Community colleges worth state investment

Many thanks to Jack Kibbie, president of the Senate, for proclaiming Jan. 27 as Community College Day in Iowa. The 15 community colleges in Iowa have opened the door to higher education for thousands of Iowans who otherwise would not have had that opportunity. Students from Iowa community colleges are serving communities in a wide range of careers and occupations.

More than 86 percent of community college graduates stay in Iowa, and for every $1 invested in our community colleges, taxpayers receive a return of $2.60. It is obvious that state appropriations to community colleges have been a very successful investment.

Community colleges are the “first responders” in an economic crisis, providing retraining and education for many displaced workers. In response to a poor economy and unemployment, Iowa community college enrollments have increased 21 percent in the past two years to a record enrollment of 106,000 students. During this time, state funding has decreased drastically, from $183 million to $158 million. Last fall at Kirkwood, more than 18,000 students enrolled in over 150 programs. Faculty and staff at community colleges have worked hard to ensure that the same high quality education is being delivered, despite reduced instructional resources and faculty salaries that have slipped to nearly $10,000 behind the national average.

If cuts from the previous few years were restored and much-needed increases in funding were granted, the 15 Iowa community colleges would require an infusion of approximately $43 million. Such a commitment would be a successful investment in our future.

Gary Donnermeyer

President,

Kirkwood Faculty Association

Cedar Rapids