SPECIAL ISSUE - FALL 2020
THE Community's College | MAGAZINE
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START COLLEGE THIS SPRING! Classes begin January 19 eicc.edu/spring2021 If you missed taking classes earlier this year, you have no need to worry. Our spring registration makes it easy for you to enroll! As your hometown college, we have everything you need to succeed. • #1 college choice for area high school students. • State universities and public colleges work with us making it easy for students to transfer. • More than 30 career programs and short-term training leading directly to employment. • Competitive tuition, one of the lowest in the state, financial aid and scholarships. • Leader in online learning with more than 1,000 students each semester.
Take your next steps today! Call 1-888-336-3907 Email eiccinfo@eicc.edu
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C O N T E N T S
FALL 2020 M AGA Z I N E
4 YOUR CLASS, YOUR WAY
12 GIVING BACK
5 NO PLACE LIKE HOME
13 HONORING DISTINCTION
Class delivery options Meet the guest star of EICC’s new commercial
6 ON THE FRONT LINES SPECIAL ISSUE
Healthcare grads rise to the challenge
7 FROM PARTS TO HEARTS
Programs and student organizations make a difference
Retirees honored with Emeritus Award
14 FILE THE FAFSA Get money for college
15 PROGRAM LIST
Explore your options for spring
Unlikely path leads to dream job
10 HELP DURING PANDEMIC
EICC assists those in need
EDITOR'S NOTES As we put the finishing touches on this issue of
THE Community’s College magazine, we do so from our homes. As with so many of you, we are experiencing a new reality, working at home in response to the spread of COVID-19. Hopefully, by the time you receive this, we are on the downhill side of the virus. It is our greatest hope that you and your family are healthy and safe. This particular issue shares the story of people who are overcoming the odds, including an Army Ranger turned artist, a struggling father of eight sons who launched a new career and life, and a 39-year-old student who decided there’s no time like the present to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor. The faculty, staff and everyone else at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges has worked diligently during the current crisis to keep students on track toward their dreams. The stories in this magazine are just a few examples of why that is so important to us.
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, Citigroup Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1475, Chicago, Illinois 60661-7204, phone number 312-730-1560, fax 312-730-1576, OCR.Chicago@ed.gov.
YOUR CLASS your way Class Delivery Options Designed for Your Life
n Hollywood, scenes of students in class often follow a formula. You know the one, a wide shot of a brick building, cut to desks lined up neatly in rows with a teacher speaking in front of a chalkboard. Meanwhile, the students look on either with interest or their eyes glazed over. The funny thing is the scene we’ve all grown accustomed to seeing on TV or in the movies is far from what class looks like today. Today, more than ever, students have options! And technology. Amazing, convenient (and yes, sometimes frustrating) technology.
Sure, we still have classrooms and desks organized neatly in rows - but now those same desks are actually tables that can be rearranged a variety of ways for collaborative projects and the chalkboard has been replaced with whiteboards, projectors, computers, microphones and video capabilities. Here at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges we offer four different classroom formats. The aforementioned on-campus classroom, better known as Campus Plus, lab-based courses and two types of online classes. We’ve actually held online classes for years, enrolling more than 1,000 students each semester. Most of our students take a mix of classes using all four types of delivery methods, this allows for maximum flexibility!
take your pick CAMPUS PLUS CLASSES
offer the great on-campus classes you’ve come to expect from EICC. You get to meet in-person with your instructor and classmates, engaging in classroom discussions, presentations and more. Class sizes are smaller to allow for social distancing, and safety guidelines such as mask wearing and frequent sanitizing are required. Instructors also utilize technology to enhance the classroom experience. This option is best if you learn better with face-to-face interaction.
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LAB-BASED COURSES provide the
hands-on instruction so important to learning, especially if you’re enrolled in one of our career and technical programs. Lectures may be done on-campus or in an online format, while critical hands-on training will continue in our labs. As with the Classroom Plus option, health and safety guidelines are followed.
ONLINE ANYTIME CLASSES
are exactly what they sound like, coursework you complete online, anytime, anywhere, 24/7. While your homework and assignments will need to be completed by specific deadlines, the classwork can take place whenever is convenient for you via the college’s online platform, Canvas. If you have kids or a busy work schedule, this is a great option because you can log on at 2 p.m. or 2 a.m. to work on the course. Your classroom could be your couch, kitchen table or even a parking lot with Wi-Fi.
