The Waterloo Career Center (WCC) kicked off its sixth year in the district this fall, welcoming in over 600 students to its expanding experiential learning hub. With programs ranging from business and marketing, to nursing, construction, culinary arts, and more, the WCC has become the new standard for educational programming that helps students to obtain trade industry employment directly after high school graduation.
“There are students who graduate from high school, having completed their Certified Nursing Assistance (CNA) through the Waterloo Career Center,” shared Amy Miehe, Waterloo Career Center Administrator. “That’s huge!”
While most students take an average of 6.2 credits during their time at the WCC, there are some who choose to transition most of their classes to the building, citing everything from learning styles, time management, and subject interest as the reasons behind their move.
With classes structured into blocks, students also have longer class periods, with more time in between each session to allow for transportation to and from the different campuses. WCC alumni, such as Charli Peterson, say that this structure allows students to choose learning styles that fit their own pace.
Thankfully, at an average of 6.2 credits earned, WCC students can expect a potential savings of $1,252.40 in tuition and $34.10 in fees from the accredited courses they take. Collectively, the WCC helped 545 Waterloo Community School District students last school year save $751,772 in college tuition through concurrent Hawkeye classes at the WCC. Additionally, more than 200 students from non-Waterloo public schools attended WCC while taking non-concurrent classes and/or May session classes throughout the 2021-22 school year.
Students say there are countless ways for them to explore careers of all kinds at their own pace, and with the upcoming expansion, Administrator Miehe says they’re just getting started.
