2014 Conference

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Friday, November 7, 2014

The 2014 Way Up Conference will be held at The Hotel at the Kirkwood Center and Conference Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

You may wish to view the The Hotel at the Kirkwood website.

The Kirkwood Center is a 100% smoke-free facility. See the hotel front desk for information about any outdoor smoking areas.
The Kirkwood Center and Conference Center offers free wireless Internet access throughout the conference center.

See the Lodging Link for the conference rate for guest rooms.

The Hotel at the Kirkwood Center and Conference Center
7725 Kirkwood Boulevard SW
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404

The 2014 Way Up Conference will be held at The Hotel at the Kirkwood Center and Conference Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

You may wish to view the The Kirkwood Center website.

A limited block of rooms is reserved at The Kirkwood Center. To  make your reservations, please call The Kirkwood at 319-848-8700 or Toll Free at 877-751-5111; ask for The Way Up conference Block.

Rooms are only $109/night (single) or $114/night (double occupancy) through October 15, 2014.

Note: The $109 rate is also available for Friday, November 7 for a  "Shop Til You Drop" special rate for The Way Up conference attendees.

The Hotel at the Kirkwood Center and Conference Center offers free wireless Internet access throughout the conference center.

The Hotel at the Kirkwood Center and Conference Center
7725 Kirkwood Boulevard SW
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404

Thursday, November 6, 2014
 

9:45-10:30 am  Opening Keynote Speaker:

Mary Vermeer Andringa
President and Chief Executive Officer of Vermeer Corporation
Co-Chair, Governor's STEM Advisory Council of Iowa

“Life Lessons”

Mary Vermeer Andringa is President and Chief Executive Officer of Vermeer Corporation, a global industrial and agricultural equipment manufacturer located in Pella, Iowa.   With humble beginnings, Vermeer Corporation has grown to become a global organization with more than 2,800 employees worldwide, serving the environmental, construction, mining, forage, trenching and drilling industries.   Today, Vermeer facilities are found in Latin America, Asia Pacific, China, Europe and the U.S.

Ms. Andringa credits her background in education for her inherent proficiency at leadership and inspiring team members to reach new heights in their personal and professional development.  After receiving her degree from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, she taught in the Iowa public school system and later in Omaha, Nebraska, for approximately six years.  In July, 2013, Ms Andinga was asked to serve as Co-Chair of the Governors STEM Advisory Council of Iowa, whose priorities include establishing STEM-focused schools to offer students more STEM education opportunities, building an online portal to house a best practices clearinghouse, and increasing retention of top math and science teachers.

During her Keynote address, Mary will share her key lessons learned through a lifetime of fulfilling and challenging experiences as a wife, mother, grandmother, former elementary teacher and present corporate and industry leader.  Mary will focus on what it takes to appreciate and make each day count while capturing what’s important for the next phase of life.  Specific issues that she has lived and learned from include finding the right work-life balance, communicating her personal best to every audience and leading with heart and a global mindset.  Hear how her positive and intense focus on living a purposeful life has given her a full and rewarding past, present and future.

12:00-1:30 pm   Lunch

The Way Up Scholarship and Recognition Awards:

* Carol Rocklin Kay Memorial Scholarship
* Eunice A. Dell Memorial Scholarship
* "Kaplan Supports The Way Up" Scholarship
* Recognition Award

5:30 - 7:00pm   Evening Banquet with Dinner Speaker

Dinner Speaker

Betty Vandenbosch,
Provost, Kaplan University

“Nobody Wants to Hear about Your Stomach Ache: Focusing on What Matters for Professional Development”

Betty Vandenbosch is the Provost at Kaplan University. Previously, she was the Dean of Students and prior to that she oversaw the schools of Business and Management and Information Systems and Technology at the University.  As Provost, Dr. Vandenbosch is the Chief Academic Officer, overseeing the schools of Business, Information Technology, Health Sciences, Nursing, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Education, and General Education.  She also leads Academic Affairs and Curriculum and Innovation.

Dr. Vandenbosch came to Kaplan from Case Western Reserve University, where she served as the Associate Dean of Executive Education and External Relations as well as Associate Professor of Information Systems at the Weatherhead School of Management. Dr. Vandenbosch is a two-time winner of Weatherhead's Executive Education Teaching Award (2000, 2004) and, in 2001, was presented with the Masters Programs Teaching Award.  Prior to entering academia, Betty spent seven years as a consultant with McKinsey & Company in Toronto and in Amsterdam. She earned a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, an MBA, and a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from the University of Western Ontario.  Her book, Designing Solutions, which describes and explains the problem solving process, was published in 2003 by Jossey-Bass. 
 