LIVE ONLINE COURSES are an
exciting new option that merge a traditional classroom with the online format. In this format, you get to see and interact with your instructor and classmates in real time using Zoom, a video conferencing platform. Class is held during a specific day and time each week, providing the flexibility of attending class from home with the structure of face-toface interaction. You can take part in class discussions, ask questions and more with your device’s camera and mic. Like with our traditional online classes, you will log-on to our online platform, Canvas, to view assignments and complete work. This gives you the best of both worlds! Learn more about our class delivery options at eicc.edu/delivery THE Community's College | MAGAZINE
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you’ve seen our commercials, received mail from us or visited our website lately, you may be wondering ‘what’s the deal with all the lab puppies?’ Well, here’s the scoop. Labs are warm, fuzzy, adorable and the number one family pet. (Really, it’s true! Labs are celebrating their 29th year in a row as America’s favorite dog.)
We want to see pictures of your pet!
Post a photo on your Instagram, Twitter or Facebook page with the #Noplacelikehome and your photo may even be featured on our website!
Did we mention adorable? In a world that’s been rocked with uncertainty and constant change, what’s better than a lab puppy to put a smile on our faces? Plus, as your hometown college when you come to us you get the benefit of staying close to your family, friends and pets, whether they’re a dog, kitten, fish or turtle. In living through a worldwide pandemic, many of us have realized there truly is no place like home and that’s where you’ll find Eastern Iowa Community Colleges and its Clinton, Muscatine and Scott Community College campuses.
As THE Community’s College, we’ve always been here for you and will continue to be a valuable resource to anyone striving to meet education, career or business goals. From our Associate’s Degrees with seamless transfer to four-year colleges to our career/trades programs leading directly to employment to our business training, adult education programs and beyond, we have what you need to build a rock solid future. We recently filmed a brand new commercial highlighting one student’s journey from class to graduation to career, and of course, we had a special guest star – Hope. Yep, that’s the dog’s real name. Pretty fitting isn’t it? We won’t give away too many details, but Hope represents home, a place you can learn and grow to reach your goals and aspirations and to realize your hopes and dreams. We encourage you to check out the new video, and more than that, check out what Eastern Iowa Community Colleges can do for you and your future.
Watch and learn at eicc.edu/home
EICC HEALTHCARE GRADS RISE TO THE CHALLENGE When SHALLA CATALANO graduated from Scott Community College’s Surgical Technology program last December, she never could have predicted where her new career would take her. In healthcare it’s no secret every day is different. She just didn’t know how different things would become in a few short months on the job.
ERIC SCHOLTING,
a cardiac echo technician at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa can relate. He’d been on the job less than a year when COVID-19 rocked the nation. As the only male in a unit of women who all have children, he immediately volunteered to take the COVID patients who needed ultrasounds. “At first it was pretty scary because protocol would change on an hourly basis,” he said. “It was scary because we were kind of in the dark with what was going on and how we should do things. Being on the front lines, you hear stories of healthcare workers getting sick. Doing an echo you spend almost an hour face-to-face and you wonder how easy is this going to be to contract if I make a mistake?”
“I started at Genesis East on January 6,” Catalano recalled. “It was really overwhelming, I was on the orthopedic team and I was still trying to learn and navigate through that specialty when COVID hit.”
Scholting performed ultrasounds on COVID patients with preexisting conditions. While the start was rough with changing guidelines and lack of PPE, he said things have improved significantly since then.
COVID-19, or coronavirus, began to spread across the country and by March businesses, schools and more were shutting their doors. Meanwhile, hospitals geared up to care for sick patients by securing PPE and cancelling non-essential visits and procedures. The highly contagious and sometimes deadly virus presented (and is still presenting) a host of unknowns. Despite the risks, with the majority of surgeries cancelled and the Emergency Department (ED) in need of help, Catalano did not hesitate to volunteer for the COVID unit.
“It’s definitely fulfilling especially during these times, who would predict a pandemic happening? It does make you feel like you’re participating and bettering the community just by being a healthcare worker. It’s extremely rewarding with all the chaos right now.”
“We had more patients and they needed someone to help triage patients,” she said. “It was very out of my comfort zone, but I did the best I could. I made sure we had correct PPE on, brought patients back to the room and took basic vitals.” She said the hardest part was coming from the OR to the ED and learning a completely new set of skills at a time when she was still so new to her role as a surgical technologist. “It was overwhelming learning it, but I’m the one usually running toward a problem instead of away from it, I just like to help in any way I can, especially with people.”
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“It was overwhelming learning it, but I’m the one usually running toward a problem instead of away from it.”
