EICC News

Urban Campus building and courtyard on a sunny day

Spring 2026 President's and Deans' Lists

These students were named to the President’s and Deans' Lists for the Spring 2026 semester.

Summer Hours: June & July 2026

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) will operate on a four-day schedule starting June 1 through July 31, 2026.

For Him | Lauren Eden

Lauren Eden remembers her younger brother coming home from school and walking a little differently than normal. At 17 years old, Oliver was active and healthy. Nobody thought much of it in the beginning.

First-Generation EICC Graduate Leads With Purpose | Ezequiel Alvarado Jr.

May 27, 2026

A Muscatine High School graduate, Alvarado arrived at EICC with dual enrollment credits already earned. What he thought would take two years took one.

Rendering of the newly remodeled Bickelhaupt Arboretum featuring a large red building with wraparound decks, landscaped terraces, and walking paths surrounded by trees and flowering plants. Text overlay reads, “Where Wonder Takes Root — A New Era Begins at the Bickelhaupt Arboretum.”

Where Wonder Takes Root

May 22, 2026

If you’ve ever wandered through Bickelhaupt Arboretum, you know the feeling: a moment of quiet awe, sunlight streaming through branches, a child squealing as they roll down a hill.

Student in a lab coat and blue gloves examines a petri dish while an instructor in a white lab coat looks on in a science laboratory.

The Study That Refused to Stay Small

May 22, 2026

The slime mold didn’t care that it was being watched. In the soft glow of the microbiology lab at EICC’s Scott campus, students in white coats leaned over a row of Petri dishes, whispering predictions the way fans might around a racetrack.

Shawn Hmaerlinck paddles a loaded kayak across a wide river bordered by green trees under an overcast sky.

The River Only Goes One Direction

May 22, 2026

How one instructor’s 2,552-mile paddle reshaped the way he sees the world — and the way he shows up for his students.

Listening First, Leading Forward

May 22, 2026

Six months into the job, Chancellor Bryan Renfro, PhD, is listening closely, showing up often, and shaping what comes next at EICC.

Portrait of Jonathan Huddleston smiling in front of a background filled with chemistry formulas, scientific diagrams, and oil pump illustrations.

From the Oil Field to the Classroom

May 22, 2026

Jonathan Huddleston did not come to EICC looking for a fresh start. He came with experience, direction, and a clear reason for being here.

Chris Bolin smiles while wearing a blue graduation cap and gown decorated with medals, honor cords, and stoles, holding a diploma at commencement. Text overlay reads, “Chris Bolin — Where He Is Now, and Why.”

Chris Bolin: Where He Is Now, and Why

May 22, 2026

“Most of my days revolve around class,” he said. “I’m taking 17 credit hours, five classes. I work three part-time jobs, and I’m also on the Formula SAE race team.”

Emersyn Keefer, wearing a white chef coat and black chef hat, smiles in a commercial kitchen with industrial ovens in the background. Text overlay reads, “Built Here, Teaching Here.”

Built Here, Teaching Here

May 22, 2026

Emersyn Keefer knows where everything is in the kitchen. The knives. The ovens. The rhythm of a class settling in. She should — she learned it here.

Student wearing a hard hat, safety glasses, and hearing protection looks upward during industrial or workforce training at a job site.

Built by Industry, Backed by Education

May 22, 2026

The need was evident long before the solution took shape. Manufacturers across Eastern Iowa struggled to fill industrial maintenance roles as retirements accelerated, and technology advanced.

Graphic with futuristic blue digital interface elements, charts, and connected workflow diagrams on a dark background alongside the text: “AI Is Here — And EICC Is Preparing the Workforce

AI Is Here — And EICC Is Preparing the Workforce

May 21, 2026

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a future concept. It is already shaping how businesses analyze data, automate work, and make decisions. EICC is responding with a new AI Programming degree to prepare graduates for entry-level roles in this growing field.

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