Kirkwood makes pitch to businesses, students

WILLIAMSBURG — Kirkwood Community College met with business representatives, public officials and community members on its Iowa County Campus last month to explain its services and to ask how the college can assist people in the communities it serves.

Kirkwood President Kristie Fisher told her audience that enrollment is up at the community college. Most students are part-time and 56% are female.

Kirkwood recently began offering registered apprenticeships for high school students, Fisher said. The welding apprenticeship has graduated its first students and is preparing for its next round of classes.

The community college also offers health care apprenticeships.

Carla Andorf explained the secondary programs offered at the Iowa County facility in Williamsburg. The college offers high school equivalency and English as a second language.

ESL programs aim to help students find and keep jobs, get promotions and further education and understand living in the community, said Andorf. The program served 11 students last year.

The Earn and Learn program allows English language learners to get certifications and experience they need while working — and getting paid, and the skills-to-employment team helps students find career paths and understand the next steps they need to take, Andorf said. It also helps students find financial support.

Seven people in the county used the program last year, Andorf said.

People who have been laid off can find help with Iowa Workforce unemployment through Kirkwood, said Andorf. “I know this county had some of that.”

Iowa County communities have been good about connecting people who need Kirkwood’s services with the college, Andorf said.

Tyler McCarville, senior manager of job training programs for Kirkwood, explained the 260E and 260F programs. The 260E program will give businesses up to 3% of the gross wages of new employees for 10 years, he said.

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The money is earmarked for training the employees. The state sees training as reimbursable expense, said McCarville.

Health care and retail businesses don’t qualify, said McCarville, but many businesses do.

“We see a lot of travel expenses related to training,” such as gas, hotels, food, said McCarville. “You don’t have to use Kirkwood as your training provider.”

The most important step is signing a preliminary agreement, said McCarville, “to get it on the books.” After an employee is already trained, the expenses are no longer eligible.

The 260F is a 70/30 match for the cost of training existing workers, said McCarville. It’s awarded on a first-come-first-served basis. Any training provider is accepted.

Workforce training is a 50/50 match, but Kirkwood has to be the training provider, McCarville said.

Cassie Mitvalsky oversees the registered apprenticeships for Kirkwood. Students who complete apprenticeships receive certifications they can take with them to any company.

A registered apprenticeship is good for a new hire, said Mitvalsky, but it can also be used to give current employees skills for a different job or additional skills in their current positions.

Apprenticeships are also good for succession planning, said Mitvalsky. Companies can train employees to step in when others retire.

Kirkwood has seven registered apprenticeship fields: certified nursing assistant, construction technologist, diesel mechanic, electromechanical technician, HVAC installer and repairer and truck driving.

Apprenticeships aren’t limited to the trades, said Mitvalsky. Any business can work with Kirkwood to create apprenticeships. “We can talk about what training Kirkwood can provide.”

Barb Rawson, program manager for corporate training, helps businesses navigate workforce services, whether they want to conduct a career fair, offer a scholarship, teach essential skills or create a training program.

Mike Jacobsen, associate director for Kirkwood, said the Iowa County facility had 163 students in the building every day this year.

“If it’s not the most we’ve ever had in the building, it’s close to it,” he said.

Jacobsen introduced a couple of high school students who were taking classes through Kirkwood.

“These are a couple of shining stars,” said Jacobsen. Taking college classes while in high school requires a certain level of responsibility, he said.

Madalyn Ray, a senior at Williamsburg from Marengo will earn her associate of arts degree while she’s still in high school, said Jacobsen.

Ellie Patterson is a sophomore from North English who attend English Valleys High School. Patterson said she started taking classes her freshman year of high school and is taking her fifth class now.

Patterson, who works at a nursing home, recently finished a class on sociology on the aging which has helped her with her job.

Ray has taken 20 classes throughout high school and has taken part in job shadowing and internships.

Job shadowing can confirm a career choice or funnel student to another, said Jacobsen.

Ray job shadowed a physical therapist, but thought the job too boring for her. “Now I know I don’t want to do that,” Ray said.

The college experience has taught Ray time management, she said. “I think it’s really prepared me for the future.”

Ray said her mother has had the most impact on her academic decisions. Ray loaded up on classes her first years of high school so she could have an easy senior year, she said. But when she decided not to pursue athletics in college, her mother helped her find the classes she’d need for a career.

Peterson said her guidance counselor was instrumental in helping her find the classes she need to help her reach her goals.

Going to college while in high school takes a lot of drive, said Jacobson.

“You kind of have to get in the flow with it.” Patterson said.

Ray said she took the Kirkwood classes because that was less expensive than classes at a four-year school. “I did it because I wanted to save the money.”

In general, cost for a four-year state school is double that of a community college and four-year private college is three times the price, said Jacobsen.

“Our instructors are just as good if not better,” he said. It’s not just a cost savings. “They’re getting quality education.”

“We’re accessible,” Jacobsen said. “and we’re here to help.”