Message From the President

1. Iowa Lakes Community College will communicate with students using various communication methods, including scheduling meetings by appointment, college e-mail, college website, and the Iowa Lakes Alert.
2. If a student or parent has a question or concern regarding COVID-19, they should direct any questions to Julie Williams, Executive Dean of Students, or the campus supervisor. 
3. Iowa Lakes Community College encourages all students and employees to get vaccinated as we cannot stop COVID-19 or variants but can mitigate it. 

College Calendar

• Iowa Lakes Community College will follow the approved 2022-2023 academic calendar. 
• On-campus activities will be held in person and virtually. 
• Students may register by appointment throughout the summer. 

Classes Begin Tuesday, August 23, 2022
New Student Orientation Monday, August 22, 2022

Course Delivery will be in person, online, and hybrid format for the fall. 

1. Arts & Sciences courses will be taught on campus and online. Some courses will be held by Laker Live, synchronous with set days and times. 
2. Career, Technical, and laboratory courses will be held on campus. 
3. Snow days for academic instruction will follow virtual academic delivery formats. 

There is no better way to invest in yourself than by investing in your future.
Obtaining your degree through Iowa Lakes allows you to enter the workforce or transfer to a 4-year college or university, well prepared and qualified for a career in today’s competitive job market. 

The value of a degree from Iowa Lakes is worth the investment.
Students who obtain an associate’s degree expand their earning potential, increasing average salaries over $7900 more than a person with a high school diploma.

FINANCIAL AID
The Financial Aid Office at Iowa Lakes is your source for information about assisting with covering the costs of obtaining your education. More than 82% of Iowa Lakes’ students receive financial aid to assist with paying for college. Whether you have questions about scholarships or grants or need assistance deciding which federal loan works best for you, our Financial Aid Office is ready to work with you to determine how to best fund your college investment. 

Iowa Lakes Offers A Variety of Ways For You to Pay Your Tuition
Payment arrangements consist of: 
Financial Aid awarded 
Iowa Lakes NELNET Payment Plan

• Online - Simply log in to your My Iowa Lakes account at iowalakes.edu. Instructions may be found under the STUDENT Finance section. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. Some debit cards have daily limits, so please check with your bank to make sure your limit is sufficient to cover your balance. 
• In-person - Stop by the Iowa Lakes Business office to pay your bill in person. Cashiers can accept the following forms of payment: Cash, Credit Card, Personal Check (made payable to Iowa Lakes Community College), Money Order, Cashier's Check 
• By Mail - Students may mail tuition payments. Please include your Iowa Lakes Student ID number. Checks can be made payable to Iowa Lakes Community College and send payment to:
  Iowa Lakes Community College
  Attn: Kay Wise, Cashier
  3200 College Drive
  Emmetsburg, Iowa 50536
• Iowa Lakes NELNET Payment Plan - To help you meet your educational expenses, Iowa Lakes Community College is proud to offer the Iowa Lakes NELNET Payment Plan as a convenient budget plan. This is not a loan program. You may budget your tuition and fees in either an automatic bank payment (ACH) or with a credit/debit card option.
• Third-Party Payments - If you have made arrangements with a third party to pay your tuition, you must provide a signed contract or written notice to Iowa Lakes prior to the first day of classes with your tuition payment. If a third-party payment is not received, you must follow an established payment plan or pay the balance in full on or before the first day of classes. 
• Employer Paid Tuition - If your employer has agreed to pay for your tuition, you must provide a signed contract or written notice to Iowa Lakes prior to the first day of classes with your tuition payment. If your employer does not plan to pay the tuition balance until after course completion, you must follow an established payment plan or pay the balance in full on or before the first day of classes. 

Notice:
Iowa Lakes reserves the right to cancel your registration, suspend computer access or restrict dining access if you have not made payment arrangements or paid your tuition in full. If your registration is canceled or suspensions are made, you are still responsible for paying the bill or dropping classes. 

If you do not plan to attend one or more of your registered classes, you are responsible for dropping the class properly by the deadline for each particular class to avoid owing tuition. Failure to attend class or telling a staff or faculty member that you do not plan to attend class does not cancel your registration or your bill.

