Change at the Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC) drove the need for a new logo, according to WITCC President Terry Murrell.

He was at the Denison WITCC campus last Thursday to talk about the design of the new logo and the synergistic relationship among the college, students and the community.

“Within the past 10 years we have seen a significant change at Western Iowa Tech. There's a couple of things that we've done that led us to think that maybe we need to have a new look,” Murrell told those gathered at the Denison campus building.

One change was the adoption of a new mission statement. The old statement did not have the students at the center of the message, Murrell said. 

The new mission statement is: As a comprehensive community college, our mission is to provide quality education and to economically enhance the communities we serve.

The community college’s board of directors also adopted new values. The first letter of each value spells the word “TECH” - transformation, engagement, community and harmony.

Another development was being named an Apple Distinguished School three times. Murrell said WITCC is only one of four community colleges to ever receive that designation.

He continued that WITCC has awarded more credentials than any other community college in the Iowa system, which stems from a philosophy of giving students and businesses what they both need to thrive.

“Rather than try to give everybody an associate degree, we try to find out what it is that you’re (businesses are) looking for so we can get the students out into the field,” Murrell said.

He said one more reason to design a new logo is the work that has been done at the college’s buildings.

“Over the last 10 years we have changed almost every one of the learning spaces that we have in the college to try to make sure that those learning spaces are appropriate for what a student might need and for what it might look like when they get out into the field,” he said.

Input from staff, students, community residents, board members, alumni and others were considered in the design of the new logo.

“We hope that this logo becomes a visual representation that instills the pride in our college that our students and our community and our alumni are looking for,” Murrell said.

Murrell said the purpose of Western Iowa Tech remains the same in its focus to elevate diverse learners and the communities it serves through an inclusive and innovative education. 

“I'm a firm believer that Western Iowa Tech can be no stronger than the communities. So really our mission is to help strengthen our communities. By strengthening our communities, we think we're also then helping to strengthen our college and the people going to our college,” Murrell said.

Later, before the members of the Denison Rotary Club, Murrell spoke about the plan to add on to the Denison campus building to establish a regional career academy that will involve the Denison Community School District and other area school districts.

He said $5 million had originally been budgeted for the career academy with WITCC and the Denison Community School District each providing $2 million. The state also provided a $1 million grant.

Murrell said the budget hasn’t been developed but he did look at the plan and said he would be surprised if the project could be done for $5 million.

He said it was important to bring in other high schools to broaden and diversify the programs that can be offered to students.

Murrell said that 10 years ago. WITCC did not have any vocational program at the Denison campus. Today nursing, welding and HVAC are offered on campus.

“And I think with the academy, it’s going to allow us to bring in a few more different programs and we will continue to listen to the community as to what your needs are,” he said.

Some of the projected new programs are business, education, ag and electrician.

He also spoke about the placement of WITCC students in careers. He said placement was probably an issue in 2008 and before, but if there’s a college that’s not placing in the 90th percentile right now, he’s not sure why they’re in business because of the high demand for employees.

Because of the demand, students coming out of high school can earn $20 to $25 an hour; it was around $15 an hour less five years ago, Murrell said. He added that to a high school graduate, $25 an hour sounds like a lot of money, and it is, but it’s not as much money when that high school graduate turns 45 and 50 years old.

Murrell said the issue for WITCC is to support people to get an education while they are out earning the $25 an hour by offering day classes, online classes or night classes.  He said if too many graduates take jobs right out of high school without further education, it leads to a very low skilled community, and if it becomes too low skilled, it will be difficult for communities to attract the businesses they want.

“We really try to work directly with people and get them what they want. Over the last seven years, we’ve issued more credentials than any other community college in the state,” Murrell said. 

He pointed out that most community colleges shy away from giving a one-year diploma or a six-month certificate because they want the kids to stay with them for two years to receive an associate degree.

“Early on we said we need to meet the needs of our students, so if they come to us and say they want a six-month certificate, we’re going to give them a six- month certificate. And then we feel strongly that they’re going to come back to us and finish up their diploma or finish their associate degree.”

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