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Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Network Hub at TechWorks of First Projects to Receive Iowa’s New Strategic Infrastructure Funding – $2.7 Million for additional 3D Printers UNI Metal Casting Center

(Cedar Valley of Iowa) The Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Network Hub (IAMNH), at the TechWorks Campus in Waterloo, is one of the first projects in the state to be awarded funds through Iowa’s new Strategic Infrastructure Fund (SIF). The funding was approved by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board at their June meeting. The project, Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Network Hub – Phase I, Additive Manufacturing Center, will receive $2.7 million to fund additional 3D printers for the UNI Metal Casting Center, building improvements, and a design center to be operated by Hawkeye Community College.

“With this financial support from the IEDA and Iowa Innovation Council, UNI is excited and anxious to move forward with creating a full-service additive manufacturing center to meet the innovation and technology needs of Iowa companies,” says Randy Pilkington, Executive Director of UNI’s Business and Community Services. “Thanks to support from IEDA, UNI is building on the momentum of the past 18 months of 3D printing success to create a full-service additive manufacturing center for Iowa manufacturers. Expansion into plastics, metals and ceramics will create one of the best equipped 3D printing facilities in North America.”

The Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Network Hub application for Strategic Infrastructure Fund (SIF) was completed by TechWorks staff and a team including UNI’s Randy Pilkington and Metal Casting Center Director Jerry Thiel; Hawkeye Community College President Linda Allen, and Vice President of Academic Affairs Jane Bradley; and TechWorks board chair Tim Hurley. The team worked with the State of Iowa and the Iowa Innovation Council’s Advanced Manufacturing Workgroup to finalize the application.

The IEDA funding will help to move Iowa to the forefront of technology in additive manufacturing and establish a premier center for support of its manufacturing base.  This funding is a critical step in advancing the state’s technology base and providing a central location for technology advancement.

Dr. Linda Allen Elected to National Council of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships Board

WATERLOO—The National Council of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships announced that Dr. Linda Allen, president of Hawkeye Community College, was recently elected to the Board of Directors.  Dr. Allen will fill a 3-year at-large seat on the Executive Committee. 

The National Council of Concurrent Enrollment Partnership or NACEP is the sole accrediting body for concurrent enrollment (also referred to as dual credit) partnerships.  The NACEP accreditation helps to adhere to the highest standards for concurrent enrollments to provide students a seamless transition to college. 

Concurrent enrollment partnerships enable qualified high school students to earn college credit prior to graduation.  NACEP-accredited programs use college-approved instructors and are the same high quality courses as those offered on the campus of the college.  Students are exposed to the same rigorous academic challenges.  According to NACEP, students are better prepared for college by gaining exposure to college expectations and workload.  Concurrent enrollment courses have grown in popularity and allow families to save on college tuition.

Currently, there are only 83 two-year and four- year institutions of higher education in the nation that have earned NACEP accreditation.  Hawkeye Community College was one of the 15 Iowa community colleges to earn the coveted NACEP accreditation this year. 

Hawkeye currently serves all 27 schools in its service area through its concurrent enrollment program known as CollegeNow.  During the last year, Hawkeye had 1,804 high school students enrolled in CollegeNow courses with the average student taking two college-level courses.  Approximately 25 percent of all of Iowa’s community college students are jointly enrolled in high school, making Iowa a leader in aligning secondary and postsecondary programs in the country.

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