Questions? 
Kay Wise, Cashier
kwise@iowalakes.educreate new email
800-242-5108 Ext. 5224

Plans for Fall 2022

Iowa Lakes will offer on-campus housing for the 2022-2023 academic year. 

All students will move in August 19 and 21, 2022. The Housing Department will develop a schedule for move-in days and will conduct housing meetings. 

While the COVID-19 vaccination will not be a requirement this fall, we strongly recommend all students arrive on campus vaccinated with boosters for the following reasons:

• Vaccinated students will be able to fully participate in all campus activities upon arrival on campus. 
• Vaccinated students who are directly exposed to a COVID-positive individual will NOT have to quarantine for 10 days and won’t miss out on any classes or activities.
• Vaccinated students will protect classmates and others who don’t have access to or are unable to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

What happens if a student tests positive while on campus?
Any student or employee who becomes symptomatic or tests positive for COVID-19 must isolate according to the rules of Public Health and/or their personal health care provider. Public Health will provide contact tracing. 

What happens if a student’s roommate tests positive while on campus?
Any student who becomes symptomatic or tests positive for COVID-19 while living in on-campus housing will be placed in an isolation room. 

Will there be any travel restrictions once a student is on campus? 
No

Can students go home over the weekend? 
Yes

What will dining services look like?
We will offer a full menu as normal. In addition, disposable food items and prepackaged salads and desserts will be available. Students may also receive their meals in a to-go format upon request. 

Self-Service Student Portal is your individual Iowa Lakes account that you will use to plan and register for courses, view course schedules and account balance statements, make payments, and even access your financial aid. 

We have provided you with a guide to access and use the Self-Service Student Portal.

Students should contact their advisor or the Iowa Lakes Advising & Success Center to discuss their academic plans and to identify the courses that best fit within that plan. 

Advising & Success Center Contact Information:
Algona Campus - 515-295-8521 | jwalker@iowalakes.educreate new email 
Emmetsburg Campus - 712-852-5275 | lschmidt@iowalakes.educreate new email 
Estherville Campus - 712-362-7935 | mstruve@iowalakes.educreate new email or sgarber@iowalakes.educreate new email
Spencer Campus - 712-580-8622 | kpearce@iowalakes.educreate new email
Spirit Lake Campus - 712-336-6564 | dmconald@iowalakes.educreate new email 

How to Access Self-Service:

1. Visit iowalakes.edu and select My Iowa Lakes
2. Select Students 
3. Select Self-Service Portal 

How to Log In to Self-Service

How to Review Course Schedule: 

• Select Plan & Schedule/Register under the Student Planning tab in the side menu

• When reviewing course schedules, it is important to note the Meeting Information, including the location, building, and room for each course listed.

  LOCATION

  Note that the location tab describes the course delivery format. Course offerings are online (Web E-College), Laker Live, or the Campus Location (Algona, Emmetsburg, Estherville, Spencer, Spirit Lake). 

  Example: For courses offered via Laker Live, the meeting Information will list the meeting days and times. The locations will be listed as Virtual, and the Room will be listed as VRTL.

  FACE-TO-FACE COURSE OFFERINGS

  Courses that meet face-to-face will have the campus location listed as well as the building and room number. Example: Estherville Main Facility, Room 109

  HYBRID COURSE OFFERINGS

  Some courses offered will be hybrid or a combination of face-to-face and virtual instruction via Laker Live. 

What is the semester start date?
Fall semester will start on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, and will follow the approved 2022-2023 academic calendar. All new students will participate in College 101 on Monday, August 22. 

Is the academic calendar going to be shortened in any way?
The College will follow the approved 2022-2023 academic calendar. The College is prepared to move all classes to a virtual format at any time during the academic year, if necessary.

Will instruction be in-person, online, or a hybrid format?
Instruction will be offered using a combination of formats, including in-person, virtual via Laker Live, and online. Laker Live courses allow students and faculty to participate in a face-to-face, virtual classroom through a video conferencing platform.

