Emmetsburg Campus
| January 16, 1930 | As published in the Emmetsburg Reporter/Democrat the school board unanimously adopted resolutions favoring a college in Emmetsburg. | |
| March 13, 1930 | An election was in which the people of Emmetsburg voted four to one to establish a junior college as reported in the Emmetsburg paper. | |
| 1965 | The Iowa legislature passed a law providing for up to 20 vocational-technical schools to be established throughout the state. There were over 50 proposals considered | |
| April 29, 1966 | The State Board of Public Instruction gave consideration to the Area Community College Proposal filed by the County Planning Boards of Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Kossuth and Palo Alto Counties with the Administrative Center established in Estherville with the area board utilizing the community college facilities at Estherville and Emmetsburg. The plan that was sent to the State Board called for the continuation of the junior college at Emmetsburg and that the vocational curriculum would be compatible with the community college. The plan calls for the Board of Directors to make a study before making decisions on permanent vocational–technical facilities other than Estherville and Emmetsburg. The plan suggested a three quarter mill levy be voted on and this coupled with the state and federal matching funds showed approximately $1,000,000 which would be used for building purposes | |
| October 25, 1966 | Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Kossuth and Palo Alto Counties all gave approval for a merger plan for an Area III Community College. This would provide for the establishment of an area community college at Estherville and an attendance center in Emmetsburg | |
| November 6, 1966 | Open House at Emmetsburg Community College Academic Building at 8th and Call Streets and Emmetsburg Community College Dormitory on Grand Ave ( now the Emmetsburg Police Station) | |
| January 12, 1967 | Iowa Lakes Community College was organized on January 12, 1967 and merged with the former Estherville Junior College on July 1, 1968 | |
| 1968 | Estherville Junior college merged with Iowa Lakes Community College. It had been decided that the vocational-technical division of the school would be located in Emmetsburg and the main arts and science program would be located in Estherville. | |
| 1968 | Building began on a new one and a quarter million dollar vocational-technical building with 54,000 square feet of space on the northwest edge of Emmetsburg. | |
| February 24, 1970 | Classes began at the new vocational-technical building at Emmetsburg, uniting the entire Voc-Tech program under one roof. Courses getting settled into the new building included automotive mechanics from Algona, auto body from Spencer, farm equipment mechanics from a temporary location in Emmetsburg, courses from Estherville such as feed and fertilizer, farm management, office-clerical and secretarial, nursing and retail sales. The South Campus at Emmetsburg also offers the basic arts and science courses that were available under Emmetsburg Community College. | |
| July 1, 1970 | Iowa Lakes Community College merged with Emmetsburg Community College | |
| November 2, 1971 | Northwest Iowa’s first computer is at Iowa Lakes Community College | |
| 1972 | The Farm Foundation signed a 15 year contract with Dr. Howard McCutchen, a Missouri State Veterinarian for the purchase of the 360 acres that now serves as the Iowa Lakes Community College Farm laboratory. A new classroom building was built on the west side of the present vocational-technical and arts and science building – which would house the horticulture program and later Allied Health. Presently it is the Vet Tech building. | |
| 1982 | Farm Equipment building was built on Emmetsburg campus | |
| 1987 | Apartment building on North Superior becomes a dorm for Emmetsburg campus (now named Spinnaker) | |
| 1989 | Byrkeland Building built (COC) | |
| Mid July 1997 | Arthur and Audrey Smith Wellness Center built | |
| September 30, 1997 | Grand Dedication for the Arthur and Audrey Smith Wellness Center | |
| August 6, 1993 | Ribbon Cutting for the new west dorm now named Ballaster | |
| April 8, 1998 | Dr. James Coffey Hall Classroom Wing Open House and Ribbon Cutting | |
| Summer 1999 | Welding Lab constructed – added onto the Farm Equipment Building | |
| August, 2002 | New four plex dorm opens in Emmetsburg (now named Catamaran) | |
| July 19, 2005 | Technology Education Building (now Ag & Power Sports Building) Ribbon Cutting Ceremony | |
| April 5, 2008 | Regional Emergency Response Training Center Open House and Ribbon Cutting | |
| November 4, 2011 | Construction Technology Building Open House and Ribbon Cutting | |
| April 20, 2012 | Vet Tech Building (formerly the Horticulture and Allied Health Building)Ribbon Cutting and Open House | |
| November 21, 2012 | Video Conferencing System Open House and Ribbon Cutting | |
| September 19, 2013 | Swine Training Center Ribbon Cutting and Open House | |
