Des Moines area employees who want to continue their education will soon have a convenient place to take classes.

The state Board of Regents approved the participation of Iowa State, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa in the Des Moines Higher Education Center at the its March meeting. They join Drake University, Grand View College, Simpson College and Des Moines Area Community College in the project.

The location of the facility has not been determined, but it is scheduled to open this fall.

Regent David Neil said the facility is being created because of requests for this type of program.

“There’s been a lot of interest, which we have interpreted as need in the Des Moines area,” he said.

Kevin LaGree, Simpson College president, also said professionals in the Des Moines area wanted to see this type of facility made available.

“We were encouraged by business leaders of downtown Des Moines because they saw a need,” he said. “It was really their idea.”

The universities involved are still planning what type of curriculum to offer at the center. Regent Dr. Clarkson Kelly said the curriculum choices will expand after a couple years.

“Courses would be basically graduate classes at first, then include undergrad,” he said.

Kelly also said classes will be held during both daytime and evening hours, so the center will be able to accommodate many students. The seven universities involved will decide who teaches which courses.

“Each of the individual schools is working on developing their own material and plan to offer one course this fall,” LaGree said. “They are doing surveys of adult students to see which kinds of courses would be helpful to them.”

LaGree also said the universities plan to make credits earned at the center transferable to all seven universities involved.

Kelly said the center will be equipped with complete technological capabilities.

“It is my understanding that they will be completely hooked up and have an [Iowa Communications Network] room,” he said.

Kelly said the universities involved also will be putting their own money into the center.

“They have agreed to each donate $37,500 for three years to finance the center,” he said.

LaGree said the future of the center is hard to envision, but it will be a valuable resource.

“At this point, it’s hard for me to say what the center will be like. It will provide energy and opportunity for people living in the downtown area and nearby,” he said. “The universities will be listening and shaping their ideas from the students’ needs.”