In this evening keynote presentation, Vandenbosch will share her journey and the lessons she has learned along the way.  It has been Vandenbosch’s experience that the way you develop and grow is to focus on your strengths and opportunities rather than your challenges and personal shortcomings.  To paraphrase Peter Drucker, when you focus on your strengths, your weaknesses become irrelevant.  Plan to attend this exciting presentation; you will end the day energized with a renewed focus on your strengths and opportunities!
 

Friday, November 7, 2014

11:30 - 1:15 pm Lunch

Closing Speaker:

Julie Keehner,
Vice President for Student Development and Enrollment Management, West Virginia Wesleyan College

“LEAN IN – AND, MAKE A DIFFERENCE!”

Julie Keehner has worked in higher education for over thirty-five years, serving as a Chief Student Affairs Officer for twenty-five years at three different institutions including Hollins University, Buena Vista University in Iowa and West Virginia Wesleyan College.  After serving as the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services at BVU for nine years, Keehner relocated to Buckhannon, West Virginia where she presently serves as the Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students.  In addition to overseeing the co-curricular program at these various institutions, Keehner has been actively involved in developing and supporting leadership development and community engagement programs, as well as other initiatives and services that promote student engagement, persistence and success.

Keehner has also focused her efforts on the leadership development of women, teaching a first year seminar course entitled ‘Women in Leadership’ for several years and co-founding the Center for Women’s Leadership at West Virginia Wesleyan.  Her presentation includes research involving the difference women make in the organizations they lead and also brings together her understanding of student development and effective supervision; her many years of cultivating and recognizing leadership in the women with whom she has worked; and, her personal leadership journey which has involved learning how to ‘lean in’ in very different cultures and environments.  And, she readily admits—with humor and humility—that she has been more successful in some of these experiences than in others!  Keehner invites you to learn from her successes and challenges, and to also put our experiences in the context of the internal and external factors that influence our personal and professional worlds.

During this final Keynote presentation, Dr. Keehner will share her thoughts about the “Lean In’ philosophy of leadership.  Although studies confirm the important contributions of women to the success of the organizations in which they work, participate and lead, many women still find it difficult to ‘Lean In,’ an action coined by Sandsberg in her interesting and thought-provoking books.  How do we become more comfortable ‘leaning in?’ And, as importantly, how do we promote and develop cultures and environments in which other women feel valued and encouraged to lean in and make a difference?  Individually and collectively, we have the ability to make these important changes in our environments for those with whom we work today—and, for those who come after us.  Dr. Keehner will share stories and examples of how we become effective change agents—based on her personal experiences, as well as those of her colleagues and friends. It’s time for all of us to ‘lean in’ and discover the difference we really can make!

Thursday, November 6

10:45 – 12:00      Contributed and Invited Presentations I

Leadership and Organizational Ethics

    Judy Ruud, Attorney; Instructor, Management, College of Business Administration
    Craig Vansandt, Associate Professor, Management, College of Business Administration; Davi W. Wilson Chair in Business Ethics, University of Northern Iowa

As one attains positions of increasing leadership, ethical responsibility takes on new dimensions.  Facing and making critical decisions requires both assertiveness, what Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg calls "leaning in," and confidence.  This seminar will provide women with tools and skills to more confidently and effectively analyze, make and manage ethical decisions faced in higher education and other organizations.  Attention will be given to the role of ethics in crisis situations where decisions must often be made quickly, in uncertain conditions, and under significant public scrutiny.  Participants in this interactive seminar will be challenged to consider how they might act when faced with diverse ethical questions, including those of "right versus right." Participants will also have the opportunity to provide feedback, share experiences, and ask questions.


Understanding Our Students: Early Identification of Risk Factors and Models to Serve Students who may be At-Risk.

    Kacy Webster, Campus President;  Erica Spiller, Associate Dean;
    Marilyn Jerome, Professor; Kaplan University-Des Moines Campus

This session will identify common risk factors, ways to assess students' risk factors, models to support students and increase student success.


