Haiti
Driving it Home
Sparks to A New Life Virtual Reality Truckers Home Brewed
WINTER 2019 THE Community's College | MAGAZINE
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C O N T E N T S
WINTER 2019 4 Driver’s Seat
VR enters truck driving world
6 More Than a Career
Haiti student dreams of taking auto training back home
Private colleges looking to community colleges for students
13 Home Brewed The biology of beer
8 sold!
14 Financial Aid
10 Sparking a New Life
15 Community is our Middle Name
Sonography graduates become new homeowners From scrubs to a welding jacket, former student comes full circle
M AGA Z I N E
12 New Opportunities
New scholarships provide new opportunities
College brings China classes to Clinton community
EDITOR'S NOTES Dreams. That’s really what we’re all about at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges. Our students come with dreams and entrust us with helping to make those dreams a reality. We feel much more than an obligation to bring dreams alive, they become our dreams as well. We’re (almost) as excited as our students when their hopes and plans for the future are no longer a dream, but a reality. Among the biggest dreams many people have is owning their own home. That’s why we couldn’t be more excited about our cover story, sharing how not one, not two, but four recent sonography students were able to purchase new homes thanks to the jobs they found after graduation. From dreams fulfilled, we move to a dream for the future. Claudy Pierre-Charles, an auto technology student from Haiti, has a big dream of returning home to Haiti to open his own business and use his education to help provide jobs for others. And living the dream is Megan Edens who decided a health career wasn’t quite the right fit for her and returned to us to learn welding, a career she loves. After working for nationally-recognized Lincoln Electric she has returned home as an instructor in the same welding program she attended herself.
COVER STORY
From Grads to homeowners
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With more than 10,000 college credit and 30,000 continuing and adult education students coming to us every year, there will never be enough room to tell you about all of our dreamers. What we strive to do is share some great examples and, hopefully, help you understand why we love working at THE Community’s College where we see dreams come alive.
It is the policy of Eastern Iowa Community Colleges not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age (employment), sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, religion, and actual or potential parental, family or marital status in its programs, activities, or employment practices 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 the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq.). If you have questions or complaints related to compliance with the policy, please contact Debora J. Sullivan, Equity Coordinator, 101 W. 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, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661, phone number 312/730-1560, fax 312/730-1576. For Gainful Employment information related to our programs, go to www.eicc.edu/gainfulemployment
you’re
driver’s Redemer Gbeddeh settles into the driver’s seat, taking a deep breath as he starts the engine. The machine roars to life... he tries to remember how to shift into gear. Before he knows it, he is on the road and traffic is picking up.
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It’s
a lot of pressure driving a semi-truck, especially if you have no previous experience driving a manual transmission.
Join us for a Truck Driving Open House!
“I was scared to try it,” Gbeddeh said. Lucky for him, he is in a safe zone. That traffic? Well, it’s animated. The driver’s seat and gears? All part of a brand new $100,000 truck driving simulator at Scott Community College. “It makes me more comfortable. I don’t have to worry about messing up a real truck,” he said. Truck Driving Program Facilitator, Ray Hitchcock, said that’s one of many reasons why the new simulator is an important training tool. “First and foremost, it gives the students a chance to practice in a non-threatening environment. They are not out there on the road, accidents here don’t turn into disasters out there. Nobody gets hurt, no equipment gets hurt and there are scenarios we can run through here that they’ll hopefully never see out on the road.”
Tuesday, March 5 4 – 6 p.m.
For instance, Hitchcock can adjust the weight of the load students are pulling, make it snow or rain, add and subtract traffic, and even set-up accident scenarios like a blown tire.
Scott Community College Career and Technical Building
“It feels pretty close to the real thing, it translates pretty well,” he said.
500 Belmont Rd.
in the
Bettendorf, IA Learn more about our 10-week program and even take a turn behind the wheel of our brand new truck driving simulator.
sseat It’s also just plain cool. “I think it’s pretty awesome,” Gbeddeh said. “It’s very high tech.”
“This is a piece of equipment that will certainly enable us to take this program to the next level,” Hitchcock said. It couldn’t come at a better time either, with the American Trucking Associations predicting a need for 900,000 new drivers within the next ten years, training the next generation of over-the-road drivers is more important than ever. “There is an awful shortfall of drivers. All of the companies are suffering and needing to hire more people,” Hitchcock said. With many companies offering sign-on bonuses and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting a median salary of more than $40,000, student Terry Krieger said that’s exactly why he decided to enroll in the program. “I went into truck driving because of the different career opportunities and the excitement of being able to travel and see the country.” He said getting to train with the simulator is an added benefit that will help make him an even better driver. “I didn’t think I would have the opportunity to use a simulator. It’s very useful, especially for hazardous weather. I can see how it will really help me.”
