PRESS RELEASE: IOWA LAKES BOARD HEARS COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH UPDATE, ACCEPTS GIFT SUPPORTING POWERSPORTS PROGRAM
Estherville, Iowa — The Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees received an update on the college’s collaborative institutional research efforts and accepted an in-kind donation from POET Bioprocessing – Emmetsburg to benefit the Powersports and Power Equipment Technology program during its regular meeting Tuesday, Aug. 18.
Laura Howard, executive director of data and technology at Iowa Lakes, introduced Paula Nissen, director of the Institutional Research Collaborative of North Central Iowa. Nissen has served in the role since February 2024 and brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across Iowa’s education, research, government, community and workforce sectors.
The Institutional Research Collaborative provides shared institutional research capacity across Iowa Lakes Community College, North Iowa Area Community College and Iowa Central Community College. Through the partnership, the three colleges share expertise and resources while working to strengthen data-informed decision-making, reporting consistency and institutional research capacity.
Nissen explained that the collaborative provides leadership and direction for institutional research efforts, coordinates priorities with college data teams and supports faculty and staff with analysis designed to inform institutional decisions. The partnership also creates opportunities for staff collaboration, technical assistance, shared resources and greater consistency in state and federal reporting.
“The strength of this collaborative is that we are able to bring together the expertise and perspectives of three colleges while still recognizing the unique needs of each institution and the communities we serve,” Nissen said. “By working together, we can build greater capacity, improve consistency and provide information that helps our colleges make informed decisions.”
The collaborative’s reach extends beyond the three partner colleges. Nissen is engaged in state and national initiatives and organizations focused on institutional research, workforce education and student outcomes, including the Iowa Department of Education, National Council for Workforce Education, National Community College Benchmark Project and Rural Community College Alliance.
“The work happening through this partnership has also created opportunities for our colleges to have a voice in important conversations at the state and national levels,” Nissen said. “We are not only learning from others, but also sharing what is working in Iowa and contributing to broader conversations about data, workforce education and student success.”
During the meeting, the Board of Trustees also accepted an in-kind donation from POET Bioprocessing – Emmetsburg to support the Powersports and Power Equipment Technology program on the Emmetsburg Campus. The donation of a 2024 Can-Am Defender, valued at $15,000, provides the program with a recent-model-year platform for hands-on student learning.
“This equipment will provide students with opportunities to develop diagnostic, maintenance and repair skills using current powersports technology, further supporting Iowa Lakes’ commitment to career and technical education and workforce preparation,” said Dan Lutat, executive director of the Iowa Lakes Community College Foundation and governmental relations.
The next regular meeting of the Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 4:30 p.m. at the Administration Building in Estherville.
About Iowa Lakes Community College
Iowa Lakes Community College serves students and communities throughout northwest Iowa through transfer education, career and technical programs, workforce training, continuing education, athletics and community partnerships. With locations throughout its five-county service area, Iowa Lakes provides accessible educational opportunities designed to prepare students for successful careers, continued education and lifelong learning.