President's Panel:

    Susan Spivey, Kaplan University Campus President
    Dr. Marlene Sprouse, Indian Hills Community College President

This session will give you an opportunity to learn from the experience of strong leaders in a Presidential role. Panel topics will include: -Their experiences, advice for charting your future in higher education administration and what they see as the critical characteristics of a leader to be climb the administrative ladder.


Six Things Every WAY UP Leader Must Know

    Debra J. (DJ) Corson, CLO;  Visions Unlimited

Have you heard it said, People hate change?  Not true!  Every day people choose to move from one residence to another, get married, have babies…all BIG changes!  However, in the work environment we don't always feel the excitement about change, do we?

To stay competitive, colleges must change--sometimes in big ways and sometimes in small ones. Colleges need amazing leadership more than ever before. Women who wish to move into key leadership roles, must be able to influence change at their current position.  In this session, you will learn 6 things that will help you gain some amazing results for both your organization and for you:

• 1 thing you must understand about people;
• 1 thing you must decide before you begin;
• 1 question you should always ask;
• 1 thing you must find in your own organization;
• 1 thing you must do; and
• 1 thing you should get.

1:45 – 3:00        Contributed and Invited Presentations II

Key Themes from Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead: A Book Discussion

    Candace Peters, Trainer/Consultant, University of Iowa

Despite women making up 50 % of the college graduates in the U.S. for decades, men continue to hold a sizable majority of leadership roles. Join us for a discussion of key themes from Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, a 2013 book written by Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook. In addition to sharing her personal story, Sandberg uses research to explain why women's progress in achieving leadership roles has stalled, examines the core causes, and offers captivating, reasonable solutions to empower women to achieve their full potential. The book challenges us to move the conversation from what women can't do to what we can do, and serves as a rallying cry for us to work together to create an equal world.  Participants for this session are asked to read the book prior to attending this session.


Competency-Based Education & Assessment in Higher Education: The Evidence and Process for Adoption

    Chandice Covington, Dean and Vice President of School of Nursing, Kaplan University

Competency learning theorists purport humans learn best when self-driven. For over 50 years, the concept of competency based education has lain-in-wait in the backstage of higher education, not fully adopted nor embraced by the mainstream.  At the same time, competency-driven approaches are touted as the future sea-change of post-modern education and a disruptive innovation sorely needed to address meeting the needs of the  social milieu of the next 25 years in higher education.

In 2013, the U.S. Department of Education issued guidance for higher education institutions that offer competency-based programs in which students learn at their own pace - but that currently do not offer federal student aid. This financial climate change produced a re-look across higher education units to consider the often disregarded innovation of competency-based education (CBE) in the pedagogy of learning and assessment of learning..    This session will describe the history, theoretical foundations, and evidence leading to the current resurgence of interest in competency-based education (CBE) and assessment. Examples of CBE approaches in higher education in the US and globally will be compared and contrasted. A review of best practices for assessing the  university/college milieu and feasibility of adopting a CBE approach will be defined. Lastly, tools that promote the role of women leaders in higher education to serve as CBE disruptive innovators will be shared.


Serving Military Members and Veterans in College

    Julie Heuer,  Military & Veteran Student Services Coordinator, Office of the Dean of Students, University of Northern Iowa

Military members are redefining the definition of the non-traditional student. This session will provide an informative and interactive way to discover what military members on campus look like and the impact this group has on policy, college credit, and the overall campus environment. Additionally, we will discuss best practices in providing services to veterans and useful tips for female staff and administrators engaging with this population.


So You Want a Career In...

    Suzette Radke, Controller, Buena Vista University
    Jody Donaldson, Scholarship and Alumni Officer, Kirkwood Community College;
    Summer Vaselaar, Director of Financial Aid, Kaplan University
    Patti J Rust, Senior Associate Registrar, University of Northern Iowa

Numerous opportunities exist within higher educational institutions yet knowing how best to prepare for, and enter, certain areas often is unclear. Panel participants will give a brief overview of the path they have traveled to reach the positions they hold after which they will offer insights on a number of questions. Questions considered include: What does a typical day look like? What are minimum degree requirements for careers in these fields? What job experiences are transferable among areas? What are the most important job skills and personality qualities for success? Audience questions and interaction are encouraged throughout the discussion.

3:15 – 4:30        Contributed and Invited Presentations III

Cracking the glass ceiling: A phenomenological study of women administrators in higher education.