View video of the simulator in action at eicc.edu/trucksimulator
The first 25 people will even get one of these free trucker hats! Community's College | MAGAZINE THETHE Community's College | MAGAZINE 5
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Sometimes a chance meeting is all someone needs to change their life. For Claudy Pierre-Charles, that moment came during a shared coke on a Haitian beach. From that single conversation blossomed an opportunity the second-year Scott Community College Auto Tech student never could have imagined. 6 6eicc.edu/tccmagazine eicc.edu/tccmagazine
Higher learning for a higher cause
“It
sounds a little crazy, even watching movies or TV, I never thought I would come to the United States,” Pierre-Charles said.
A native of Haiti, Pierre-Charles was working as both the transportation head and a translator for Youth with a Mission (YWAM), a Christian missionary organization, when he met Kevin and Diane Cassatt. The couple was on a medical mission in St. Marc and on the final day of their trip Pierre-Charles drove them to a beach. “I was just sitting by myself and Kevin said ‘why are you sitting by yourself? You can come and sit with us.’ So, I went to sit with them and they offered me something to drink and bought me a coke. And we were just talking and he asked me what I wanted to do, and I told him I really want to learn about cars.” Pierre-Charles said working as the transportation head for YYAM had inspired him. Up to that point he had been doing some maintenance checks on vehicles, but he was mostly tasked with driving and didn’t know much beyond the basics. When he mentioned his desire to learn how to fix cars, Kevin offered to connect him with Scott Community College (SCC). “He said ‘remember to give me your email before I leave and we can stay in touch.’” The couple kept their word, staying in touch with PierreCharles for two years while he completed the appropriate paperwork to travel to the United States. “It happened very quickly and it just makes me really, really grateful. They opened their home to let me stay with them, and it’s just really overwhelming. I don’t have the words to tell them how grateful I am.” Moving to the Quad Cities and living with the Cassatt family has been an exciting adventure. Experiencing so many “firsts” has been particularly memorable. “One of the things that really surprised me is that I had never seen snow before,” he said. So waking up on his birthday to a winter wonderland is something he’ll never forget. “I looked and all around me everything was white and I said ‘oh my goodness’ and I felt so cold. That made me so happy, I used to see snow on TV and now I’m living it.” He’s also living his dream of becoming an auto mechanic and acquiring a skill set he can use to make a difference. He said being able to take something that is broken and fix it is extremely rewarding.
“It’s been really great. I’ve learned a lot about stuff I didn’t know before, especially about safety. Back home we don’t pay attention to safety as much and now it’s a big thing, safety is first. It just makes me so happy because not too many people know how to fix their car or even change the oil. They have no idea what’s wrong and as soon as I take it for a test drive I can just notice it and go specifically to where it needs fixed.” Pierre-Charles said there aren’t really any auto body shops in Haiti with the appropriate tools and equipment, so learning in SCC’s state-of-the-art auto tech lab has been an eye-opening experience. Most people just fix their cars on the street, sometimes in rain or mud. “It’s a big need. There are a lot of cars, but people don’t really do maintenance, so they are just driving unless it’s broken down.”
Everything is possible if you really motivate and discipline yourself.
Pierre-Charles will graduate in May and plans to gain more experience before moving back to Haiti. He said he hopes to raise enough money from investors to open a full service auto body shop near his hometown of St. Marc. He plans to not only provide a facility for people to go to work on their cars, but also training and jobs for local youth. “Just like someone choosing to help me get my education, by opening a shop I would be able to teach some of the young people to work on cars and give back by providing local jobs and educational opportunities.” While there is quite a bit of work to do before that happens, Pierre-Charles said he hopes his story inspires others to pursue their passion. “Everything is possible if you really motivate and discipline yourself. Sometimes people always think ‘maybe I can’t do that.’ I would like to tell everyone, if you have a dream and you’re really passionate about it and you motivate and discipline yourself, it will be possible to achieve your dream.” After all, chance meetings may lead to great opportunities but it’s up to you to succeed. And that’s just what Claudy Pierre-Charles is doing, with the drive to make a difference in the lives of others leading his way.
