Diversity. It is fast becoming one of the "must-use" phrases in modern business and community development circles. When we consider the 40-plus year history of Kirkwood Community College, I am inclined to believe that "Kirkwood was diverse when diverse wasn’t cool." We consider "diversity" to include an understanding and acceptance of differences as well as an equality of opportunity. From that growth of understanding we hope for a completion and celebration of our own unique talents and abilities. Consider that since our inception in 1966, we have been committed to providing accessible, high-quality and relevant education for all people. We strive to be as attainable and affordable a college as we can be . There are some specific factors that highlight those goals with our college in particular: We begin with a global understanding. For decades, Kirkwood has been committed to welcoming students of different world backgrounds to our campus.

For a visual understanding of that, you need look no farther than the front steps of Linn Hall on our main campus. If you examine that area you will see many bricks outlining a flower bed. Each brick is etched with the name of a country on the globe. There are about 150 of them. Each one representing a nation whose students have attended Kirkwood! In our past year alone about 575 students from an even 100 nations have chosen Kirkwood as the start to their college experiences.

This global understanding works both ways, of course. Common sense will tell you that a student from Belle Plaine or Marion could learn something from a classmate from Belize or South Africa. That kind of world-wide understanding happens every day at Kirkwood. With each shared life experience the world seems a little smaller and less intimidating. It’s a joy to watch that happen.

That global commitment to education reaches far beyond eastern Iowa. For many years Kirkwood has been an active member of Community Colleges for International Development. This consortium of over 160 North American two-year colleges explores partnerships and opportunities with other colleges and businesses around the world. From Canada and Denmark to Japan and Australia, CCID reaches out to turn educational ideas into reality. We believe so highly in this partnership that the CCID ‘world headquarters" is right here on our Cedar Rapids main campus!

Kirkwood also welcomes lots of students who travel much less in miles, but a lot further away in opportunities and resources. Again I emphasize our commitment to opportunity and accessibility in education. We are proud of the many partnerships with local school districts to offer "dual credit" classes in their high schools. Thousands of students have been able to get closer to their high school graduation while getting a head start on college credits at the same time. For many this has meant the difference in making college possible. Many other students benefit from our scholarships that bridge the gap between a wish for a future and a real opportunity.

In the realm of economic development we are keenly aware of the urgent need for attracting and retaining a skilled, diverse workforce. Kirkwood was a key partner in the Skills 2000 and Skills 2006 studies. Our partner group of more than 100 Technology Corridor employers named diversity in job recruitment as an integral driver in economic health for our entire region. We are continually committed to those goals and engage in constant dialogues with our community. That is another key reason why Kirkwood was a founding supporter and sponsor to Diversity Focus.

Finally, we can find no better models for the embrace of a world’s peoples than our own Iowa neighbors. Dig into the past of our home state and you find the stories of people seeking and finding new lives in our state. They came to this land in Conestoga wagons and early steam trains. Later they were refugees from war-torn lands and escaped vile persecution thousands of miles away. Since 1966, thousands of them have joined the ranks of our Kirkwood community. They now have jobs, families and new hope. They got their start in our classrooms and hallways.

We invite you to share this ideal of diversity with us. No matter where you come from, we will do all we can to make the next chapter of your life more positive and promising with the help of lifelong learning.

Sincerely,

Mick Starcevich
President