PRESS RELEASE: IOWA LAKES BOARD OF TRUSTEES HIGHLIGHTS INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS AND STUDENT SUCCESS INITIATIVES

Algona, Iowa — The Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees held its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, July 21, on the Algona Campus.

The Board received the Iowa Lakes Report from Kyle Norris, vice president of academic affairs, who introduced Julie Westerman, dean of assessment and institutional effectiveness. Westerman provided an overview of the College’s institutional effectiveness efforts and shared how continuous improvement initiatives are strengthening student success across Iowa Lakes.

Westerman joined Iowa Lakes in 2023 as dean of arts and sciences before transitioning into her current role in 2025. She oversees institutional assessment, accreditation, and continuous quality improvement efforts that support the College’s mission while also providing leadership for faculty development and academic committees.

During her presentation, Westerman highlighted the College’s annual Institutional Effectiveness Days, which bring faculty and staff together to advance initiatives that support Iowa Lakes’ long-term vision. The collaborative process encourages cross-departmental planning, aligns institutional efforts and reinforces a shared commitment to continuous improvement and student success.

Westerman also discussed Iowa Lakes’ continued implementation of Guided Pathways, a nationally recognized framework designed to help students navigate their educational journey more effectively. Guided Pathways provides students with clearly defined academic pathways, structured support services and intentional advising, improving persistence, completion and career outcomes.

“Guided Pathways is about creating a more seamless experience for students from enrollment through graduation,” Westerman said. “By using data to continually evaluate our processes and outcomes, we can identify opportunities to remove barriers and better support student success.”

Westerman emphasized that institutional effectiveness is an ongoing commitment to evaluating programs, improving processes and ensuring Iowa Lakes continues to meet the evolving needs of students, employers and the communities it serves.

In other business, the Board reviewed personnel items and received monthly financial and administrative updates.

For more information, visit iowalakes.edu.