WATCH & LEARN! Pierre-Charles on-camera and in the shop – watch the video @ eicc.edu/claudy
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Fr
ndon a r B d n a l e h c a R ly Erickson and Li
large d e r e id s n o c e f gs in li in h t w e f a ge e e r ll a o c d n a There l o o h high sc m o r F . s e n o t s e b to… jo mil t s ir f t a h t g in find me. o h st graduations to r fi r u o ying y bu … it d e s s e u you g
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m o H o t s d
a r G rom
“We are so excited that this is a place we can call ours,” said Avery.
It’s
a milestone four sonography graduates recently experienced, thanks to the success they’ve been able to achieve since graduating from from the highly regarded program barely a year ago. “The first night in our new home was pretty surreal, in a good way,” said Laura Marler, who now works as a sonographer at UnityPoint Health Trinity. “I couldn’t believe it was finally happening! It felt like the beginning of a new chapter in our lives,” she said. “We were more than ready for our son to have a fenced-in yard to play in and to finally add a puppy to our family as well.” Kellie Preece, Emilee Avery and Rachel Erickson echoed those feelings. All three also landed jobs shortly after graduation and began their quest to find the perfect home. Preece, who lives in East Peoria, Ill. and works for OSF HealthCare, said she and her then fiancé looked at twelve houses in one day before finding “the one.” “The second to last one we went to just kind of felt like home. The layout was similar to my mom’s old house and we ended up just sitting around the kitchen island talking when we were done touring the house.” That sealed the deal, and the recently married couple has been enjoying their new place ever since. “Now we are talking about getting another dog,” Preece laughed. “It was exciting and overwhelming,” said Erickson, a sonographer at Hammond-Henry Hospital in Geneseo. “Nothing really had to be done except painting, so we painted for four straight days...sleeping on a mattress in the living room!” It’s memories like this, made in these new homes, that all four graduates agree are just as special as the roof and four walls itself. Put simply:
Emilee and AJ Avery
A New Chapter
s r e n w o e The graduates partially attribute their new home ownership status to the Diagnostic Medical and Cardiac Sonography Program’s commitment to helping students not only learn about the field, but also find jobs afterward. “The ultrasound instructors are absolutely amazing and prepare you for your career in the real world,” said Avery, who landed a job at OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg. “The skills and information learned throughout the program was and still is beneficial in helping my classmates and I succeed.” The clinical based curriculum provides hands-on training and networking opportunities that often lead to employment, sometimes even before graduation. “It helps so much to be able to get a good job without five or six years of schooling and one that sets you up to succeed. Staff at the hospital or other medical facilities see you in the clinical position and get to know you and then think ‘oh, let’s hire that person!’” said Preece.
Kellie Preece and Cerise
“Being able to secure a solid, good paying job helped tremendously for us to be confident in buying our first home,” said Marler. “We knew we wouldn’t have to worry about if we’d be able to make our mortgage every month and we were able to work on saving up for our deposit pretty quickly.” It’s also nice doing something you are passionate about and that makes a difference in the lives of others. “I love being able to be part of that special moment for first time parents,” said Marler, referring to performing ultrasounds on expectant mothers. “It’s always so heartwarming to see the pure joy on someone’s face when they see that little flicker of a healthy heartbeat for the first time. That never gets old.”
Laura and er Jonathon Marl
From personal milestones to being there for their patients, the experiences and opportunities Scott Community College has provided are certainly moments these four will always remember.
Learn about Sonography eicc.edu/firsthomes THE Community's College | MAGAZINE THE Community's College | MAGAZINE
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Megan Edens
Training spar
In the Scott Community College (SCC) welding lab, sparks fly overhead as an instructor strikes an arc, cutting into a thick piece of metal. Within a few minutes the red and blue flashes of flame and light subside. The instructor lifts their helmet to inspect the work, revealing long brown hair underneath.
decided it just wasn’t for me.”
So, she did some research and decided to give welding a try.
“During my high school years I took a lot of dual credit classes, so I kind of looked back on that to see what more I could go into and welding was one option. I already had a couple of classes done because of high school and I was just trying to decide what I would be happy doing. I weighed the pros and cons of different fields and welding is what won.” She enrolled at SCC, earning an Associate’s Degree in Welding while balancing both her fulltime job and schooling.