    Lori Jarmon, Program Manager, University of Iowa

Women administrators in higher education, despite their significant numbers, have been of little concern to researchers. While legislative policies have helped women in higher education, women in higher education still experience large disparities in salary, promotion, and prestige. These invisible barriers, that often keeps women down are referred to as the glass ceiling, was the focus of this study and will be shared in this session.  If your goal is a senior leadership position in higher education this session will reveal actionable items that you can do to break through the glass ceiling.  It requires hard work but is obtainable with proper guidance, support, and strategic planning.


Embracing and Fostering Leadership Opportunities for Faculty and Staff

    Dr. Bill Ruud, President, University of Northern Iowa

As an institutional head, the president has the opportunity to cultivate faculty and staff leadership opportunities. President Ruud, UNI's 10th president, will share what steps he can take, and what each of you can do in higher education to embrace leadership opportunities and promote others. Details about how institutional heads can identify, assist and promote women and others into leadership positions will be shared.  All will be encouraged to promote professional growth and empower others to take ownership of their career paths. Experiences, taking risks, and ideas to promote oneself for future leadership positions will be shared.


Transparency and Compliance with Federal and State Regulations and Accountability within Today's Higher Education Landscape.

    Janice Friedel, Associate Professor, School of Education, Iowa State University

This session will explore the ever-changing landscape of Higher Education in today's country. Exploration of the types of regulatory oversight and governmental initiatives that impact sectors of higher education will occur.


Getting Your Roles and Goals in Harmony

    Debra J. (DJ) Corson, CLO, Visions Unlimited

We all have the same number of hours in a day so how come some people seem to flourish and others seem to flounder? Join this session if you:
-    Can laugh at yourself (you MUST have a sense in humor in life!)
-    Are willing to use strategies provided in the session to make desired changes in your life (wouldn't want to waste your time learning something you won't use!)
-    Enjoy meeting and learning from others (because this session is lively!)
-    To get where you want to be, you must chart your course, you must learn how to navigate the waters, you must have the right tools, and you must learn from lessons along the way. Are you ready to sail?

 

Friday, November 7

8:45 – 10:00       Contributed and Invited Presentations IV

Product: YOU! Personal Branding for the New Age

    Crystal Ford, Director of Career Services, Kaplan University

Personal branding and impression management are vital in this technology driven, competitive world.  Do you have what it takes to stand out in this day and age?  Product: YOU!  Personal Branding for the New Age will explore different tips and tricks to assist in highlighting your best qualities.


Beyond the Buzz -  Universal Design for Learning Addressing Equity, Opportunity and  Challenge

    Christina Curran; Associate Professor, Special Education, UNI College of Education; and Director of T2 PAL: Technology and Teachers - Promoting Accessible Learning

Despite a variety of possible barriers,  there are growing numbers of diverse students including those with disabilities, international students, and students from diverse ethnic and racial minority groups entering colleges and universities.   Once in college outcomes can be differential.  Gaps in graduation and retention rates, as well as degree completion rates are often a reality for these students.  Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an established  best practice framework to proactively address roadblocks to learning and success.   The need for responsive and flexible practices throughout elementary, secondary and college classrooms, is critical if higher education is to be accessible, equitable and appropriately challenging for all those enter these doors.  This session will feature critical elements, practices, technology considerations, resources, and interdisciplinary advocacy necessary to move beyond the buzz of UDL in K-12 education and on college campuses.


Navigating Internal Politics

    Allison York, Dean, Kirkwood Community College

Do you aspire to be part of your institution's succession plan?  Do you see barriers to advancement your institution's internal politics?  Explore features of the institutional landscape, the strategic personal choices and the professional planning that promote competence, courage and savvy thinking as you position yourself for advancement despite the obstacles.  Leave this session with an outline for action.


Trending Technologies for Higher Ed Professionals

    Lori Seawel, Instructional Designer and Technology Coordinator
    Farah Kashef, Faculty Technology Integration Specialist/College of Ed; ITS-Educational Technology, University of Northern Iowa

Bring your favorite device (laptop, tablet, iPhone or Android smartphone) for this hands-on session. We'll acquaint you with an easy-to-use desktop video conferencing tool;  an online learning service to help you learn software, design, and business skills to achieve your personal and professional goals; and a website where you can access award-winning lessons on numerous topics, as well as create your own lessons around educational videos on You Tube, to introduce new topics to learners in an exciting, curiosity-inspiring way. This tool allows for adding quiz-like questions, discussion topics and other materials to supplement the online videos to make them interactive.