Catalono agrees. Now back to assisting in surgeries such as hip and knee replacements, tendon repairs, nerve repairs, broken bones and more, she feels grateful for the opportunity to make a difference during a difficult time. “I feel like COVID has given us all perspective,” she said.
From precision parts to precision in hearts Unlikely path leads to dream job
Long before he was suiting up in hospital PPE, Eric Scholting was suiting up in another kind of personal protective equipment – the kind that protects you from chemicals, liquids, oils, heat, sharp edges, moving parts, punctures, welding sparks, noise, vibrations and flying debris. If it sounds like a far cry from his current job as a cardiac sonographer you’d be right, and well, a bit wrong too. Scholting was a machinist working at John Deere when he was laid off indefinitely. A graduate from the University of Northern Illinois with a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology, Scholting had taken the job to get his foot in the door with the hopes of moving into a human resources position. “A lot of times John Deere will hire from within if you have proper credentials,” he said. “I joined all the groups John Deere offered, working sideby-side with sales people.” Unfortunately, instead of finding internal opportunities more closely related to his degree, after several years of working for the company he was laid off indefinitely. Worried about job security, he began researching high-demand jobs. That’s when he discovered radiology and sonography. Despite having no background in healthcare, he set up a meeting with Scott Community College to learn more about programs and job opportunities. “It almost seemed like it was unattainable,” he said of going back to college. “The last time I was in school was in 2011.” “I interviewed for the radiology program first, but then was told about the opportunities in sonography, especially the specialty of echocardiography.” An echocardiogram is an ultrasound for the heart, and it takes highly skilled technicians to gather the pictures doctors use to diagnose a wide variety of conditions and diseases. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists is project to grow 12 percent from 2019 – 2029
with a median annual wage of $68,750 per year. Scholting said starting the program was intimidating at first, but his instructor Jodi McGivern encouraged him every step of the way. “I didn’t have any healthcare background, and she took a special interest because she saw something positive I would bring to the field,” he said. “I think it is a phenomenal program, the instructors have plenty of experience and are willing to put forth extra effort in order to make us successful. Without her there’s no way I’d be able to finish it.”
Scholting’s story proves it doesn’t matter where you start, it’s where you want go. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges offers dozens of high-demand career programs, as well as college transfer options. To learn more visit eicc.edu/getstarted
In just one year, Scholting has proven McGivern’s hunch was on point. He is now working as the lead technician for aortic valve replacement surgeries known as TAVR. It’s a job that requires extreme attention to detail. To sum it up in one word? Precision.
enizagam
“It’s a new program the hospital just started doing. I work side-by-side with surgeons and a cardiologist during a procedure. The cardiologist and surgeons are relying on me to do an efficient job and a good job because if I don’t get good pictures they don’t see the aortic valve. It makes me feel like I’m part of this phenomenal team,” he said. Scholting admits when he first started down his new career path he never imagined there would be any correlation between his psychology degree and experience as a machinist, but as it turns out his unique background has prepared him well. “Patients will get there and they’ll be crying, they’re in a very vulnerable position so I use counseling techniques to kind of calm them down and ease the mood. The best part is just interacting with patients and knowing you’ve made a difference in someone’s life.”
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“I knew I had to stop the When you ask bleeding or slow it down. Injuries Christina Brenner of that nature have about five minutes of life before you bleed to recount what out,” Brenner said. happened that hot In a surge of adrenaline and with July afternoon, she astonishing speed and agility, Brenner leapt out of the pool. will tell you she was Her friend described it best. just a mom doing “He said, ‘I swear you walked on what moms do. She water...it was like the pool was a trampoline. You jumped out of it, gets uncomfortable landed and ran.’ He never could have believed it if he didn’t see it for himself.” with the word hero, though that’s what her son, friends Bikini turned tourniquet and family said afterwards. Flying (quite literally) into action, Brenner’s
She insists she’s just a Mom. While it’s true there’s no greater force than a mother’s love, friends, family and even Brenner herself admit she exhibited a number of superpowers that day. Each action was critical. The difference between life and death. “Now looking back, I’m even surprised at myself. My brain opened up like a filing cabinet,” Brenner said.
Walking on water The evening started like any other late summer afternoon. Christina Brenner, a recent graduate from Scott Community College’s (SCC) nursing program, and her family were enjoying time at her parent’s farm. Brenner was relaxing in the pool while her son rode ATV’s with a friend. It was the perfect kind of summer night, one filled with laughter, family and friends. Suddenly, her 13-year-old son Peyton’s voice rang out, “Mom, I really messed up, I’m so sorry, so sorry.” Peyton had gotten into an ATV accident, running the quad into a fence and tree. He was able to hop off the ATV, but something was very, very wrong.
body and nurse training took over. She began yelling directions, telling Peyton to lay down and put his leg up.
