Newstrack: International consortium moves to Texas

Background

An International consortium based at Kirkwood Community Colleges faced disbanding in January because of money owed to the college.

Community Colleges for International Development was founded in 1976 at Brevard Community College in Florida. Its goal was to form partnerships with community colleges in the United States and abroad to expand development of the community college model and support international exchange programs.

The group, which moved to Kirkwood in 1998, has hosted international visitors and helped exchange students obtain visas to attend American community colleges.

CCID has more than 160 member institutions, including community colleges in 18 countries and five in Iowa.

The group was poised to move Miami in 2014, but then Kirkwood officials told leaders the not-for-profit owned the school hundreds of thousands of dollars. CCID's board voted in February to continue as a not-for-profit with plans to repay the debt to Kirkwood over the next five years, but the program's home base was uncertain.

What's happened since

CCID moved in July to Lone Star College System, based in Houston, Kirkwood President Mick Starcevich said last week.

The group owed about $280,000 to Kirkwood in February, but made its first payment in June, Starcevich said. Kirkwood officials expect the debt to be completely repaid within three years.

This is faster than anticipated because CCID cut staff and hosted two well-attended conferences, Starcevich said.

'The exact amount owed to KCC should be known sometime in October or early November when audit is final,' he said.

CCID now has two employees, Interim Executive Director Shawn Woodin and part-time Business Manager Bonnie Farrell. The not-for-profit is seeking a membership and communications administrator to begin in November, Woodin said in an email.

The board will start a nationwide director search this month, he said.