 

10:15 – 11:30      Contributed and Invited Presentations V

Charting Your Course Toward Successful Meetings: Enhanced  Meeting Management = Improved Leadership

    Jill Rhea, Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies,  Buena Vista University

Do you hate wasting your time in senseless meetings?  Are you at a loss when asked to run a meeting?  Do you believe there must be better means to get things accomplished in collaborative ways? This session may be for you!  Through an interactive approach, this session will address the importance of  effective meeting management; describe the connection between strong leadership and strong meeting management skills; and, using current research and applications, offer practical suggestions to enhance your meeting experiences.


Transforming Undergraduate General Education Courses at U Iowa: The TILE-Constellation project

    Cornelia Lang, Associate Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa

Professor Lang will describe her inspiration for and development of a pilot project to transform part of the general education curriculum in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Iowa. TILE-Constellation courses are a new type of multi-disciplinary general education courses that bring together a "constellation" of faculty from different departments to focus on a common theme. These courses are taught in an "active-learning" environment where students interact with each other and also with the course faculty. These courses are taught in classrooms where students are arranged in small teams at round tables to facilitate these interactions and to build student success skills in critical thinking, collaboration and communication.

Two TILE-Constellation courses will being offered at University of Iowa in 2014-2015: Origins of Life in the Universe (involves faculty from the departments of Physics & Astronomy, Biology, Earth and Environmental Sciences and Anthropology) and People and Environment: Technology, Culture and Social Justice, taught by faculty from Anthropology, Gender, Women's and Sexuality Studies, Geography, Urban Planning and Engineering. These courses both fulfill general education requirements and are filled by primarily first and second year undergraduates. These students will greatly benefit from the skills fostered and intellectual development by studying at the intersection of many disciplines.

Professor Lang will describe the assessment and outcomes of the first year of this transformative activity at University of Iowa and also the opportunities for professional development and leadership through this kind of activity.


Relationships: the Heart of Leadership

    Deb Oliver, Associate Professor and Director of MBA and the Master of Strategic Leadership Program, Mt. Mercy University

Speaking from experiences working in a relationship-based profession, we will talk about the importance of intentionally building genuine relationships with colleagues and partners at all levels as a strategy for career growth and institutional success.


Estate Planning Considerations for Women Today

    Teresa Hoffman, Waterloo Attorney and Estate Planner

This session will cover current estate planning and inheritance tax laws. It will review planning options and alternatives to minimize transfer costs while maximizing administrative alternatives to insure that lifetime and estate affairs are in order to meet individual needs.  The presenter will have specific ideas for estate planning considerations for women of today.

The following four scholarships and awards will be presented at The Way Up Conference. Click the links for more details about each recognition:

• Carol Rocklin Kay Memorial Scholarship
• Eunice A. Dell Memorial Scholarship
• Recognition Award

The Kaplan Supports The Way Up Scholarship Fund 

The Kaplan Supports The Way Up Scholarship Fund was established in 2014 to provide support for a deserving woman who would not otherwise be able to attend the 2014 annual conference.  Kaplan University will be providing one of the General Session Keynote speakers and wishes to encourage deserving women to participate in The Way Up conference to enhance and strengthen their leadership skills.  The Scholarship will cover conference registration and one night's stay in the conference hotel.  The winner will be announced during the conference.

Eligibility

Women seeking professional development for formal and informal leadership and administrative positions in higher education may apply or be nominated for this scholarship award.p.

Process

Nominations or applications should include the name, address, phone number and email address of the candidate, a one page statement addressing the woman's skills and abilities as a leader and what she hopes to gain from participation in this conference. After selection, the scholarship recipients must submit the text of a three minute presentation to be made at the Thursday lunch. The topic of the presentation will be "Women in Higher Education: Charting Your Course For Leadership Success - A Professional Woman's Perspective."

Send Scholarship Award materials to:

Darlas Shockley
Indian Hills Community College
525 Grandview Avenue
Ottumwa, IA 52501

641-683-5174
darlas.shockley@indianhills.edu

Due: Electronic submission only no later than October 1, 2014.
Notification will be made on or about October 20, 2014.

Contributions

The Way Up Planning Council encourages all women leaders to "invest in ourselves"!  Please consider making a donation to our scholarship fund.  These scholarships make it possible for deserving women to attend this conference when they would not have been able to otherwise.

