Two Colleges, One Community: How a Shared Vision is Redefining the NICC Student Experience

Be the reason future generations know what mattered in Decorah. Fund Decorah News today. DECORAH — A chance conversation during a commencement ceremony has blossomed into a partnership between Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) and Luther College, providing NICC students with a residential campus experience in Decorah. The initiative began following the May 2024 NICC graduation held at the Luther College Center for Faith and Life. During the event, Luther College's director of safety and security, Bob Palmer, spoke with NICC staff about available housing capacity and expressed interest in expanding collaboration between the two institutions. "He shared that his two sons had benefited from the NICC Waukon Center and he saw great potential for NICC and Luther," said NICC Vice President of Student Services Amy Gaffney. "We followed up that conversation with a meeting with their administration, and several months later, we arrived at the agreement." The program officially launched in spring 2025 during NICC's National Career and Technical Education Letter of Intent Signing Day. By fall 2025, the first cohort of 11 NICC students moved into Larsen Hall on the Luther campus, about a 15-minute drive from the NICC Calmar campus. "Bob's vision for the partnership was that he wanted the boy from Festina to meet the girl from Edina," said Kris Franzen, director of residence life at Luther College. "He felt this was an opportunity to foster connections and learning between students from very different backgrounds." For many students, the arrangement offers both technical training at NICC and residential life at Luther. NICC students living in Larsen Hall have access to Luther's facilities and more than 80 student organizations. They have participated in activities ranging from kayaking on the Upper Iowa River and rock climbing to attending basketball games. In one instance, NICC John Deere TECH students and members of the Luther women's volleyball team formed a trivia team that went on to win a campus competition. In another, NICC students took a Luther College resident assistant fishing for the first time. Molly Sahm, a NICC student in the production and companion animal veterinary technician program, chose to live on campus at Luther after moving from her hometown of Rickardsville. "I got the chance to meet some really cool people while living at Luther," Sahm said. "At first, it was very nerve-racking and I felt like I was behind because I didn't have classes with any of these people. But as time went on, my friends would introduce me to their friends and I ended up making some great friends. I really love the fact that I get exposure to a wide variety of people and cultures at Luther." The partnership also addresses housing needs for NICC programs. Luther developed flexible lease options for John Deere TECH students, allowing them to save on housing costs during months they are off-site for required field training. Tailored meal plans were also created for students who spend much of their time at the Calmar campus or at internships. "Our number one goal was to identify more quality housing options for Calmar students," said Gaffney. "Luther was very mindful in creating a fee structure that makes this affordable compared to other area options." While providing housing, the program also benefits the Luther College community. As a residential campus that has seen enrollment shifts, Luther gains from the presence of NICC students who share regional knowledge with Luther students from across the country and world. Sahm will return to live at Luther in the fall as she completes her final year at NICC and is considering staying in the Decorah area after graduation. "I am not 100% sure about my plan for after graduation, but I do think I'll end up staying in the Decorah area," she said. Students interested in housing options for the upcoming summer or fall semester may visit nicc.edu/housing or contact the NICC Admissions Office at 563-562-3263, ext. 2700. Be the first to know! Sign up for the free newsletter and unlock exclusive updates, breaking news, and tips from around the community.