(Estherville)—A new program could soon be in the offing at the Estherville campus of Iowa Lakes Community College. The college’s board of trustees Tuesday approved a request from Mark Gruwell, the college’s Executive Dean of Instruction and Development, to submit an initial proposal for a computer gaming program with the Iowa Department of Education. The program would start in the fall of 2013 and would provide students with programming and design skills within the context of gaming applications.
Room and board rates will be going up next year for ILCC students. Bob L’Heureux, Vice President of Administration, told trustees students will pay $200 more per year for the combination of food service and housing in the 2013-2014 college year. He added that due to stagnant numbers, student memberships at the Smith Wellness Center in Emmetsburg will also be going up effective May 1st.
In other business, trustees accepted the low bid of slightly more than $420,000 from New Modern Concepts of Iowa Falls for a new swine facility at the College Farm Laboratory; and they learned that drawings and specifications have been completed for the Sustainable Energy Resource Technology facility at the Estherville campus. The renovation will include a new lab for the proposed Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning program; a lab for the college’s existing Environmental Studies along with the new Water Quality program; and a location which could include robotics in the future. Space would also be available for training certifications for students and industry partners along with a lab for ladder training and a turbine blade to train for confined spaces. A bid opening on the proposed project is scheduled for April 11th, with a public hearing to be held at the trustees next regular meeting April 16th.