Individuals who wish to make contributions to the Scholarship Fund may do so by sending them to:

Doreen Hayek
ATTN: The Way Up Scholarships
UNI
120 ITTC Building
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0301

Checks should be made payable to The Way Up Conference.

The Way Up Conference Thanks You for your Sponsorship!

Kaplan University

Kaplan University's Mission Statement:  Kaplan University is an institution of higher learning dedicated to providing innovative undergraduate, graduate, and continuing professional education. Our programs foster student learning with opportunities to launch, enhance, or change careers in today’s diverse global society. The University is committed to general education, a student-centered service and support approach, and applied scholarship in a practical environment. 
Iowa campuses are located:  Des Moines (www.kaplanuniversity.edu/des-moines-iowa.aspx); Davenport (www.kaplanuniversity.edu/davenport-iowa.aspx); Cedar Falls (www.kaplanuniversity.edu/cedar-falls-iowa.aspx); Cedar Rapids (www.kaplanuniversity.edu/cedar-rapids-iowa.aspx); Mason City (www.kaplanuniversity.edu/mason-city-iowa.aspx)
Nebraska Campuses are located:
Lincoln (www.kaplanuniversity.edu/lincoln-nebraska.aspx); and Omaha ( www.kaplanuniversity.edu/Omaha-nebraska.aspx)

Buena Vista University

Buena Vista University's Mission Statement: We develop students for life long success through innovation and imaginative academic and professional preparation.
http://www.bvu.edu/

Allen College

Allen College is committed to preparing competent healthcare professionals through educational programs of excellence, to developing a diverse community of learners and faculty, and to promoting community service, scholarship, and lifelong learning.

Iowa Coordinating Council

The Iowa Coordinating Council for Post High School Education is composed of representatives of the Presidents and Trustees of public and private colleges and universities in the State of Iowa. In addition, the Iowa College Student Aid Commission, the Iowa Department of Education, and Iowa Public Television are members.
http://www.regents.iowa.gov/HigherEd/highered.htm

University of Iowa

Mission: In pursuing its missions of teaching, research, and service, the University seeks to advance scholarly and creative endeavor through leading-edge research and artistic production; to use this research and creativity to enhance undergraduate, graduate, and professional education, health care, and other services provided to the people of Iowa, the nation, and the world; and to educate students for success and personal fulfillment in a diverse world.
http://www.uiowa.edu/

Iowa State University

Mission: Create, share, and apply knowledge to make Iowa and the world a better place. We must prepare the leaders of our nation and the world. To make the world a better place, Iowa State will call upon its great strengths in student-centered education, global collaboration, and transformational basic and applied research. Iowa State will lead in developing more sustainable ways to produce and deliver safe and nutritious food, water, materials, and energy; integrate the protection of plant, animal, and human health; and care for our environment. We will design tools and infrastructure that will create entrepreneurial opportunities. The major changes sweeping the world are creating extraordinary opportunities for Iowa State to capitalize on its land-grant mission and be at the forefront in addressing our common, global challenges.
http://www.iastate.edu/

University of Northern Iowa

The University of Northern Iowa provides transformative learning experiences that inspire students to embrace challenge, engage in critical inquiry and creative thought, and contribute to society.
http://www.uni.edu/

St. Ambrose University

St. Ambrose University — independent, diocesan, and Catholic — enables its students to develop intellectually, spiritually, ethically, socially, artistically and physically to enrich their own lives and the lives of others.
http://www.sau.edu

Central College

Central College is a residential liberal arts college dedicated to helping students discover and develop their greatest potential. Guided by its ecumenical Christian tradition, the college community engages in vigorous, open inquiry in pursuit of academic excellence.  The College nurtures the development of the mind, while fostering spiritual and emotional maturity and physical well-being. Central integrates career preparation with the development of values essential to responsible citizenship, empowering graduates for effective service in local, national and international communities.
https://www.central.edu/

