|
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Governor Reynolds announced that her administration successfully implemented the alignment bill passed by the legislature last session. Senate File 514, which became effective on July 1, reduces the number of cabinet-level departments from 37 to 16 by consolidating agencies with similar functions and centralizing programs that serve similar needs. The legislation also eliminated more than 500 unfilled positions and is projected to save the state $214 million over four years.
"It was about a year ago that we began a comprehensive assessment of state government to identify ways to operate more efficiently and effectively,” Governor Reynolds stated. “Together with leaders from all state agencies, we identified opportunities to align operations, resources, and services to better meet the needs of Iowans.”
More than 100 state employees were directly involved in alignment planning, preparation, and implementation over the last year. When the bill was signed into law on April 4, enterprise and department teams had three months in which to implement the changes by the July 1 effective date.
“It’s difficult to grasp the size and scope of this undertaking, especially with such an aggressive timeline. Most people would say it couldn’t be done,” said Governor Reynolds. “But our team was fully committed, and I am deeply grateful for their exceptional work that made it possible.”
The governor also introduced a new state logo that will be adopted by executive branch departments and used to market Iowa to attract businesses and workforce and grow the state’s population.
|
|
|
|
July is going to be huge for Audubon High School senior Connor Christensen. Not only will he celebrate his 18th birthday, he will also complete his course in electrical trades through the Summer College Credit Program, keeping him on track for his future college and career pathway.
Since his junior year, Connor has been taking concurrent enrollment classes through Des Moines Area Community College’s (DMACC) new Templeton Regional Center. Through an exploratory career academy -- which offers students opportunities to try out and shadow different areas such as welding, advanced manufacturing, electrical trades and building trades – Connor found his niche in wiring and the field of electrical trades.
“I’ve enjoyed learning so far about what it takes to become an electrician,” he said. “The exploratory course has included math, job shadowing, developing communication skills and understanding welding and safety.”
The Summer College Credit Program allows Connor to continue his studies in electrical trades during the summer months, all at no cost to him.
For more information, contact Jen Rathje, education program consultant, at jennifer.rathje@iowa.gov or 515.326.5389.
|
To ensure quality of instruction at Iowa’s community colleges, the Higher Learning Commission, Iowa Code 260C.48 and Iowa Administrative Code 281 Chapter 24.5 define minimum requirements for faculty qualifications for arts and science and career and technical education instructors.
The Iowa Department of Education has provided clarity and guidance for these minimum requirements by publishing guidelines for faculty qualifications. The Faculty Standards Council, which includes community college chief academic officers and deans, representatives from the Accreditation Advisory Committee, representatives from the Faculty Advisory Committee and other community college personnel, meets at the beginning of each calendar year to review and update this guide. Community college faculty and staff have the opportunity to suggest updates to the Faculty Qualifications Guide, and the Council takes these suggestions into consideration. Updates to the guide are approved by the community college chief academic officers.
The most recent version of The Iowa Community Colleges Faculty Qualifications Guide was published in July and can be found on the Department’s website. Updates to this year’s guide include more flexibility with the computer programming/computer science (CIS/CSC) prefix and improved clarity of the academic credentials chart.
The next Faculty Standards Council meeting will take place in January 2024.
For more information about faculty qualifications, contact Heather Meissen, education program consultant, at heather.meissen@iowa.gov or 515-326-5378 or Amy Gieseke, chief, at amy.gieseke@iowa.gov or 515-858-2234.
|
As part of House File 2392, the completion of self-studies was required of secondary career and technical education (CTE) educators to continually provide a pathway toward high-quality programming through the creation of goals and action plans. The self-studies are designed to be completed on a five-year rotation led by the Regional Planning Partnerships (RPPs).
To simplify the process of submission for review and approval by CTE consultants, the Iowa Department of Education partnered with Quality Consulting, Inc. to develop a new application integrated into the current State of Iowa Curriculum System (STICS).
STICS is a curriculum database and program approval system. At the post-secondary level, STICS is used for approval of CTE and arts and sciences courses and programs at Iowa’s 15 community colleges as well as the storage of the Iowa community college course numbering system. At the secondary level, STICS is used for approval of CTE programs at Iowa’s public school districts. This is a web-based application tool that secondary CTE educators will utilize to upload their self-study artifacts and rationales.
Features of secondary approval include self-evaluation of CTE programs against several criteria, the development of action plans, peer review by the RPP and approval and implementation of action plans. It also represents an opportunity for the RPPs and the Department to learn about the strengths and needs of CTE programs. The application will also allow secondary CTE educators access to historical program data and past self-studies as they work toward continuous improvement of their CTE programs.
STICS II was rolled out this past spring to RPP coordinators. Full implementation will begin this fall when the RPP coordinators and CTE educators begin the next five-year cycle of self-study review and implementation.
For more information on the STICS II system, contact Jeffrey Fletcher, education program consultant, at jeffrey.fletcher@iowa.gov or 515-321-7309.
|
Department consultant and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) state chair Chris Dzurick attended the FBLA National Leadership Conference in Atlanta on June 22-30.
Iowa FBLA Collegiate took home seven top 10 awards, and Iowa State University student Benjamin Pellizzari was named National FBLA Vice President of Communication.
The University of Northern Iowa was also recognized for first place in the Outstanding Chapter Award, with Des Moines Area Community College placing 10th in the same award.
Iowa FBLA High School took home six top 10 awards, and Waukee High School student Anika Yadav was named National FBLA North Central Region Vice President.
University of Northern Iowa student Madison Kraemer completed her term as FBLA Collegiate National President.
For more information on FBLA and other career and technical student organizations, contact Dzurick at chris.dzurick@iowa.gov or 515-419-4792.
|
Iowa is nationally recognized as a leader in noncredit program data. Through a partnership with Rutgers University, administrative consultants Paula Nissen and Vlad Bassis are serving as mentors to other states on how to collect and analyze community college noncredit data.
Nissen and Bassis met virtually on July 17 with representatives from Oregon, South Carolina and New Jersey to share best practices, processes and results from Iowa's noncredit data analysis.
The two will regularly meet with other states and national partners to provide technical assistance in this growing arena.
For more details on how Iowa collects noncredit data, contact Nissen at paula.nissen2@iowa.gov or 515-418-8273 or Bassis at vladimir.bassis@iowa.gov or 515-281-3671.
|
|
|
Iowa Department of Education
400 E 14th Street
Grimes State Office Building
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Ph: 515-281-5294
www.educateiowa.gov
|
|
|
|
