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NORTHEAST IOWA — The Iowa Department of Education (DOE) has completed an interim state accreditation review for Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC). The Accreditation Report states no compliance issues were noted during the evaluation and the department's community college accreditation team recommends continued accreditation. The Iowa DOE's Bureau of Community Colleges and Postsecondary Readiness performed an interim accreditation review and site visit of NICC on Feb. 12-13, 2024. The areas of the College examined by the Iowa DOE included; assurance summary state standards, compliance with Higher Learning Commission (HLC) criteria, faculty qualifications, faculty teaching load, special needs and protected classes, Career and Technical Education (CTE) program evaluations and review, State of Iowa Curriculum System (STICS) curriculum review, strategic plan, physical plant and facilities, quality faculty plans, Senior Year Plus Programs for high school students and compliance with non-accreditation state or federal requirements. NICC Vice President of Teaching and Learning, Kathleen Nacos-Burds, Ph.D., views the continued accreditation as an affirmation of the quality of the college's academic and CTE programming, quality faculty and a culture of continuous improvement. "During the visit, the accreditation team was impressed with Northeast Iowa Community College. It was clear that the college is proactively working towards a culture of transparency, communication, trust-building and assessment. NICC also prides itself on a culture of innovation and is forward-thinking about the needs of the students. We continually evaluate the strengths of our academic and CTE programs and the effectiveness of student services processes and identify any areas we might improve. We look closely at the relevance of our programs to the region's workforce needs. The leadership team at the college also works closely with faculty and staff so that we meet the needs of all of our students," Nacos-Burds said. The Iowa DOE recommended changes in the documentation to clearly identify recent and relevant experience for CTE faculty upon hire. The next state comprehensive accreditation evaluation is scheduled for the 2028-2029 academic year. NICC serves eight counties in northeast Iowa and surrounding areas. Offering academic programs of study in a variety of disciplines, online and blended learning, customized business and industry training, short-term certification options and adult education and literacy, the College is committed to affordable, high-quality education and training to ensure the growth and vitality of northeast Iowa. For more information about the College, visit nicc.edu. Unlock a world of knowledge! Sign up for free DecorahNews.com newsletters and receive local news, local events and everything that is happening in and around Decorah.

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Accreditation Continues for Northeast Iowa Community College