Grinnell College

When Grinnell College framed its charter in the Iowa Territory of the United States in 1846, it set forth a mission to educate its students "for the different professions and for the honorable discharge of the duties of life." The College pursues that mission by providing an education in the liberal arts through free inquiry and the open exchange of ideas. As a teaching and learning community, the College holds that knowledge is a good to be pursued both for its own sake and for the intellectual, moral, and physical well-being of individuals and of society at large. The College exists to provide a lively academic community of students and teachers of high scholarly qualifications from diverse social and cultural circumstances. The College aims to graduate individuals who can think clearly, who can speak and write persuasively and even eloquently, who can evaluate critically both their own and others' ideas, who can acquire new knowledge, and who are prepared in life and work to use their knowledge and their abilities to serve the common good.
http://www.grinnell.edu/

Drake University

Drake's mission is to provide an exceptional learning environment that prepares students for meaningful personal lives, professional accomplishments, and responsible global citizenship. The Drake experience is distinguished by collaborative learning among students, faculty, and staff and by the integration of the liberal arts and sciences with professional preparation.
http://www.drake.edu

Des Moines Area Community College

DMACC provides quality, affordable, student-centered education and training to empower Iowans of all ages and backgrounds to pursue life's opportunities and achieve their career dreams.
http://www.dmacc.edu

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges

The Eastern Iowa Community Colleges deliver high-quality education and training that prepare a skilled workforce, provide affordable access to higher education, and build and strengthen our communities.  The Eastern Iowa Community Colleges will be the first choice for education, training, and partnerships that strengthen Eastern Iowa.
http://www.eicc.edu

Hawkeye Community College

Hawkeye Community College is a globally informed community of successful lifelong learners.  Hawkeye Community College will be recognized for educational excellence, exceptional student services, and responsiveness to diverse communities.
http://www.hawkeyecollege.edu

Indian Hills Community College

Indian Hills Community College changes lives by inspiring learning, diversity, social enrichment, and regional economic advancement.

Iowa Central Community College

Iowa Central Community College promotes intellectual discovery, physical development, social and ethical awareness, and economic opportunities for all through an education that transforms lives, strengthens community, and inspires progress.
http://www.iowacentral.edu

Iowa Lakes Community College

Mission Statement: To provide opportunities for quality lifelong learning and promote economic development for our communities. Campuses in Algona, Emmetsburg, Estherville, Spencer and Spirit Lake.
http://www.iowalakes.edu

Iowa Valley Community College District

Iowa Valley Community College District is committed to providing quality learning experiences, ensuring student success, responding to diverse community needs, and building community partnerships.
http://www.iavalley.edu    

Kirkwood Community College

Kirkwood Community College identifies community needs; provides accessible, quality education and training; and promotes opportunities for lifelong learning 
http://www.kirkwood.edu

Northeast Iowa Community College

Northeast Iowa Community College provides accessible, affordable, quality education and training to meet the needs of our communities.
http://www.nicc.edu

Northwest Iowa Community College

Northwest Iowa Community College is a progressive learning college rapidly responding to the changing needs of our global community.
http://www.nwicc.edu

Southeastern Community College

Southeastern Community College provides accessible, quality programs and services which promote student success and economic vitality.   Southeastern Community College, a visionary leader in lifelong learning, embraces diversity, transforms lives, strengthens communities, and inspires individuals to excellence.
http://www.scciowa.edu/

Southwestern Community College

Southwestern Community College exists in order that Area XIV community members have opportunities to gain skills and knowledge sufficient for successful employment, higher education achievement, or adult and continuing education.
http://www.swcciowa.edu 

Western Iowa Tech Community College

As a comprehensive community college, our mission is to provide quality education and to economically enhance the communities we serve.
http://www.witcc.edu

• Colleges & Universities in Iowa
• Community Colleges in Iowa

Events

Attractions

Coral Ridge Mall
http://www.coralridgemall.com/ 

Lindale Mall
http://www.simon.com/mall/lindale-mall

The Amana Colonies
http://www.amanacolonies.com/ 

The Old Creamery Theatre
http://www.oldcreamery.com/

Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, West Branch
http://hoover.archives.gov/

Cedar Rapids Museum of Arts
http://www.crma.org/Default.aspx 

African American Museum
http://www.blackiowa.org/ 

Czech Village
http://www.czechvillagecedarrapids.com/

New Bohemia
http://crmainstreet.org/

New Bohemia City Market
http://www.newbocitymarket.com

National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
http://www.ncsml.org

Brucemore Historical Site
http://www.brucemore.org/ 

The Carl & Mary Koehler History Center
http://www.historycenter.org/  

Indian Creek Nature Center  (Cedar Rapids)
http://www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org
       