“I knew I needed to stop the bleeding and I was screaming to call 911. I immediately put my forearm down and put all my weight against the wound as I tried to pull off my swimsuit to use as a tourniquet.” Another mom heard her screaming and rushed over, helping her get the swimsuit top off. Between her family and friends she had a trauma operating room, whether they realized it or not. “It’s still so fresh,” Brenner said as she described the scene. “I think I’ll never be able to tell this story without crying. Everybody did exactly as I asked.” One of the most remarkable things about this story is that Brenner knew exactly what to ask, say and do to direct her makeshift medical team and stop the bleeding.
“I was saying ‘what honey, what honey?’ There was a lilac bush in between where I was so I couldn’t see him at first,” Brenner said. “He ran to the edge of the bush and lifted his hand off of his leg. Bright red blood was shooting out, spraying like a hose.” She knew instantly he’d hit his femoral artery, the color of his blood like a flashing warning sign.
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Quick thin bikini to to incredib
nking and op lead ble rescue
When she saw her husband was distressed, she gave him a task and told him to go get a belt. When her mom was struggling to communicate with the 911 dispatcher, she took over. “I finally just said ‘stop and listen.’ I screamed out ‘13, Caucasian male, femoral injury, need to be here now.’” And when her son asked her if he was dying, in a remarkable showing of strength and courage she soothed his fears like only a mother can. “I told him absolutely not. Today is not your day. This world needs you. I started asking him questions to take his mind off things. He’s a huge football fan so I asked him, ‘who’s your favorite player?’” His answer? Jerry Rice because he’s the GOAT. As Peyton explained to his mom, GOAT stands for greatest of all time.
physical therapy and ongoing wound treatment, Brenner said Peyton has remained upbeat and positive, exceeding everyone’s expectations. “He left the hospital in a wheelchair and within a couple of weeks he was actively using a walker,” she said. “Now he is walking. We were thinking it would take six months to a year, and he’s already walking.” To say she is proud, and grateful, is an understatement. It will still be a long road ahead, but Peyton’s recovery is well on its way. While Brenner admits she did jump into action that day, ever humble, she attributes the incredible outcome to the grace of God and her son’s resilience. “He’s kicking butt I tell you,” Brenner said. “It’s a miracle for sure, for those who don’t believe in a higher power, that day changed a lot of people.”
“I said no baby, you are.”
Mom, Nurse, Hero The whole time she was talking to her son, Brenner was putting on a second tourniquet fashioned out of her brother-in-law’s belt. Within 15 to 20 minutes an ambulance arrived and medics applied a third tourniquet to help stop the blood loss. “Once we were at the hospital one of the medics said ‘I’ve been a medic for years and don’t know I would have thought as quick as you did. I don’t know I would have been able to think to take my top off.’” The only answer Brenner can give? “It didn’t occur to me not to.” Everything she’d learned in critical care during her last two semesters at SCC came into clear view, guiding her every decision. Even after her son made it to the hospital and doctors took over, her own experience as a nurse contributed to his outcome. After Peyton returned from a nearly five-hour surgery to repair the damaged artery, Brenner immediately noticed swelling in his calf and knew what was wrong. “I had phenomenal instructors and had I not taken the courses, I wouldn’t have known he had compartment syndrome,” she said. Compartment syndrome occurs when too much pressure is built up between muscles. It can damage muscles and nerves and lead to decreased blood flow. Peyton immediately had a second surgery and stayed in the ICU for a couple of days before being transferred to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. There it was discovered he most likely had a liver laceration from the blunt force trauma of the accident in addition to the damaged artery. Despite the many medical procedures,
BRENNER is not only an inspiration to her son Peyton for her heroic efforts, but to anyone with a dream. As a non-traditional student, Brenner faced challenges during nursing school, including the loss of both her grandparents who she cared for as a hospice care aide. She said graduating with her nursing degree in December and starting work as a nurse at Genesis East earlier this year has been an incredibly meaningful accomplishment – now made all the more special through the life-saving actions she was able to take to rescue her son. “Life was rough through nursing school, but I had great support from peers and instructors. I don’t know I could have made it through with anybody else. We really were a huge family and they’ve been a large part of my success,” she said. Find out how Eastern Iowa Community Colleges can help you achieve your dreams, whatever they may be, at eicc.edu/dream
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LIFTING OUR EICC reaches out
March of this year, a rare thing happened, the world as we know it came to an abrupt halt. One minute we were all living our lives, the next jobs were lost, schools shut down, hospitals in a rush to secure supplies.