For some, the sight of a female welding instructor may come as a surprise. But for Megan Edens, SCC’s newest welding instructor, this is home.
“By day I was a hemodialysis technician, by night I came here and welded until nine o’clock at night,” she laughed.
“I love it,” Edens said.
Her new career opened up a lot of opportunities. As soon as she graduated from SCC’s Welding program, she secured jobs in fabrication and then production, before landing a job in automation with Vizient, a Lincoln Electric Company.
There is just something special about breathing new life and purpose into what often looks like a big pile of metal. “I like the hands-on aspect and being able to build something. I’ve built my own car trailer to haul my ATVs by refurbishing trailers people were just going to scrap. I’ve also helped fix my brothers mudding jeeps. It’s come in handy so many times.” After working as a hemodialysis technician for several years, Edens traded in her scrubs for a helmet and welding jacket. “Unfortunately, right after high school I did what everyone did and went into healthcare. I even started my nursing degree and halfway through I
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“I did robotic programming for a little over a year and I traveled the country. I got to explore. Being with Lincoln Electric, I got to travel to their United States headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio and see their new welding school. That was phenomenal and that was all just with a two-year degree from SCC in welding.” She began sharing her passion for the craft as an adjunct instructor before transitioning to full-time this fall. Now, her passion for teaching brings her just as much joy as the welding itself.
“I absolutely love the teaching part. One of the plus sides of me going through this program just five or six years ago is that I understand where the students are coming from. I know it’s hard working a full-time job and coming to school and having no social life, but my experience just proves to the students that it can pay off as long as you keep working towards it. I think that really helps them.” She said while being a female in the industry is not as common, she has never experienced any issues because of it and if anything is able to provide a different dynamic in the classroom.
“Some people kind of levitate towards specific instructors. We all have different vibes and experiences, so we may explain things differently. I’ve also had female students that have decided to stay here because I was coming, so kind of having that bond makes a difference.” Being able to make a difference in the lives of students is what it’s all about. Edens said training the next generation of welders is particularly rewarding because she knows it’s a field with plenty of opportunity. “A big population is getting ready to retire. And just here in the Quad Cities there are so many welding jobs that are opening. At the end of the day they don’t care if you’re male or female, they just want you to come and weld. You can make a very good career and very good wage in this field.”
Watch a video interview with Megan and learn more about our Welding Program at eicc.edu/megan
parks a new life g d n i il e b bu .” e g o k n i t hi l “I ble et a om s Welding classes are offered at both Muscatine Community College and the Blong Technology Center
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“In recent years, the state’s private universities and colleges have made a major push to draw community college students to campus. Private campuses have redoubled efforts to reach out to community college and other prospective transfer students.”
E
NEW
ven though those words were written in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, it would be just as easy to see similar comments in an Iowa newspaper. More and more, four-year colleges are reaching out to community colleges for help in recruiting their students. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) is continuously announcing new and different articulation (formal transfer) agreements with other colleges. Both the University of Iowa and Purdue University Global signed such agreements in just the last few months. “The community college is a great place for students to get college experience and prepare to make the next step,” said Lindsey Ramsey, EICC Regents Transfer Advisor. “If a student is not sure what they want to major in they will be able to get exposure to many types of fields to help them make that decision.” She pointed out that community college tuition is far more affordable than private colleges and the smaller college environment provides students the opportunity to get involved in clubs and organizations, and take on leadership roles.
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“Among the nice things students can do here is take their general education courses (those required at every college a student attends) in a smaller and more intimate environment and not have to take class in a large lecture hall.” Ramsey said the key thing for students planning a transfer is to be strategic. “I can’t stress enough the importance of talking with an advisor, they can help students be intentional about coursework they are selecting. Through the advising resources we have available we can tailor what we offer to students’ needs and help them come up with a really great plan to make them successful.”
University of Iowa RN-BSN 3+1.5
With the new University of Iowa RN-BSN 3 + 1.5 agreement, qualifying EICC nursing graduates can seamlessly transfer to UI’s College of Nursing to finish their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in a year and a half. This agreement is significant for both EICC nursing students who wish to pursue their BSN, and the healthcare community as the need for nurses continues to rise. By enrolling in this online program, EICC graduates can continue working in their communities as they complete their degree. “This agreement provides a wonderful opportunity for our students to continue their education,” said Lori Haugen, EICC’s Nursing Program Director. “We are excited the University of Iowa recognizes the quality of our nursing program and values EICC graduates.” Ranked fourth in the country, UI’s RN to BSN online program provides access to baccalaureate education for nurses throughout the state. Nurses who graduate from this prestigious program acquire knowledge and skills that help enhance their ability to provide quality care to diverse patient populations that have increasingly complex health care needs.
