COMMUNITY COLLEGE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2020 www.wcfcourier.com HOW TO CHOOSE How to Choose A Community College

The Smart Choice: Northeast Iowa Community College

The coronavirus pandemic has created great uncertainty for students deciding on the best option for their college education. If fouryear colleges and universities embark on a traditional fall semester and then interrupt the campus environment by shifting to all-online instruction, students could be paying for campus life, activities, room and board, and an atmosphere they didn’t experience. Now, thousands of students will enroll at Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) this fall because it is the smart choice to earn a transfer degree or get the training they need to start their career.

NICC has been offering online courses and programs nearly 20 years, and has experience teaching in the virtual classroom, as well as with a combination of online and in-person instruction.

One student at Northeast Iowa Community College, Charles Durnan, is completing a Business Specialist degree 100% online. The online coursework allows him to continue living and working locally, and to advance his career when he earns the degree.

“I was in a dead-end career. I made it to the top of my profession as a general manager for a fast food restaurant, yet could not envision the position ever offering me a consistent schedule. I enrolled at Northeast Iowa Community College. I knew it was time to get the education I need to build a structured career and be paid for everything I know I can offer an employer,” Charles explained.

Northeast Iowa Community College is the best place to complete the first two years of a four-year degree, says Steven Blosch, an Associate of Science degree student. The College’s Associate of Science and Associate of Arts degrees allow graduates to transfer their credits seamlessly to a four-year institution.

“After I graduate, I want to become a science or biochemistry teacher. And choosing Northeast Iowa Community College made more sense to me. It’s close to home, affordable and I know a lot of the people here. You make a personal connection with advisors and staff,” Steven said.

The online learning environment, and a combination of online coursework and face-toface instruction, helps students who thrive in smaller class sizes. “Because Northeast Iowa Community College is not quite as large as a four-year institution, you have more oneon-one interactions with other students and faculty,” he said.

The pandemic has resulted in job layoffs and caused great challenges for students looking for full-time stable employment in a troubled economy. Often, students find that short-term training programs at NICC offer the quick turnaround they need to begin a new career.

Eric Avila enrolled in the 10-week Intro to Industrial Maintenance certificate program at NICC to start a new career. Immediately after completing the program, Eric landed his dream job. Enterprise Products Partners LP hired Eric for $30.95/hour last spring.

“I’ve really wanted to get into this field and, after applying for several jobs, I realized that I needed to enroll at the College. I’m now making more than $30/hour, so I think my plan worked!” Eric said. “This is really huge for me, being just in my early twenties.”

The training he received in the NICC program prepared him for a solid, in-demand career with opportunities to advance and grow. Employers in Iowa have great need for industrial maintenance technicians.

“The program taught me about three-phase motors for industrial maintenance and that was new to me – how to connect them in electrical systems. I enjoyed learning about hydraulics, electrical and pneumatic systems,” he said.

Whether you want to train for new career through a technical program, or to transfer your credits to a four-year college, Northeast Iowa Community College prepares you with the skills, knowledge and talents you need to achieve your goals. Discover for yourself why NICC is the Smart Choice for You! Learn more about the College’s academic programs, and short-term training certificates, at www.nicc. edu/academics.

Article contributed by Northeast Iowa Community College

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START HERE . ANYW HERE!

We won’t waste yourtime.Whetheryourgoal is to transferand complete a four-year degree, gain cutting edge hands-on training to start an essential career- orifyou’re somewhere in between - you’ll find yourplace at Northeast Iowa Community College.

• 8- or16-weekonline classes with virtual academic support. • Agreements with four-yearcolleges to make transfereasy. • Short-term careertraining completed in sixmonths orless.