It was, and still is, hard. As a community college, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) is well versed in lifting people up when they are at their most vulnerable by providing a number of resources, both educational and personal. We have, and always will be, here for you. Therefore, when COVID-19 left us all in a tailspin we did what community colleges do best: collaborated, pooled resources and provided solutions. “I think in this kind of situation what
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comes to the surface is how many roles community colleges play in the community,” said Naomi DeWinter, Muscatine Community College President and Vice Chancellor for Student Development. “We’re not just talking about providing courses; it’s the human element of all of our students. We’re trying to bring stability, bring our resources into these situations.”
Safety net for students
With stability at top of mind, EICC got to work assisting students in a number of ways. One of the first orders of business? Turn college parking lots into WiFi hotspots so those without internet access at home could still complete their classwork. Parking lots at Clinton, Muscatine and Scott Community College, as well
as the Columbus Junction Center were all equipped to provide free internet access. In addition, Muscatine’s on-campus food pantry was converted to a driveup service. Thanks to the help of local volunteers, the food was relocated to Walnut Baptist Church where students could just drive up and open their trunks to receive the items. Those living in Muscatine’s on-campus housing who were unable to return home also received assistance relocating after the campuses were shutdown. “Working with the city of Muscatine, we were able to find some longer term housing options for these students at no costs to them,” DeWinter said. “They have since moved back, but working with several different
partners to make that happen was really, really awesome.” This fall in an effort to extend more support to students, EICC even offered the choice of a free laptop or one free class to those who enrolled full-time. Part-time students received 20 percent off their tuition. The incentives helped alleviate both financial and technical barriers for hundreds of students. Grants through both college foundations and the federal government were also made available. “We tried to provide the resources students need to be successful when we’re working in this type of environment,” DeWinter said. Meanwhile at Clinton Community College, the Student Senate provided
COMMUNITY during pandemic
a mental health boost to their classmates with some good oldfashioned snail mail, sending a postcard and custom facemasks featuring the college’s cougar mascot. “It was a nice surprise,” said Kemi Busker, Clinton’s Student Engagement and Leadership Coordinator. “Students were sending snapchats wearing them and I’ve seen them rocking the masks out in the community. They were happy they were being thought about during this time.”
Protecting healthcare and social service workers
From big gestures to small acts of kindness, people across the district looked for ways to connect with
not only students, but also the community. Within weeks of the shutdown, Allied Health Programs at each college began taking inventory of PPE supplies, donating several carloads of items to Genesis East, Bettendorf UnityPoint HealthTrinity, Muscatine UnityPoint and MercyOne in Clinton. “We weren’t holding classes in the labs and thought it’d be great if our PPE could be used at local healthcare facilities instead of sitting on a shelf,” said Matt Schmit, Scott Community College Dean of Operations. “A lot of our alumni are in these difficult situations caring for the sick. We all know someone in the healthcare field and want them protected.”
Other community outreach included meal delivery to Muscatine health employees, reopening Muscatine’s Learning Tree daycare center to help families in need of childcare, and securing thermometers for the Muscatine Center for Social Action’s (MCSA) Domestic Violence Shelter. “There was an immediate need for thermometers so the shelter could continue intake, and of course you couldn’t find any then,” said DeWinter. “So I reached out to our medical assisting and nursing faculty and we looked around the building for thermometers and donated those. They were so thankful and we were able to show our appreciation for their work through the donation.”
For DeWinter, and the many others who pitched in to help, finding solutions to the obstacles both students and the community were facing is just what THE Community’s College is here to do. “It was extremely rewarding,” she said. “We have laptops, foundations and people who care - additional resources we as a community college think about. We ask ourselves, ‘what else can we do to help?’”
For more information about EICC’s COVID response, including resources for students, visit eicc.edu/covidcare
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n this issue we are highlighting the ways in which our alumni, faculty and staff are making a difference during the pandemic, but the truth is helping out whenever needed is a large part of our programs and student organizations year after year. Well before COVID-19, these groups have used their talents and interests to contribute to the greater community.
