Engineering Technology Program Featured at Iowa Lakes Board of Trustees Meeting
(Estherville, Iowa) The Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees held its monthly meeting Tuesday afternoon at the SERT Facility located on the Estherville Campus.
Tuesday’s meeting opened with Chief Financial Officer, Jeff Soper presenting the Board with the FY 2018 Audit Report, Treasurer’s Report and monthly bills. Williams and Company, CPA’s completed the audit report for Iowa Lakes Community College and an unmodified opinion was given.
Trustees then heard from Kathy Muller, the Executive Director of Human Resources, requesting the approval of hiring two open positions including the Title III Grant Project Coordinator, Susan Pietz and Campus Store Clerk on the Emmetsburg Campus, Gina Arbogast. Approval was granted.
Lisa Stich, Executive Dean of the Estherville Campus, introduced Chad Tischer, instructor of the Engineering Technology Program.
Tischer provided a thorough overview of the Engineering Technology program including courses that are offered and career opportunities that are available to students.
“Students not only experience hands-on learning in our classrooms but through internships. Internships allow students to complete on-the-job training and are required to obtain at least 432 hours of experience while completing our program,” said Tischer.
Students that graduate from Engineering Technology program have many career opportunities such as a Maintenance Technician, a Robotics Programmer, Electromechanical Technician, Process Control Technician, Engineering Technician or an Automation Technician. These positions may be found in manufacturing, automation or even biodiesel plants.
Tate Kizzier, Emmetsburg, is a current student in the Engineering Technology Program at Iowa Lakes and shared his enthusiasm for the program.
“I enjoy the one-on-one learning opportunities that are offered at Iowa Lakes, and through my internship experience, I gained a scholarship from my employer to complete my education, and I have been offered full-time employment following graduation,” said Kizzier.
Tate is currently working at AGCO in Jackson, Minnesota.
Delaine Hiney, Executive Director of Facilities Management, requested board approval to accept two grants that were awarded by the Palo Alto County Gaming Development Corporation (PACGDC). These grants were for the Winter Safety Project on the Emmetsburg Campus and the Collaborative Workspace Project for the Iowa Lakes Community College and Emmetsburg Public Libraries.
The grant for the Winter Safety Project includes the purchase of a Bobcat Toolcat with a brush attachment. This grant would fund 75% of the project with a grant total of $52,019. The Collaborative Workspace Project includes the purchase of a Clevertouch 65” Smart TV with a total grant award of $4,264.
The board unanimously approved both grants.
Hiney provided the Board with an update on the current building status of the Fine Arts Facility on the Estherville Campus.
Jolene Rogers, Executive Director of Community and Business Relations, addressed the Trustees about donor contributions, job training opportunities, and scholarship applications. The Trustees accepted a donation for the College Farm Operations from Crop Inputs for the 2019 growing season with a total valuation of $63,015.94 and from several individual businesses which had commitments to Iowa Lakes of over $5,000. These businesses included MaxYield Cooperative, Pro Cooperative, Stateline Cooperative, Tom Eischen Seed and Sales and Winfield Solutions.
The Trustees accepted a donation valued at $50,000 by McCormack Distribution. This donation consists of restaurant equipment for the Hotel and Restaurant Management program that is housed on the Emmetsburg Campus.
The next meeting of the Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, in the Auditorium of the Emmetsburg Campus located at 3200 College Drive, Emmetsburg Iowa.
For More Information:
Iowa Lakes Marketing office at 712-362-7947
