New Information Technology Program Announced
NIACC's successful implementation of the Murphy Manufacturing Technology Center represents a major step forward to enhance the economic prospects for the region by boosting the technology talents of its people. Now NIACC is leading another significant technology development in North Iowa by introducing new educational opportunities in Information Systems Technology (IST) this fall.
Today 346,000 positions in information technology are unfilled in the U.S., and employment opportunities are expected to increase over 100% by 2006. The average salary for an information technology employee with a two-year degree is approximately $40,000.
Graduates of the IST program will earn an Associate Degree from NIACC in preparation for immediate employment or transfer to a senior college or university. Students may choose from four different specialties: Network Administration, Desktop Systems, Web Support, and MIS.
Graduates will also have the opportunity to become certified through CISCO, Microsoft or Novell.
The Information Systems Technology program at NIACC is the first of four advanced technology programs the College plans to introduce over the next several years. Future programs include Multimedia Technology, Geographic Information Systems, and Web Design and Development.
Regional Hubs to Open in Forest City, Garner and Britt
High school students from the Garner-Hayfield, Forest City and West Hancock school districts interested in NIACC's new Information Systems Technology (IST) program will have early access to it through a new regional Tech Prep Hub.
The IST Hub, which will be located at Garner-Hayfield High School beginning in the fall of 1999, is one of three hubs opening soon. A Mechanical Design Tech Prep Hub will open at Forest City High School this year and a Health Occupations Tech Prep Hub will open at West Hancock High School next year.
Through the region's established Tech Prep programs and this latest partnership, local high school students will be able to complete a full year of college by the time they graduate from high school with no extra expense to them. With just one additional year of training, they will be eligible for an Associate Degree from NIACC.
The new Tech Prep Hubs will model the successful Automotive Technology Hub at Clear Lake High School and the Manufacturing Technology Tech Prep Hub at NIACC's Murphy Center.
"Strategically the Tech Prep Hubs represent a significant change in structural relationships with our K-12 colleagues and the AEA," said Dr. Michael Morrison (retired 2008), Vice President for Academic Affairs at NIACC. "We have the opportunity to become educational partners, building a common consensus about educational programming and fulfilling our respective missions."
Financial resources to operate the hubs include high school, NIACC, and state incentive dollars. A full-time instructor will be hired by NIACC for each of the new hubs.
Home | Search | Calendars | Directory | NIACC News | Contact Us | NIACC Alerts
North Iowa Area Community College, 500
College Drive, Mason City, IA 50401
641-423-1264 or 1-888-GO NIACC
www.niacc.edu