Do students need a computer or laptop?
It is in the best interest of all students to have their own computer or device to allow for participation in Laker Live or online course offerings. If you are unable to purchase a computer or device, please contact the Campus Store at 712-362-8340.

What if a student doesn’t have access to the internet?
Students attending Iowa Lakes have access to the internet on any campus, whether through campus housing, wi-fi, or one of our many computer labs. If students are off-campus and need assistance paying for internet services, please visit getemergencybroadband.org. 

How late can I register for in-person instruction? 
Students should plan to register prior to the first day of fall classes. No students will be allowed to arrive after the last day to register, Friday, September 2, 2022.

Will there be a tuition discount for virtual instruction? Will I still receive aid?
Tuition rates are set by degree programs and do not vary based on whether students are participating remotely or in person. Scholarships are generally available to students without regard to their location, as long as they are making full-time academic progress and have completed the Iowa Lakes scholarship application.

Iowa Lakes is committed to following all applicable state and federal guidelines to protect the safety of the campus community. 

What will dining services look like?
We will offer a full menu as normal. In addition, disposable food items and prepackaged salads and desserts will be available. Students may also receive their meals in a to-go format upon request. 

Will there be any travel restrictions once a student is on campus? 
No

Can students go home over the weekend? 
Yes

Will students be able to experience activities on campus?
Yes, activities will be held on campus, and some activities will be held virtually. Some activities available include: Virtual games | Pickle Ball | Ping Pong | 8 Ball Pool | Turkey Shoot Out | Corn Hole | Badminton (glow) | PS IV, (Play Station 4) | Bowling | Chess and other board games | Exercise classes online — i.e., Yoga, Zumba, Spinning | Intramurals and Student Senate planned events

Will athletics be competing during the fall and spring seasons?
Yes, Athletics will adhere to all decisions made by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC).

Is a COVID-19 vaccination required to live in the dorms or attend in-person classes?
No, however, we highly encourage students who reside in communal living to get vaccinated. Students who are COVID-19 vaccinated with boosters will NOT be subject to isolation/quarantine protocols if exposed to a COVID-positive individual. 

Will masks be required?
No, the College will follow CDC and Public Health guidelines. 

What happens if there is a COVID or variant breakout during a semester?
The College is prepared to move all classes to a virtual format at any time during the academic year, if necessary.

Will there be required COVID testing?
Testing is required if a student becomes symptomatic or has an exposure. We highly encourage students who reside in communal living to get vaccinated. 

What happens if a student tests positive while on campus? 
Any student or employee who becomes symptomatic or tests positive for COVID-19 must isolate according to the rules of Public Health and/or their personal health care provider.

What happens if a student’s roommate tests positive while on campus?
Any student who becomes symptomatic or tests positive for COVID-19 while living in on-campus housing will be placed in an isolation room. Roommates who have been fully vaccinated will NOT have to isolate due to COVID positive exposure.

Will students be able to isolate at home if they leave campus during the required isolation period?
Yes, students will be allowed to isolate at home. 

Will there be any medical assistance available for students on campus, such as nurses, COVID-19 testing, etc.?
Iowa Lakes does not have a nurse on campus. We work directly with Public Health and partner with local clinics and medical personnel.

What are the COVID-19 protocols at Iowa Lakes?
To minimize COVID-19 exposures and cases on campus, Iowa Lakes is sharing the Iowa Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 guidance and best practices. With this guidance, Iowa Lakes asks that all students adhere to the guidance and best practices provided below. 

Positive COVID-19 Individuals:
The CDC has recommended the isolation time for people with COVID-19 to five days, if asymptomatic, followed by five days of wearing a mask when around others. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 are recommended to stay home until they are no longer infectious.

Everyone, vaccinated and unvaccinated, should:

• Stay home for five days.
• If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after five days, you can leave your house. If you have a fever, stay home until your fever resolves.
• Continue to wear a mask around others for an additional five days.

Exposed and Vaccine-Boosted Individuals:
Those who have been exposed to COVID-19 may need to stay home and should mask and get tested. 