Iowa Veterans Affairs Health Care System
http://www.iowacity.va.gov/

University of Iowa
https://calendar.uiowa.edu//MasterCalendar.aspx 

Hancher Auditorium - University of Iowa
http://www.hancher.uiowa.edu/

Iowa City/Coralville
http://www.iowacitycoralville.org/calendar.aspx 

Cedar Rapids
http://www.discoverourtown.com/IA/Cedar%20Rapids/Lodging-683.html

Cornell College
http://cornellcollege.edu/

Kirkwood Community College
http://www.kirkwood.edu/

The Hotel at Kirkwood
http://www.thehotelatkirkwood.com/home

Mt Mercy University
http://www.mtmercy.edu/

Other Attractions like these may be found at
http://www.culturalcorridor.org/

Events

Multi-Day Events:

Brucemore Mansion Tours

Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 am - 3:00 pm & Sunday from 12:00 pm - 3:00pm; Tours last 50 minutes;Admission: $7.00 for adults, $3.00 for youth (age 6-18);  2160 Linden Drive SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403 

Explore over a century of Cedar Rapids history through the lives of the three families who called Brucemore home-the Sinclairs, the Douglases, and the Halls. They were business and community leaders during a century of evolution in the Midwest. An investigation of the mansion's Queen Anne architecture, 1925 Grant Wood Porch, 1929 Skinner pipe organ, and 1930s Grizzly Bar and Tahitian Room reflect the history of remarkable people. The changes they made to their estate, the impact they had on their community, and the stories they left behind shape our understanding of modern Cedar Rapids, eastern Iowa, and the American Midwest.
Website:

 

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

October 30– November 16, 2014
The Old Creamery Theatre
By Christopher Durang
Winner of the 2013 Tony for Best Play, the master of contemporary absurd comedy tells the tale of comically dysfunctional siblings who wait....and wait, for something exciting to happen. Enter their movie star sister and her much younger boy toy, ready for a costume party that could change their lives forever.

Devonian Fossil Gorge

Thursday, November 06 - 10, 2014; 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM ; Coralville Lake, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; 2850 Prairie Du Chien Rd. NE; Coralville, IA 52240
Spend 30 minutes or several hours roaming over an ancient ocean floor. Designated discovery points throughout the gorge allow visitors a chance to explore at their own pace. Brochures, with a map, are available at the entry plaza. Be sure to visit this special site.
Website

Barrel Racing @ Kirkwood Equestrian Center
 

Theater Production: Almost, Maine

Friday, November 7th & 8th @ 7:30 pm; Tickets: $10 for adults, $7 for seniors/students/youth;  For tickets contact box office: 319-895-4293
Kimmel Theatre; Cornell College; 600 First St. SW; Mount Vernon, Iowa 52314
"Almost, Maine" by John Cariani, directed by Ron Clark. On a cold, clear, moonless night in the middle of winter, all is not quite what it seems in the remote, mythical town of Almost, Maine. As the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, Almost's residents find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways. "Almost, Maine" is a valentine from the edge with a dose of magic around the border--a play that may be just weird enough to show us what Love really is all about.
Website:

The Church Basement Ladies In: A Mighty Fortress is Our Basement

October 9– November 9, 2014
The Old Creamery Theatre
Inspired by the books of Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson, including the best seller “Growing Up Luther- an.” Written by Greta Grosch. Music and lyrics by Drew Jansen.

Those lovable Church Basement Ladies are back in this all-new musical! Join the fun as they run a food booth at the county fair, teach one of their own how to drive and help their very nervous Pastor make it to the alter on time for his wedding! Whether you’ve seen them before or are brand new to the basement kitchen, you’ll have fun watching the ladies dish it out! Rated G..

Friday November 7

Music Seminar Student Recital

Cornell College; Friday, November 7, 2014 @ 3:15 & 7:30 PM; 600 First St. SW; Mount Vernon, Iowa 52314
Website:
 

Saturday November 8

Curator Guided Tour of 'Celebration! Rituals and Revelry of Life'

National Czech & Slovak Museum; 1400 Inspiration Pl SW; Cedar Rapids; 1:00 PM; Petrik Gallery
Join NCSML Curator Stefanie Kohn for an in-depth look at this exhibit from the National Museum in Prague.

Download the Vendor Form (DOC)
Download the Sponsorship Form (DOC)
Download the Business Sponsorship Form (DOC)