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 Volume 14, Issue 5 December 2023 educateiowa.gov
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Being prepared for the first year on a college campus is easier said than done sometimes. But for students Abby Renoux and John Woodward, they are more than just prepared; they are ready to thrive. Armed with their collegiate memberships to Business Professionals of America, a career and technical student organization (CTSO), Renoux and Woodward already have what it takes to succeed, with strong professional skills, valuable connections and confidence to prosper not only in college but also in future career pathways.
Memberships to collegiate CTSOs are traditionally not as common as in high school chapters, but Renoux, 19, and Woodward, 18, both advocate for the benefits of collegiate membership. Each of them became involved in Business Professionals of America, better known as BPA, early in their high school careers and continued their involvement in college to reach for their maximum potential.
“I have come so far and didn’t want to stop my growth,” Renoux said. “A lot of my leadership skills have come through BPA. If I want to continue growing, both personally and professionally, I have to continue my involvement with the organization.”
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The Iowa Department of Education is currently working towards a long-term data collection solution to identify and incorporate Industry Recognized Credentials (IRC) into the secondary and postsecondary systems.
The first step will be to identify the IRCs that are currently awarded to secondary and postsecondary students. A survey instrument is now open to collect information on postsecondary students. Once collected, the data will be used in the State of Iowa Curriculum System (STICS) and WebMIS.
The information collected on IRCs will help answer ongoing questions regarding students who are have received or potentially have received third-party credentials as well as identify organizations that could provide additional information related to credentials.
An email with further details and a link to the postsecondary IRC survey will be released after the holidays.
Questions regarding the upcoming survey can be directed to Heather Meissen at heather.meissen@iowa.gov or 515-326-5378.
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Registration is filling up for for the first Iowa Agriculture Education Summit! The summit will be held Jan. 21-23 at the Des Moines Area Community College’s FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny, and all secondary and postsecondary agriculture instructors are encouraged to attend.
Registration is open through Jan. 10 and is free for all attendees. The first 250 registrants will receive a swag package at the summit.
This event is sponsored by the Iowa FFA Foundation and other partners. All participants will hear more about “Transformative Learning” and how agriculture education can use FFA and Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE) to ensure students are future-ready within the Iowa agricultural industry. The Iowa Agriculture Education Summit replaces the six regional agriculture education fall district inservice meetings typically held in September.
For more information, contact Matthew Eddy at matthew.eddy@iowa.gov or 515-720-8863.
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Iowa community colleges took center stage on Nov. 28-30 as the first Community Colleges for Iowa Convention convened in downtown Des Moines.
Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow presented to attendees on the importance of preparing students for in-demand, high-wage and public careers. Additionally, chief Amy Gieseke and consultants Heather Meissen and Kelly Friesleben from Bureau of Community Colleges and Postsecondary Readiness were also in attendance at the convention and shared how recent developments with transfer majors, Guided Pathways and other interventions have impacted success with Iowa students.
Staff from the Department look forward to participating in next year's event!
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Gov. Kim Reynolds signed two proclamations on Nov. 17, declaring it Iowa FBLA Day and National Apprenticeship Week in Iowa.
Staff members Dennis Harden, Joe Collins and Jeffrey Fletcher attended both proclamation signings at the Capitol.
Future Business Leaders of America, better known as FBLA, is a career and technical student organization that serves over 300,000 students members worldwide. Through FBLA and other CTSOs, students in secondary and postsecondary institutions can develop valuable professional and leadership skills through competitions, trainings and other activities.
The ninth annual National Apprenticeship Week was celebrated on Nov. 13-19.
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As 2023 comes to a close, the staff from the Bureau of Community Colleges and Postsecondary Readiness wish you a safe and festive holiday season.
We thank you for another wonderful year of collaboration and innovation in higher education and look forward to our continued partnership in 2024.
Happy holidays!
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Iowa Department of Education
400 E 14th Street
Grimes State Office Building
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Ph: 515-281-5294
www.educateiowa.gov
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