Edited release
01/13/23
Kirkwood Community College announced Thursday that it will move a majority of its Iowa City operations to the Kirkwood Regional Center at the University of Iowa in Coralville beginning in the fall of 2023. The institution is also exploring the possibility of expanding its partnership with Iowa City Public Schools at the district’s newly acquired facility on the ACT campus.
In a message to faculty and staff, Kirkwood President Lori Sundberg detailed the institution’s plans for course offerings in Johnson County moving forward. The move of both credit and noncredit classes to the regional center will enable the college to continue to meet the needs of Johnson County while decreasing the operational costs of having two large facilities in the same metro area. In addition, the institution will reduce the number of sections offered to best meet the needs of current enrollment levels in Johnson County.
The message also explained that a potential expansion of the partnership with Iowa City Public Schools at the ACT campus allows Kirkwood to maintain a presence in Iowa City, while positioning both organizations to expand upon an already valuable collaboration.
Sundberg said that meeting the needs of students is the most important goal. The Kirkwood Regional Center meets the schools needs for space, and research indicates the site is an optimal location as it is more accessible for the community as a whole. In the media release, Sundberg said, “The new locations, as well as the cost savings, will allow us to focus more resources to give our students the support they need to succeed.”
Kirkwood Community College has an enrollment of more than 17,000 annual college-credit students, all of which are eligible for federal financial aid. Over $3 million in scholarships are available each year.
After the move is complete, Kirkwood intends to put the Iowa City location on the market. The sale of the property is expected to save the college nearly $400,000 in operations costs on an annual basis.