS – E American Sign Language - English Interpreting, AAS – S Deaf Studies, Certificate – S Early Childhood Education, AAS, Diploma, Certificate – M, S Early Childhood Teacher Licensure Transfer Major, AA – E Elementary Education Transfer Major, AA – E Liberal Arts, AA – E, O Secondary Education Transfer Major, AA – E
Automotive Technology, AAS, Diploma – S Automotive Technology Service, Certificate – S Diesel Technology, AAS, Diploma – S y Diesel - Heavy Duty Maintenance, Certificate – S y Diesel - Truck Electrical, Certificate – S Truck Driving, Certificate – S, CE
Online Classes Anytime, 24/7 Administrative Office Professional, AAS, Diploma, Certificate – E, O Augmented and Virtual Reality, AAS, Diploma – S, O Cancer Information Management, AAS, Diploma, Certificate – O Cybersecurity, AAS, Certificate – E, O Environmental Health and Safety, AAS, Diploma, Certificate – E, O Graphic Arts Technology, AAS, Diploma – O y Digital Photography Certificate – O Health Information Management, AAS – O Inventory Control, Certificate – O Logistics and Transportation, Certificate – O Networking for Cybersecurity, Diploma – E, O Networking for Systems and Security, AAS, Diploma, Certificate – E, O Programming, AAS, Diploma – E, O Supply Chain and Logistics, AAS, Diploma – O Web Development, AAS – E, O
Live Online Data Analytics, Certificate – O Liberal Arts, AA – E, O
eicc.edu/ourprograms
College Location Key E – Program available at all colleges M – Muscatine Community College CE – Continuing Education Program
C – Clinton Community College S – Scott Community College O – Online*
Transfer Programs
Career and Technical Education
Short-term Programs
AA – Associate in Arts AS – Associate in Science
AAS – Associate in Applied Science
Diploma Certificate
*Two options: Anytime 24/7 or Live Online with designated class time. List is subject to change as new programs become available.
THE Community's College |
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