Adult Learning Center Uplifts Community

CFNEIA

July 9, 2018

Hawkeye Community College has a vision that is coming to life in the form of the new Adult Learning Center currently under construction in downtown Waterloo. Here, urban students will come to start a career path, learn English, and prepare for college. The new facility will double the urban campus capacity to 4,500 and house multiple programs in a state-of-theart facility. But, the real vision is to create an environment in which students will be supported in a holistic way, providing them with all possible services as they start their journey.

“The issues that really become an impediment to success for students are things like homelessness, food insecurity, and health issues,” said Dr. Linda Allen, Hawkeye Community College President. “With our new model, we are going to identify those at the start so we can get them the resources they need, making it easier for them to move forward in their education.”

Voters passed a bond including the project in 2015 and those dollars focus on the physical building. But, according to Dr. Allen, it’s funding like the $200,000 grant from the Community Foundation that allow for the creation of student-focused programs.

“Community partnerships are essential for the College. It’s critical our community is able to offer these supports and training opportunities in the urban environment. These are amazing people who are trying to move their life forward or to start a new life, and they are working very hard to become successful,” said Dr. Allen.