IOWA LAKES, UNIVERSITY OF IOWA SIGN AGREEMENTS ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND BAS DEGREE

Officials from the University of Iowa traveled to Spencer Wednesday to formalize two agreements with Iowa Lakes Community College.

The U of I and Iowa Lakes will collaborate on fostering entrepreneurial education and economic development in northwest Iowa; and, the two educational institutions made their agreement formal to support students wishing to transfer to the U of I for a Bachelor of Applied Studies (BAS) degree.

In addition to Dr. Harold Prior, president of Iowa Lakes, Chet Rzonca, Associate Provost and Dean; David Hensley, clinical professor and director of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC) at the University of Iowa; and Anne Zalenski, Director of Distance Education were on hand for the late afternoon signing. Also participating in the recognition ceremony was Tom Bedell, chairman of the board of Pure Fishing and adjunct lecturer for JPEC and the UI MBA program; as well as John Hand, president of the board of trustees for Iowa Lakes.

"The opportunities that exist for our area – and the entire state – to focus more on entrepreneurial activities such as encouraging students to start more business is exceptional," said Pres. Prior. "We want to encourage high school and college students to pursue their ambition of starting a business."

The U of I will help starting or growing businesses through JPEC.

"The JPEC at the U of I is committed to increasing entrepreneurial activity across the state of Iowa and supports programs to foster the development of Iowa entrepreneurs," said Hensley.

Bedell inspired those attending.

"The exciting part of my involvement with JPEC is the opportunity to take young people with huge dreams at the most idealistic period in their life and try to help them see those dreams come to fruition," said Bedell, who also helped found the Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute last summer.

In addition to the letter of agreement fostering entrepreneurial education and economic development in northwest Iowa, the other letter of agreement signed Wednesday afternoon promotes the transfer of credits of Iowa Lakes students to the U of I which accepts all Associate in Applied Science (AAS), Associate in Science (AS) and Associate in Arts (AA) degrees toward the Bachelor of Applied Studies (BAS) degree. The BAS is a distance education degree awarded by the U of I and administered by the Division of Continuing Education Center for Credit Programs.

"This is a unique opportunity for people who want to complete a four-year degree without having to move away from home," said Zalenski.

Note: More information on the BAS degree with the University of Iowa.