March 19, 2024

DMACC, ICAN partnering to help promote post-high school options for students

Four-year school or two-year school? Go to a technical institute or find a job? With more and more post-high school options becoming available, some students and their families are having a difficult time in planning  what to do after graduation.

The Iowa College Access Network has recognized these challenges and is partnering with Newton’s DMACC Campus to help make the decision making process easier by hosting a Career and College Planning Night, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Oct. 21.

“We hosted a Financial Aid Night, also presented by ICAN, last spring, and when researching their organization, I noticed that they offer a variety of community presentations geared toward middle school students and parents all the way through college students, with their financial literacy program,” said Linda Knabel, DMACC student services specialist.

“Our purpose in hosting ICAN is to make available to the community information that will help families better plan for a higher education, whether it’s at a community college, a four-year college or university, or a trade school.”

The program is free for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. Jessica Schultz, ICAN student success advisor, will lead the presentation.

Schultz will walk attendees through the different areas associated with college planning. She said she’ll help in creating a step-by-step pathway that will assist in the decision-making process for selecting career paths, college majors and even what institution they want to attend.

“The event is designed to make students and parents feel more at ease with a process that is often-times overwhelming, especially to first-time families,” Schultz said.

Schultz added she will take time to answer individual questions throughout the event, and round off the evening with a question and answer session.

“I think this event is extremely important for all families who have children in high school, even if they aren’t sure if, when, or where they will attend college,” Knabel said. “Actually, I would like to see us offer these types of programs to parents who have children who are just entering elementary school.  I know how unprepared my husband and I were when our children were heading to college.”

Contact Senior Staff Writer Ty Rushing at (641) 792-3121 ext. 6532 or at trushing@newtondailynews.com.