Grand Opening of NIACC Career Center in Charles City Friday
North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) is set to celebrate its newly renovated Career Center in Charles City.
NIACC is hosting an open house from 10 am to noon on Friday at the facility, just east of Hy-Vee. The community is invited to tour the state-of-the-art space, meet the Career Center team, and explore its comprehensive range of services.
NIACC President Steve Schulz says, “This newly renovated space offers significant opportunities for the community, our partner schools, and lifelong learning. We are thrilled to open our doors and showcase how this center will serve as a cornerstone for career growth and professional development in the region. Partnerships with local businesses, organizations, and school districts will be key to maximizing the potential of this facility.”
The NIACC Career Center features state-of-the-art industry-specific labs, three multi-purpose classrooms, an Iowa Communications Network classroom, a student computer lab and conference room The facility will also offer Continuing and Community Education classes, Adult Literacy classes, business and industry training, and meeting spaces for local clubs and organizations.
The NIACC Career Center in Charles City is set to officially begin its high school academy operations in the Fall of 2024 in partnership with the Charles City,Clarksville, Nashua-Plainfield, North Butler, Osage, Riceville and Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock school districts.
The grand opening of the new Career Academy in Charles City marks the end of a busy past week for NIACC.
On Tuesday (05.07), the Aspen Institute named NIACC as one of 20 semi-finalists for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The $1 million award is the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among community colleges. Institutions selected for this honor stand out among more than 1,000 community colleges nationwide as having high and improving levels of student success, as well as equitable outcomes for Black and Hispanic students and those from lower-income backgrounds.
Schulz said, “This achievement reflects the dedication and exceptional commitment of our faculty and staff. It is a testament to our mission to enrich lives through education and highlights the high standards of excellence we aim to maintain at NIACC.”
Awarded every two years, the Aspen Prize honors colleges with outstanding performance in six critical areas: teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success, broad access to the college and its offerings, and equitable outcomes for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds.
The winner will be announced in the spring of 2025.
Last Friday (05.03), nearly 700 graduates were recognized during NIACC graduation ceremonies. Those grads earned nearly 860 degrees, diplomas, and certificates during the 2023-24 academic year. Click here to see full list of graduates.
NIACC’S Class of 2024 was represented by 14 countries, 15 states, and 89 Iowa communities.