Purdue University Global
With this new partnership, students can apply their EICC Associate’s Degree credits toward one of eight Bachelor’s Degree programs, creating a faster pathway to graduation – and the workforce. Administered online, the flexible format allows students to customize their educational experience and access high quality education no matter their location. Additionally, EICC graduates will be eligible for a higher level of tuition reduction from Purdue Global. Programs currently being offered include: Accounting, Business Administration, Health Information Management, Early Childhood Administration, Criminal Justice, Human Services in Youth/Family Services and Administration, and Psychology in Applied Behavior Analysis. For more information about these and other transfer agreements, visit eicc.edu/transferguide
home brewed B
y day, Clinton Community College (CCC) Instructor Ryan Welch teaches students the ins and outs of biology, plant biology and environmental science. By night, he takes that knowledge and applies it to his favorite pastime: craft brewing.
The two, he said, really go hand in hand and can often provide inspiration for teaching. “It relates pretty well because most of the beer is plant based. I can discuss how plants store their energy and start to explain how yeast breaks down and goes into cellular respiration. Plus, due to climate change there may be a shortage of barley and a shortage of barley will lead to a beer shortage. It all ties into biology courses.” Welch got his start brewing beer 13 years ago after he bought his father a home brewing kit for his birthday. He began helping his dad out and from there his passion grew. He now has enough equipment to brew three different batches at one time. Start to finish can take anywhere from three to six weeks and yield around five gallons of beer. “Of course I don’t drink it all by myself,” he laughed. “I hand it out to others and like receiving their feedback. It’s fun when they’ve really enjoyed it. It gives me the chance to be creative with things that most people wouldn’t think of in terms of creativity.” Some of his ingredients have included jalapenos, maple syrup, local honey and rhubarb. “I make little lists about what really worked out and then I often repeat it and give it to others, or write down ‘we may not try THAT again,’” he chuckled. He has also taken an interest in sourcing ingredients right from his garden. “I have quite enjoyed growing my own ingredients and infusing those into a batch. I did grow pumpkins this fall and used those in a batch of pumpkin ale. In the past I have also grown my own hops and used that in beer.” He said while the thought of brewing your own beer may seem complicated, it’s actually quite easy to get started. “You don’t need a whole lot of space. A couple of buckets and a kettle is about all you need. A lot of big breweries started with just a bucket and a dream.” For those dreamers out there, he will be sharing what he’s learned at the upcoming “Horticulture of the Heartland Conference” in March. The conference is held annually at Clinton Community College. If there is enough interest, he’d also like to explore teaching classes in home brewing through Eastern Iowa Community Colleges’ Continuing Education department. “At the conference I’ll be doing a session called ‘growing your own beer, using home grown ingredients for home brewing.’ What I really like is the fact that I can sit back and enjoy it. I appreciate I can make something of quality that I and others will enjoy.” “Horticulture in the Heartland” is held the first Saturday in March every year at CCC. Learn more at eicc.edu/heartlandconference
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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
Programs of Study AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Agribusiness Equipment Technician - M Agribusiness Equipment Sales and Service - M Agribusiness Management - M Agribusiness Sales and Service - M Agriculture - M Agronomy - M Conservation - M Environmental, Health and Safety - C, M, S Farm Management - M Renewable Energy Systems Specialist - S
ART AND COMMUNICATIONS
Art - C, M, S English - C, M, S Graphic Arts Technology - C Journalism/Communications - C, M, S Music - M Speech - C, M, S Theatre - 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 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
Certified Nursing Assistant - CE Cancer Information Management - S 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 - S Mortuary Science - C, M, S Nursing, Associate's Degree - C, S Practical Nursing - C, M, S Pre-Chiropractic - C, M, S
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Pre-Health Professional - C, M, S Radiologic Technology - S Respiratory Care - C, M, S Sonography - S Surgical Technology - S Veterinary Technician - M
Here at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, we pride ourselves on not only
providing an excellent education, but also some great scholarships that help ease the financial burden of college. That’s why we are very excited to announce two new scholarship opportunities guaranteed to make a BIG difference in the lives of our students.