PROGRAMS AND STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Take the Culinary Program for instance; if a nonprofit event needs to feed people, our culinary students are usually right there whipping up meals for the masses. “We look for those partners that are giving back to the community as well as need support from the community and help to create their special event,” said Diane Stanley, Coordinator for Culinary and Hospitality Programs. The community partnerships provide the perfect opportunity for students to practice their culinary skills, including food safety and transportation, set-up and more, while also contributing to a good cause. Over the years, students have worked with March of Dimes, Davenport Schools Culinary Program, King’s Harvest, Hand-in-Hand’s Chili Cook-off and more. Dental Assisting students are another great example. They lend a hand with
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History of community service
their unique skill set every year by participating in the Iowa Mission of Mercy (IMOM), a large scale, two-day community dental clinic where dental professionals and general volunteers donate their time to provide free oral healthcare to individuals who face barriers to receiving dental care. In addition, students visit preschool classrooms to teach kiddos how to properly brush and floss.
student career fairs. Events like Plant Yourself in Stem, STEM at the Ballpark, afterschool programs, summer camps and more are other great ways the college has engaged with local kids and provided a fun-filled activity. This spirit of service and recognizing the needs of others is a large part of organizations such as Student Senate, LULAC and Phi Theta Kappa, just to name a few. LULAC, which stands for League of United Latin American Citizens, often reaches out to the local Hispanic community through volunteerism and events.
“We look for those partners that are giving back to the community.”
“Volunteering increases my students’ confidence. We are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment,” said Barb Nichol, Dental Assisting Director.
Many of EICC’s trades/career programs have positively influenced the community by taking part in events such as the Hands on Trades (HOT) Expo, Manufacturing Week and
“Most recently, LULAC volunteered with reaching out to Latinos across Iowa who we knew were homebound, making phone calls, offering assistance and helping make connections with service organizations,” said Naomi
DeWinter, Muscatine Community College President and Vice Chancellor of Student Development.
At Clinton Community College (CCC), local families look forward to the yearly tradition of CCC Night at the Ballpark. Student Senate members volunteer their time, creating a memorable experience for local families by providing an evening under the stadium lights free of charge. “We offer free tickets to the game and we also have door prizes, giveaways, balloon twisters and face painting. It’s our duty to give back in some way, it’s a good experience for the students and gives families an opportunity they may not have had otherwise,” said Kemi Busker, CCC’s Student Engagement and Leadership Coordinator. Of course, among all these examples are many, many more. From communitywide clean-ups to fundraisers, cards for troops, Toys for Tots and beyond, the people, programs and organizations that make up the EICC family are constantly finding ways to serve. “We’re a community college. It’s a part of our name and a part of who we are,” Busker said.
Honoring those who have served with Distinction PEOPLE POWER PROGRESS. It’s true, without hard-working, kind, dedicated people, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) would cease to exist. That’s why every year we take a moment to celebrate retired and retiring individuals who exemplified service to students and the community during their years with the college through our Emeritus Awards. This fall, four faculty and staff were recognized for their contributions. For more information about the Emeritus honorees, both past and present, go online to eicc.edu/emeritus
BARB HIXON served more than 30 years as a Biology Instructor at Scott Community College (SCC). Teaching primarily human anatomy and physiology courses, Hixon prepared generations of students for success in various health and allied health programs. Equal to her contribution as a biology instructor, was her contributions as a faculty mentor. “Barb was always willing to work with new faculty, many of whom have never taught before,” said Angie Ghrist, SCC Biology Instructor. “Thanks to Barb’s expertise and generosity, the tradition of quality instruction in the biological sciences at EICC will continue long after her departure.”
DEB GOODALL served more than 30 years in EICC’s Continuing Education Department, both as CE Program Manager and Dean, demonstrating outstanding service and bringing many “firsts” to the department. For example, she led a comprehensive program review process, resulting in the implementation of an online registration system and restructuring of the department, as well as forged transformative community partnerships. “As a leader, she has been open-minded and willing to listen to others’ perspective before making final decisions,” said Lauri Eich, Associate Director of CE Operations. “She has always felt it imperative to contribute any way possible to the organization, whether on the many committees she served, volunteering to help with EICC staff or student events, or just working endlessly to ensure we offer quality training to our community at a reasonable price.”
KAREN VICKERS served Clinton Community College (CCC) in a variety of roles for 35 years, 23 of those as the college’s President, providing vision, leadership and direction to the college’s credit and non-credit programs and student development services. She also dedicated her time and talents as Vice Chancellor for Academic Leadership and Vice Chancellor for Student Development. Her professionalism, empathy, and commitment to improving all aspects of the college helped build the culture and the recognition of being a Top Iowa Workplace for many years. “Her career at Clinton Community College exemplifies outstanding service to students, staff, faculty, the college, the district and the community,” said Gina Bielski, CCC Communication Instructor and Department Coordinator. “Karen’s presence on campus is missed since she retired, but her hard work and endearing example will be carried forward in the many lives she has improved.”
