Education
Graceland University to reduce tuition, simplify financial aid starting in 2024
Graceland University is cutting its base tuition nearly in half and changing up its financial-aid strategy beginning next fall in order to simplify costs for prospective students. University president Patricia Draves announced Tuesday at a press conference that the private university’s base tuition will drop from $32,500 to $19,950. According to the university’s website, the […]
DMACC helps rural students explore career options with new regional center
Des Moines Area Community College is giving western Iowa high school students the chance to develop skills and explore a range of jobs before deciding on their career with its newly completed regional center. Construction on the DMACC Templeton Regional Center has been completed, allowing the center to welcome 68 participants this fall semester. DMACC […]
States urged by Biden administration to rectify underfunding of land-grant HBCUs
States engaging in decades of underfunding land-grant Historically Black Colleges and Universities have contributed to a more than $12 billion disparity with comparable white institutions, leaders of the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Monday. “Unacceptable funding inequities have forced many of our nation’s distinguished Historically Black Colleges and Universities […]
Iowa College Aid begins search for new executive director
Iowa College Aid commissioners are asking to take on more of a role in the search for a new executive director after the former director resigned in August. Mark Wiederspan, who came into the executive director position in 2020, resigned Aug. 16. Julie Ntem is currently serving as acting director and bureau chief. Iowa Department […]
DMACC’s dental assistant program in danger of losing accreditation
Des Moines Area Community College is working to keep its dental assistant training program’s accreditation after its accreditor outlined issues with facilities and language clarification. Jeanie McCarville-Kerber, dean of Health & Public Services at DMACC, told DMACC board members this week the college’s dental assistant program is in danger of losing its accreditation because of […]
UNI reports record-breaking fundraising in 2022-23 fiscal year
The University of Northern Iowa received a record-breaking $58.4 million in gifts during the 2022-2023 fiscal year, a 35% increase over the previous record-holding fiscal year in 2021-2022, the university announced. The majority of funds were given to UNI academic and co-curricular programs, with more than $38 million helping to establish 63 new program funds. […]
DMACC looks to update, expand transportation institute
Des Moines Area Community College is looking to tap local, state and federal resources for its planned update to the DMACC Transportation Institute. The community college received approval from board members Monday to seek bids to renovate Transportation Institute facilities, including construction of a new building and replacement of training concourses. A public hearing date […]
U.S. Senate hearing on book bans probes censorship attempts in local libraries
WASHINGTON — U.S. senators at a committee hearing Tuesday discussed the consequences of book bans and parents’ desire to control what their kids read — though they also acknowledged it’s not an issue for Congress to settle. The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony about book bans, focusing on how censorship limits liberty and literature. The […]
Lincoln school superintendent acknowledges an allegation he made against former employer was false
LINCOLN, Neb. — Lincoln’s new superintendent filed a lawsuit against his former employer that made an allegation that has since proven false, he acknowledged in a court filing last week. Paul Gausman, whom Lincoln Public Schools hired from Iowa’s Sioux City Community Schools in 2022, sued the Iowa district this January, alleging violations of open […]
D.C. Dispatch: Lawmakers highlight meatpacking, weapons safety, health care
During their August recess, Iowa’s members of Congress were back in their home state, touring with presidential candidates, making state fair appearances and making progress on county tours. Rep. Randy Feenstra showed presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott around parts of the 4th District, Rep. Ashley Hinson completed her 22-county tour, Rep. Zach Nunn completed his […]
Simpson College president hits ground running with scholarships announcement
Simpson College President Jay Byers is riding the momentum of increasing enrollment and new programs and projects to prioritize building brand, community and bright futures. Byers, well-known as the president and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, was announced Simpson’s new president in July. In the months since, he has gotten reacclimated to campus, […]
We can’t afford to leave centrists on the sidelines of politics
I cannot remember who recommended, when I was a much younger man, that I read Hermann Hesse’s novel “Steppenwolf.” I not only read it, but then embraced several more of his works. I think the reason I related to it was because there was a wolf in the novel, living in the mountains of the […]