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
The Community Development Scholarship and Workforce Development Scholarship go into effect this coming spring session and are exclusively for students attending the majority of their classes at Scott Community College’s Urban Campus. Based on income, eligible students are those whose family household income is 250 percent or less of the federal poverty level. Don’t worry, we’ll help students determine if they meet that guideline. The Community Development Scholarship is open to everyone currently residing in Davenport and Rock Island and provides up to $1,000 per semester for qualifying full-time students, $500 for part-time students.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Augmented and Virtual Reality - S Hardware/Helpdesk Administration - C, M, S Networking - C, M, S Programming - C, M, S Security and Forensics - C, M, S Web Development - C, M, S Cybersecurity - S
MANUFACTURING
CNC/Machining - S CNC Programming - S Manual Machining - S Engineering Technology -Automation - C, M, S -Basic Electricity - S -Basic Electronics - S -Electrical Systems - C, 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
The Workforce Development Scholarship focuses on developing workforce in high demand programs. It will be awarded to students enrolled in one of the Career Technology or Continuing Education programs offered at the Urban Campus. Current Eastern Iowa Community Colleges students are eligible for both scholarships. Students must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA to qualify.
ELIGIBILITY
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 - S
TRANSFER
Liberal Arts - C, M, S List is subject to change as new programs become available.
two new scholarship opportunities guaranteed to make a BIG difference
Associate’s Degrees, Diplomas and Certificate options
To determine if you are eligible for either of these scholarships, all you need to do is apply. The one-page application is easy and is available online at eicc.edu/UCscholarship For more information, just stop by the student services office in the east building of the Urban Campus or give us a call at 1-888-336-3907.
These scholarships are funded through the Iowa Community Development/Urban Research Park NMTC Scholarship Fund.
“This is Mandarin” Instructor Kang Hu (Eddy)
A
focus on community is prevalent in everything Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) does. Recently it has been on display more than ever, with Clinton Community College (CCC) offering new classes focused on Chinese language, culture and even cooking. “This what we do,” said Tim Cottle, EICC’s Senior Manager of Curriculum/Talent Development for Continuing Education. “Community is our middle name.” It’s all part of a broader effort to welcome Chinese students attending Pangea International Academy, located at the former Ashford University Campus, to Clinton. Confucius International Education Group purchased the site this summer, signing a deal with Clinton High School that allows Chinese students to take classes there and vice versa. The move has brought not only Chinese students, but also some of their families to Clinton.
Community is our middle name “There’s a real excitement,” said Cottle. “I didn’t even recognize it at first, but then stopped at Hy-Vee for coffee and there was a sign that said ‘Welcome to Clinton’ in English and Chinese. So, it’s a community welcoming of the students and families to Clinton, which is really neat in this time that we live in.” Cottle said when EICC first learned of the partnership and the anticipated arrival of students, district leaders knew they wanted to be involved and provide educational opportunities for the community to learn more about Chinese language and culture, free of charge. “Our first class was ‘East West Shared Experiences.’ We had a meeting to discuss what cultures share, what are the nuances, and one of those is their histories from the humanity side, one of those is languages and food, and of course celebrations of holidays.” The workshop style classes were divided into two different sections and were offered multiple times throughout the day, resulting in great overall attendance. Then, a Mandarin cooking class and “This is Mandarin,” an introductory language course, were added to the lineup. And this month, the Pangea Academy along with CCC and Clinton High School hosted a Chinese New Year celebration, complete with food and plenty of fellowship. “This has helped me understand some of what we need to do,” said Cottle. “By having a series of classes that expand upon a certain theme within the community, we can fill a need in the community and create more classes based around interest.” He said if there is enough interest, six or eight-week courses will be offered and more cooking classes are also in the works.
Visit eicc.edu/chinaclasses To learn more about upcoming courses and to view fun photos taken during this fall’s classes. 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.
Non-Profit Organization U.S.Postage
Eastern Iowa Community College District 101 West Third Street Davenport, Iowa 52801
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Permit No.243 Rock Island, IL
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Eastern Iowa Community Colleges Clinton Community College | 1000 Lincoln Blvd. Clinton, Iowa | 563-244-7000 Muscatine Community College | 152 Colorado St. Muscatine, Iowa | 563-288-6000 Scott Community College | 500 Belmont Rd. Bettendorf, Iowa | 563-441-4000 Toll-free 1-888-336-3907 | eicc.edu