ROB LIPNICK served 17 years as an art instructor at Scott Community College, bringing life to the walls of the campus and inspiring hundreds of students with his passion, knowledge and local partnerships with Quad City art organizations, such as the Figge Art Museum. In addition, he shared his teaching knowledge and expertise as the Humanities Department Chair, taught several unique Honors courses, maintained his own art studio and launched SCC’s “The Read” Art Gallery in the Library, curating five shows each year. “He has left us an inheritance of beautiful student art pieces and a legacy for continuing his mission of mentoring students and others in the appreciation of all types of art,” said Jan Weis, Disability Resources and Honors Co-coordinator. THE THE Community's Community's College College | MAGAZINE MAGAZINE
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FILE the office of Federal Student Aid provides more than 120 billion in grant, work-study and loan funds to help students pay for college. Yes, more than 120 billion dollars are available to help students like you, your daughter or son fund an education! All you need to do to tap into these funds is fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Believe it or not, the window for filing your 2021- 2022 FAFSA is already here. You could begin filing as early as October 1. By filling out the FAFSA, you can access federal grants that do not need to
The form is required of all students filing for financial aid, and by most colleges for their college scholarships. It often takes an hour to complete, but you can speed up the process and make it easy by following these steps: Create an FSA ID to file online
By creating a FSA (Federal Student Aid) ID, you can sign and submit your FAFSA form electronically through the FAFSA.gov website or by using the myStudentAid mobile app on your phone. While you can get your FSA ID as you’re completing the FAFSA form online, getting it ahead of time and using it to begin your FAFSA form cuts down on errors and delays.
be repaid, federal student loans with low interest rates, and workstudy programs that provide a convenient way to simultaneously fund your education and build work experience. Many people miss out on important grants and student loans because they don’t know what’s involved, miss the filing deadline or simply think they won’t qualify. The good news is you have plenty of time to file if you begin the process now, and there’s no income cutoff to qualify for federal student aid. It doesn’t matter if you have a low or high income; most people qualify for some type of financial aid. Many factors are taken into account, including your family size and enrollment status.
Gather documents needed to apply
The FAFSA questions ask for information about you (your name, date of birth, address, etc.) and about your financial situation. To complete the application you will need: •• Your Social Security card and driver’s license, and/or alien registration card if you are not a U.S. citizen. •• Federal income tax returns (you can use the most recent returns you have from last year), W-2s, and other records of money earned. Good news: You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. This helps simplify the process! •• Banks statements and records of investments, as well as records of untaxed income (if applicable). •• A list of schools that you might attend. If you’re planning to apply to seven schools, list all seven on the FAFSA. You can list up to 10 schools. •• If you’re a dependent student, you’ll also include your parent’s information.
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Get help if you have questions
There are a lot of online tools and resources available to help answer any questions you may have. On the FAFSA.gov website, you can access help by clicking the “Help Center” link in the upper right-hand corner. There, you can view answers to commonly asked questions or submit your own. You can also contact Eastern Iowa Community Colleges’ Financial Aid office and one of our staff will be happy to help! The earlier you submit your application, the sooner you’ll learn your federal financial aid eligibility. Everyone is encouraged to file, you may be surprised to see what aid is available to you!
