Iowa Central Community College (ICCC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Defining itself by core values that include “innovation, excellence, and improvement” for a diverse set of learners, Iowa Central Community College seeks to bring educational opportunity and access to its surrounding residents. Founded in 1966, Iowa Central Community College started its first campus in Fort Dodge, Iowa, strategically placed near the Des Moines River Valley. Although not located near any major cities, the city of Fort Dodge has scenic parks and other forms of recreation from biking to golfing to offer its residents.

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Information Summary

Ranks 51st in Iowa and 3640th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	39.2
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$16,531
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	29 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	48% / 38%
Enrollment Total (all students)	5,390

Academics

The college itself is divided into three separate locations, including the Fort Dodge Center, Storm Lake Center, and the Webster City Center. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Each center offers particular majors and specializations and the following is an abbreviated list of the majors considered transferable to a four year institution: education and psychology, music, business administration, speech, and mathematics and engineering. Continued below is a synopsis for each center based on their individual offerings.

Fort Dodge Center

This campus offers programs in the Arts and Sciences as well as degrees in Applied Science and Technology.

Storm Lake Center

Associate degrees in the Arts and Sciences are also offered at this location. For students particularly interested in nursing, this site also offers an Associate of Science in Nursing as well the Practical Nursing program. This site also offers other career-oriented pathways such as programs in criminal justice or business administration. One can also find continuing education courses offered at the Storm Lake Center.

Webster City Center

This location offers Associate in Arts and Sciences degrees, as well. It also offers Practical Nursing, an Associate of Science in Nursing, and other Applied Science and Technology programs, including a program in aviation science, if one wishes to take courses to become a pilot.

Continuing Education Programs

Iowa Central also offers programs that are common in the community college arena including continuing education and Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs. Those interested in life long learning may be interested in taking continuing education courses that cover topics such as photography, dance, languages etc. The ABE program will prepare students to take the GED and focuses on improving reading, writing ,and math skills overall. Students who have limited English proficiency should also consider English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. These courses will focus on English conversational, listening, and reading and writing skills for the adult learner.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Unique Programs

In terms of distance learning programs, Iowa Central has definitely acted an innovator in providing its students with more than just online courses, but also different programs that allow greater degrees of flexibility.

FlexNet Courses allow students to enroll in a 15-week course, which requires students to responsibly work at “their own pace.”

The eight week online program allows students to complete courses towards an AA or AS degree. Students interested in the following programs may find the 8 Week Online Program a viable option: an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice, Associate Sicence in Health Care Administration, A.S. in Human Services, A.S. in Business, AAS in Computer Networking Technology and a diploma in Medical Transcription and Coding. Be sure to review the tuition requirements for this program, as its tuition schedule varies from Iowa Central’s regular programs.

Admissions

To apply, prospective students must complete an online application. As Iowa Central CC practices an open door admissions policy, all students are accepted as long as they submit the proper documents. This includes official high school transcripts and placement scores. These placement scores can be SAT or ACT scores. If one has not taken the SAT or ACT then you can register to take the COMPAS or ASSET test that is given at the actual college. These scores will be used to determine your placement, in terms of whether or not you will need additional remedial help prior to starting college-level courses.

Keep in mind that there is nothing inherently wrong with starting at the developmental level if your placement scores deem so. Developmental/remedial courses are there to provide a strong basis in which to start your academic career. Having a strong foundation in key areas such as math, writing, and reading is necessary for college success and will lead to a stronger grasp of subject material and thus a higher institutional GPA.

Transfer and International Students

Transfer students are required to submit copies of their official transcripts from any previous institutions attended. Like other students, international students must complete the application form online which can be obtained from the website regarding international student admissions. The application deadline to begin in the fall is early July and the spring semester deadline falls in early November. International students seeking admission must also submit official high school transcripts, a statement of financial support, a current bank statement, copy of a current passport, and permissible TOEFL scores.

Although Iowa Central practices on open door admission policy this is only in regard to the college overall; certain degree programs may have additional requirements students need to fulfill prior to gaining admission into that select program. Examples of programs that have additional admission requirements include: Practical Nursing, Medical Laboratory Technician, and the Associate Degree in Nursing, just to name a few.

Financial Aid

Although Iowa Central Community College has been successful in keeping a tuition standard that is relatively accessible to everyone, there is financial aid available to those who qualify. In order to determine which types of financial assistance you may be eligible for, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as the FAFSA. This will determine your eligibility for federal loans and grants. Types of financial aid awarded at Iowa Central may include an Academic Competitive Grant, Federal Pell Grant, Iowa Grant, Work Study, or the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG). A student might also be eligible for a loan such as the Federal Direct Student Loan. Information regarding each of these loans, grants, or special programs are available online at either the college’s financial aid web page or the Department of Education’s website regarding federal financial aid.

There are additional options for financial aid as well. Iowa Central awards scholarships based on financial need or other criteria. You can contact their Financial Aid Office for additional information. Also, private loans and scholarships are also an option. In fact, there are scholarships available for individuals that cover an array of criteria, such as children of veterans, mothers returning to school, non-traditional students, students of a certain socio-economic class, or students from a certain state or county. A simple search on an internet search engine will render plenty of results.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 5410th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Iowa.

Students

The Fort Dodge Center offers extracurricular programs and athletic programs for its students as does the Webster City Center campus. All three campuses boast a Student Success Center where students can go to obtain free tutoring and additional help. The Fort Dodge Center houses the most student life oriented facilities including a gym, the student activities center, and an auditorium.

Student life at Iowa Central also includes your ubiquitous student activities, clubs, and organizations. Students can even choose to participate in various concerts and plays. There are a variety of clubs for all individuals including organizations such as the I.C. Green Club and the Business Professionals of America (BPA). Membership in fraternities and sororities is not offered at Iowa Central. Other student events include cookouts, student and professional performances and entertainers, comedians, and a host of other events and activities.

For those interested in becoming even more involved on campus, Iowa Central offers a Student Ambassador Program. This program encourages applications from students interested in working directly with the President’s Office and Enrollment Management to host activities sponsored by the aforementioned entities. The best part is that students even earn credits for participating.

In terms of student housing, Iowa Central offers residence halls that are more like “normal” apartments than dorm living. These apartments contain a kitchen, bathroom, two bedrooms, and a living room. Along with the housing is an “all-you-can-eat meal plan”. Students interested in the housing option are required to sign a contract.

Iowa Central also provides additional services to students, including Student Support Services (SSS), counseling services, career development, and job placement services. SSS was created to ensure student success in college. This program focuses on providing overall support to students whether it is academic or personal in nature. Service ranges from transfer assistance to individualized tutoring. In terms of career development, students are given the opportunity to take an assessment known as SCOR to identify which careers suit their individual skills and interests best. Students can follow up a visit from the Career Development Office with a visit to the Job Placement Office where they can learn about jobs opportunities available, learn valuable job searching skills, and participate in workshops related to job placement.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Athletics

Iowa Central offers the following sports for men: basketball, cross country, baseball, rodeo, soccer, swimming, track and field, football, and wrestling. Women interested in sports have a variety of options too, including: swimming, soccer, rodeo, softball, volleyball, track and field, basketball, and golf. Furthermore, Iowa Central Community College is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association. For those individuals not interested in competing on that level, intramural sports teams are also available to join.

Bibliography

Iowa Central Community College. “Iowa Central Community College 2010-2011 Catalog”. n.d. Print.

Iowa Central Community College. Web. 20 April 2011. < www.iowacentral.edu>

City of Fort Dodge. Web. 20 April 2011.

Iowa Central Community College