If you:

• Have been boosted, OR
• Completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines within the last six months, OR 
• Completed the primary series of the J&J vaccine within the last two months: 
  • Wear a mask around others for ten days.
  • Test on day five, if possible.
  • If you develop symptoms, get a test, and stay home. 

If you: 

• Completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted, OR 
• Completed the primary series of the J&J over two months ago and are not boosted, OR
• Are vaccinated: 
  • Stay home for five days. After that, continue to wear a mask around others for an additional five days. 
  • Test on day five, if possible.
  • If you develop symptoms, get a test, and stay home. 

If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19. 

NOTE: In all cases, individuals should continue to monitor for symptoms and are recommended to wear a mask when around others through day 10 to minimize the risk of viral spread.

If you experience symptoms, test positive, and/or have been directly exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual, please contact Julie Williams or Delaine Hiney for further directions and determine your return to campus date. 

Questions? 
Julie Williams, Executive Dean of Students
712-362-7912

Delaine Hiney, Executive Director of Facilities Management
712-362-0428

A Resource for Families

Harassment and other discrimination stemming from prejudice and unfounded fears about the coronavirus (COVID-19) is wrong and can have devastating effects on students and their families. 

During the pandemic, false information and harmful statements about Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities have led to increasing acts of intolerance across the nation—from verbal harassment to violence. In schools around the country, AAPI students have reported bullying and harassment by classmates because of their race or national origin, including their ethnicity, ancestry, and language. 

Public elementary and secondary schools as well as colleges and universities have a responsibility to investigate and address discrimination, including harassment, targeting students because of their race or national origin. When schools fail to take appropriate steps, the Educational Opportunities Section of the Civil Rights Division (CRT) at the U.S. Department of Justice and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Education can help by enforcing federal laws that protect students from discrimination.

 Examples of the kinds of incidents CRT and OCR can investigate:

•  Middle schoolers record themselves yelling "virus spreaders!" at their Asian American classmates duringclass and post the videos on social media. School administrators are made aware of the videos but refuse to investigate or take any action to protect Asian American students from further harassment at school. 

•  High schoolers post anonymously in chat windows during a remote learning class that an Asian American classmate ruined the entire school year by bringing the "China Virus" to the community. The teacher cansee the chat but does not address the comments or limit anonymous posting. The Asian American student turns her video off so that other students cannot see her but the chats continue. 

•  When preparing to return to in-person learning, an elementary school principal asks parents of Asian American students about travel to China, family connections to Asia, and demands proof of a negative COVID —-19 test before the child can be enrolled. The district does not request this information from student s without Asian ancestry. 

•  At a middle school, students in the cafeteria make comments about wearing two masks when Asian American students are nearby. They also mock Asian American students who speak to each other in their —native languages, in full view of adult lunch monitors. To avoid the conflict, Asian American students start sitting a t a different lunch table. 

•  A college housing administrator tells an Asian American student to consider off-campus housing rather than the college’s dorms, explaining that other students may not be comfortable living in a dorm room —with the A sian American student until everyone is vaccinated. 

What if a Student Experiences Discrimination in School? 

If you believe a student has been treated unfairly—for example, treated differently, harassed, bullied, or retaliated against—because of their race or national origin, there are a number of actions you can take: 

1. Notify a school leader (for example, a principal or student affairs staff) immediately. If you don't get the help you need, file a formal complaint with the school, school district, college, or university. Keep records of responses you receive. 

2. Write down the details about what happened, where and when the incident happened, who was involved, and the names of any witnesses. Do this for every instance of discrimination and keep copies of any related documents or other information. 

3. Ask the school or college/university to translate its documents (like a complaint form) and messages into a language you understand. Ask for an interpreter if you need help speaking with school staff in a language other than English. 

4. If the school or college/university does not take steps to address your complaint or the discrimination continues, consider filing a complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice at civilrights.justice.gov, or with the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education. Click here to file a complaint in English. Click here to file a complaint in a non-English language.