Edited release
02/13/23
Kirkwood Community College has announced it will be making changes to its curriculum and cutting costs. The decisions were made after a year-long assessment of programs and expenditures.
In a media release from the college, they will be closing the Dental Technology and Energy Production and Distribution Technologies programs due to low enrollment. The closures will take effect once current students have finished their studies in those areas.
Citing declining enrollment numbers and increased costs of maintaining the program, Kirkwood will eliminate the behind-the-wheel portion of its CDL-A program after the current class finishes. Discussions have begun with a third party to provide driver training for students as a compliment to its classroom instruction. More details will be announced in the coming weeks.
In addition to programming changes, Kirkwood will make what they say is a “small reduction” in faculty and staff due to the program changes, facility closures and lower enrollment in some areas of the college.
Kirkwood President Lori Sundberg says the changes will help balance revenue and costs and allocate financial resources where they are most needed. She says, “Kirkwood has adjusted our approach and resources to increase student retention and completion. The greater the number of our graduates, the greater the impact they will have on our region.”
Kirkwood Community College locations has more than 17,000 annual college-credit students, all of which who are eligible for federal financial aid. The college offers more than $3 million in scholarships each year.