AVIATION PROGRAM FEATURED AT TRUSTEES MEETING

The members of the Board of Trustees of Iowa Lakes Community College were updated Tuesday afternoon on the Aviation program which is based at the Estherville campus.

Mary Larscheid, Executive Dean of the Estherville campus, introduced one of the instructors who work for the college, Ron Duer. Duer is the chief flight instructor and a co-coordinator of the program.

Duer talked about the trip he and co-coordinator Pat Hall took to Oshkosh, Wisc., to participate in what’s often called the "World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration." While there, they promoted the aviation program and had a chance to learn about new technologies that were unveiled at the air show.

The Aviation/Airport Management program includes two full years of college education, in addition to the aviation training. Students may transfer their credits to four-year colleges.

Student Brandon Lamack, Estherville, addressed the trustees stating that he was finishing up his flying hours this summer and will transfer to St. Cloud State within two weeks to continue his degree in aviation.

According to Duer, the aviation job market is increasing and the future employment outlook is excellent.

Chief Academic Officer Mary Mohni told the Trustees about the agreement community colleges have reached with the Regents institutions (University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa). Students in the Associate in Science transfer degree who have completed their education at an Iowa community college will be able to transfer to the Regents universities with the status of a ‘junior.’ The new Associate in Science transfer degree will facilitate transfer for those students advancing to a Bachelor of Science degree.

Delaine Hiney, Executive Director of Facilities Management, gave an update on projects around the college’s five campuses. On the Estherville campus, the Sustainable Energy Education Center, which will house the Wind Energy and Turbine Technology program starting this fall, is on schedule for a major completion date of Oct. 1. Steel studs are mostly up, sheetrock is being hung, some painting of steel beams has taken place and a part of the geothermal wells have been drilled. Work on the Regional Emergency Response Training Center at the Emmetsburg Campus has begun with the concrete poured and the steel arriving. And, many upgrades and updates have occurred at all the campuses in anticipation of the start of college on Monday, Aug. 27.

Also during the meeting, the Trustees approved the list of summer graduates.