Faculty members take show on the road

Jennifer Young
February 13, 1997

Iowa State faculty will be hitting the road next week with a bus trip to two community colleges in Iowa.

Participating faculty members will travel to Iowa Valley Community College in Marshalltown and Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo on Tuesday, Feb. 25.

The bus will leave Ames at 8 a.m. and arrive in Marshalltown at 9 a.m. After two hours in Marshalltown, faculty will hop on the bus again and travel to Waterloo. They can expect to be back in Ames by 5 p.m.

“At each of the community colleges, we’re going to have a meeting with the college administrations to learn about the programs that the community college has and the type of students the community college services,” said Ann Schultz, program coordinator.

This is the third faculty bus trip; the first two were taken in October. The trips are sponsored by Vision 2020, a grant program funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

The program fosters collaboration among educational institutions, establishes partnerships with business, government and community groups, and promotes learner-centered educational models, Schultz said.

Schultz said at each of the community colleges, ISU faculty will be paired with their counterpart faculty. At least one hour will be spent talking to that person about their similar disciplines.

“This will give them an opportunity to share curriculum, to share what textbooks they’re using and also give them an opportunity to see and experience the atmosphere and culture of a community college,” Schultz said.

So far, 16 faculty members have signed up for the bus trip. Schultz said the bus can hold 39 people and if there are more faculty than there are seats, a second bus will be used.

Schultz said all of the faculty who went on the previous trips said it was a “worthwhile” experience.

“It was an opportunity for them to see a community college firsthand and to see their counterparts,” Schultz said.

Jim Werbel, department executive officer in management, marketing, and transportation and logistics, went on one of the previous trips to Indian Hills Community College.

“I’ve personally been trying to visit as many community colleges as I can,” Werbel said. The bus trips are helping him reach his goal.

“I recommend it for department executive officers because it’s important that we develop relationships with community colleges and understand what they’re doing and how they’re doing it,” Werbel said.

Ron Cantrell, chair of the agronomy department, went to North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City.

“I thought it was very good,” he said. “This gave me a real opportunity to get to know something about the community college system.”

Cantrell said he found attitudes of the NIACC faculty to be very open. He has encouraged other ISU faculty to go on the bus trips.

“I think the more we get to know one another, the easier it will be to work together,” Cantrell said.

Schultz said the bus trips are open to all faculty and Vision 2020 will pay all expenses. Reservations for the trips will be taken at any time, she said.

Faculty members who would like to make reservations can call Schultz at 4-2092.

VISION 2020: Community College Bus Tour Schedule

Confirmed Dates

Feb. 25 Iowa Valley Community College, Marshalltown & Iowa Falls

Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo

Apr. 2& 3 Southeastern Iowa Community College, West Burlington

Eastern Iowa Community College, Bettendorf & Muscatine

Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids

Apr. 24 Northeast Iowa Community College, Calmar

Tentative Fall Dates

Sept. 9-10 Iowa Lakes Community College, Estherville, Emmetsburg

Northwest Iowa Community College, Sheldon