HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 5

BY  KAUFMANN, HALL, BYRNES, WITTNEBEN, UPMEYER, MUHLBAUER, BRANDENBURG, COHOON, FORRISTALL, and THOMAS

A Resolution recognizing January 27, 2011, as a day to honor Iowa’s community colleges on their 45th anniversary.

   WHEREAS, 2011 marks the 45th anniversary of the designation of the first of fifteen merged area schools, now called community colleges; and
   WHEREAS, in 1965 the legislation creating these merged area schools was floor managed by Senator Jack Kibbie; and
   WHEREAS, today Iowa has a statewide system of fifteen community colleges, which are public, postsecondary, two-year institutions organized as comprehensive community colleges, serving all of Iowa’s ninety-nine counties; and
   WHEREAS, Iowa’s community colleges have enjoyed tremendous success, with the number of students attending community colleges growing from 8,000 to 80,000; and
   WHEREAS, Iowa’s community colleges have provided easy access to thousands of Iowans who seek higher education, including many who transfer credits to senior institutions and thousands more who seek high-quality vocational-technical programs; and
   WHEREAS, adult and continuing education courses and job training programs have trained thousands of Iowa’s citizens, who have improved their skills, benefiting businesses, the workforce, and the overall economy of the state; and
   WHEREAS, community colleges are the port of entry for many of the poorest, most challenged, and most disadvantaged citizens of the state; NOW THEREFORE,

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That the House of Representatives recognizes January 27, 2011, as a day to honor the fifteen community colleges in Iowa on the 45th anniversary of their founding.