PACE and GAP Programs Highlighted at Iowa Lakes Board Meeting

(Estherville, Iowa) The Iowa Lakes Board of Trustees met Tuesday afternoon at the SERT Facility on the Estherville Campus and Zoom.

Jolene Rogers, Executive Director of Community and Business Relations, provided an in-depth look into the PACE and GAP programs offered at Iowa Lakes Community College.

The PACE program or Pathway for Academic Career and Employment is a legislated program that provides funding assistance for eligible credit and non-credit students. Through PACE, students acquire effective academic and employment training to secure gainful, quality, in-state employment.

“PACE programming at Iowa Lakes includes Career Coaching services for students to help them determine the career path that best aligns with their individual values and motivation, employability, and essential skill development. Iowa Lakes has Career Coaches dedicated to serving students in the Iowa Lakes district, with coaches dedicated to each of our five campuses,” said Rogers.

GAP programming at Iowa Lakes is a legislated scholarship program that provides funding to community colleges for need-based tuition assistance to prospective students. Funding available through the GAP Program enables students to complete continuing education certificate training programs for in-demand occupations and provides essential skill development.

Rogers shared, “Generally, Iowa Lakes serves over 200 students each year with individualized career coaching, and our students and alumni benefit from the strong partnerships Iowa Lakes has with business and industry.”

Students interested in taking advantage of the PACE and GAP programming at Iowa Lakes have various programming options within the Agriculture, Business, Energy, Health Care, Manufacturing, and Transportation industries.

“Our most popular and strongest GAP Program is the Certified Nursing Assistant program, followed closely by our Commercial Driver License program. In addition to these programs, Iowa Lakes has over twenty more career-focused training programs available,” said Rogers.

Rogers closed her presentation by sharing insight into the Food Assistance, Employment, and Training (FAE&T) program available at Iowa Lakes.

“The FAE&T program combines services from the Department of Human Services and the Department of Agriculture and provides food security to qualifying students, which covers most programs offered at Iowa Lakes. Current or potential students should work with an Educational Counselor or Pathway Navigator to apply,” said Rogers.

Delaine Hiney, Executive Director of Facilities Management, was approved to move forward with Farm Lab Change Order #3 for $6,943.

Rogers received approval to accept a donation from Kohler, Inc for the Powersports & Power Equipment Technology program on the Emmetsburg Campus, a final endowment contribution from the Dr. Gerald Wieneke Estate for the Arthur & Audrey Smith Wellness Center on the Emmetsburg Campus, and the establishment of the J & J Scholarship Fund to support North Union students.

Rogers also received approval for a New Job Training Preliminary Agreement for a Dickinson County company for the FY2022 bond issuance.

The next meeting of the Iowa Lakes Board of Trustees will be on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, beginning at 4:30 pm on the Emmetsburg Campus, 3200 College Drive, Emmetsburg, Iowa.

For More Information: Iowa Lakes Marketing Department at 712-362-7947