get started today @
eicc.edu/filefafsa
PROGRAMS OF STUDY Associate’s Degrees, Diplomas and Certificate options eicc.edu/ourprograms
Management Supervision - C, M, S Marketing - C, M, S Small Business Management - C, M, S
GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
History - C, M, S Political Science - C, M, S Pre-Law - C, M, S
HEALTH SCIENCE
AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Agribusiness Equipment Technician - M Agribusiness Equipment Sales and Service - M Agribusiness Management - M Agribusiness - Precision Ag - M Agribusiness Sales and Service - M Agriculture - M Agriculture Systems Technology - M Agronomy - M Conservation - M Environmental, Health and Safety - C, M, S Farm Management - M Industrial Hemp Production - M Renewable Energy Systems Specialist - S Turf and Landscape Management - M
ART AND COMMUNICATIONS
Art - C, M, S English - C, M, S Graphic Arts - C Journalism/Communications - C, M, S Music - M Speech - C, M, S Theatre - M, S
Cancer Information Management - S Certified Nursing Assistant - CE Community Dental Health Coordinator - C, M, S Dental Assisting - S Dental Hygiene - C, M, S Emergency Medical Services - C, M, S Health Information Technology - S Medical Assistant - C, M, S Mortuary Science - C, M, S Nursing, Associate’s Degree - C, S Practical Nursing - C, M, S Pre-Chiropractic - C, M, S Pre-Health Professional - C, M, S Radiologic Technology - S Respiratory Care - C, M, S Sonography - S Surgical Technology - S Veterinary Technician - M
HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM
Culinary Arts - M, S Hospitality Management - M, S Event Management - M, S
HUMAN SERVICES
American Sign Language - S Early Childhood Education - M, S Education - C, M, S Physical Education and Recreation - C, M, S Psychology - C, M, S Social Work - C, M, S Sociology - C, M, S
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Augmented and Virtual Reality - S Cybersecurity - C, M, S Networking for Cybersecurity - C, M, S Networking for Systems and Security - C, M, S Programming - C, M, S Web Development - C, M, S
MANUFACTURING
CNC/Machining - S CNC Programming - S Manual Machining - S Engineering Technology - Automation - C, M, S - Basic Electricity - C, M, S - Basic Electronics - C, M, S - Electrical Systems - C, M, S - Electromechanical - C, M, S - Process Control Technology - C, M, S Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning - S Mechanical Design Technology - C, M, S Technical Studies - C, M, S Welding - C, M, S
BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION
Accounting Management - C, M, S Administrative and Office Support - C, M, S Banking - C, M, S Business - C, M, S Entrepreneurship - C, M, S
SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS
Biology - C, M, S Chemistry - C, M, S Environmental Science - C, M, S Mathematics - C, M, S Physical Science - C, M, S Pre-Engineering - C, M, S
TRANSPORTATION, DISTRIBUTION AND LOGISTICS
Auto Collision Repair Technology - S Automotive Technology - S Diesel Technology - S Supply Chain and Logistics - C, M, S Truck Driving -CE
TRANSFER
Liberal Arts - C, M, S Transfer Majors - Ag Business - C,M,S - Ag Education - C,M,S - Agronomy - C,M,S - Animal Science - C,M,S - Biology - C,M,S - Business - C,M,S - Chemistry - C,M,S - Communications - C,M,S - Criminal Justice - C,M,S - Early Childhood Teaching - C,M,S - Elementary Education - C,M,S - Mathematics - C,M,S - Physics - C,M,S - Psychology - C,M,S - Secondary Education - C,M,S - Sociology - C,M,S College Location Key
C,M,S - program available at all colleges C - Clinton Community College M - Muscatine Community College S - Scott Community College CE - Continuing Education program
List is subject to change as new programs become available.
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges offer programs in the below list of career and technical education subject areas. Due to accreditation, licensing, or other determining factors, additional admissions requirements are required for the programs indicated with an asterisk.
Accounting Management Administrative and Office Support Agribusiness Management American Sign Language - English Interpreting* Auto Collision Repair Technology Automotive Technology Business Management Cancer Information Management* Certified Nurse Aide* CNC Machining Culinary Arts Dental Assisting* Dental Hygiene*** Diesel Technology Early Childhood Education Electroneurodiagnostic Technology** Emergency Medical Services*
Engineering Technology Environmental, Health and Safety Farm Management Graphic Arts Technology Health Information Technology Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Hospitality Management Information Technology Augmented and Virtual Reality * Information Technology Mechanical Design Technology Medical Assistant* Nursing - ADN* Nursing - LPN* Mortuary Science*** Radiology Technology* Renewable Energy System Specialist Respiratory Care****
Sonography * Supply Chain and Logistics Surgical Technology* Technical Studies Truck Driving* Turf and Landscape Veterinary Technician* Welding * Awards within these areas of study have additional admissions requirements. The specific awards and links to these additional requirements are listed below. ** This program is no longer accepting new students ***This is a shared program with Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, IL. Students attend courses in Galesburg ****This is a shared program with Northeast Iowa Community College (NIACC)
Annual Notice of Non-Discrimination Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination 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, Citigroup Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1475, Chicago, Illinois 60661-7204, phone number 312-730-1560, fax 312-730-1576, OCR.Chicago@ed.gov.
THE THE Community's Community's College College | MAGAZINE MAGAZINE
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f you like what you see here, there’s even more online! In partnership with our THE Community’s College Magazine in print form, we also have an online edition with expanded content and video features.
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IT’S MORE THAN A CLASSROOM IT’S A COMMUNITY
Spring Classes Start January 19 Register now at eicc.edu/spring2021 or call 1-888-336-3907
