Location and History
North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) is located just off Highway 122, four miles east of downtown Mason City, Iowa, a community of almost 30,000 which serves as an active business center for northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. The community is served by the Mason City airport and a bus line.
The North Iowa Area Community College District (Area 2) was formed in 1966 in compliance with laws enacted by the 1965 Iowa Legislature, which provided for the delivery of postsecondary education in Iowa.
The NIACC Board of Directors assumed operation of Mason City Junior College, which was the first public two-year college in Iowa and one of the earliest in the country having been established in 1918 by the Mason City Independent School District.
Construction of the present campus began in 1970. A campus directory can be found online.
Accreditation and Approval
North Iowa Area Community College has been accredited since 1919 by The Higher Learning Commission, 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602, (800) 621-7440.
Board of Directors
The North Iowa Area Community College Board of Directors is comprised of nine members elected from the districts within the college’s 11-county service area. The members must be residents of the district from which they are elected. Each serves a three-year term.
Regular meetings of the Board are generally held on the third Thursday of each month. All meetings are held on the NIACC campus. Public notices of the meetings are given at least twenty-four hours prior to the meeting. These meetings are open to the public, and all interested parties have the right to be present except when the Board is in closed session.
Board Members
David Steffens, Jr., Board President, Norsemen Trucking, Inc., Lake Mills, 2000-2025
Cathy Rottinghaus, Board Vice President, Market President, Charles City, 2017-2021
Debra Hill, Retired Teacher, Garner, 2021-2023
Andy Julseth, Vice President, Northwood, 2021-2023
Doub Krabbe, Senior Vice President, Osage, 2013-2025
Dave Moore, Funeral Director, Clear Lake, 2021-2025
Dr. Stephanie Nettleton, Dentist, Mason City, 2019-2023
Nicki Prantner, Teacher, Hampton, 2019-2023
John Rowe, Financial Advisor, Mason City, 2013-2023
Dr. Steven Schulz, President, North Iowa Area Community College, ex-officio, non-voting
Mindy Eastman, Board Secretary pro tem and Vice President of Administrative Services, North Iowa Area Community College, non-voting
Strategic Plan 2018-2023
Our Mission: To Enrich Lives
North Iowa Area Community College enriches lives through comprehensive educational opportunities, a commitment to learner success, community engagement, and leadership.
Our Vision: To Transform Our Region
North Iowa Area Community College will transform our region into a center of opportunity by creating high-quality learning experiences, providing exceptional services, and forging collaborative partnerships that prepare students, businesses, and communities for success in a diverse, global society.
Our Core Values
- Educational Excellence
- Learner Success
- Community Engagement
- Continuous Improvement
- Collaborative Leadership
Our Strategic Priorities
Increase Student Success and Enrollment
Increase student success and enrollment by offering quality and relevant educational experiences, proactive student support systems, and academic and non-academic opportunities that are both dynamic and diverse.
Improve Student and Stakeholder Experiences
Improve student and stakeholder experiences by providing an environment that is accessible, inclusive, supportive, engaging, and safe for all.
Elevate Organizational Excellence
Elevate organizational excellence through the strategic use of resources and by creating an inspiring and engaging culture for all employees.
Forge and Support Strong Partnerships
Forge and support strong partnerships with schools, businesses, and communities by developing tailored services and programs designed to respond to the educational, workforce, and economic needs of today and tomorrow.
Enhance Teaching
Enhance teaching by supporting faculty development informed by best practice, focused on promoting innovation and implementing effective instructional and assessment techniques.
North Iowa Area Community College Foundation
The North Iowa Area Community College Foundation was incorporated in 1968 as the official fund-raising arm of the College. It is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, tax-exempt corporation operating for the express benefit of the College. It is governed by a Board of Directors who serve in a noncompensated capacity.
The Foundation supports the mission of the College by serving as a financial resource in a variety of areas, including program development, equipment acquisition, building construction, cultural opportunities, and student scholarships. Private gifts through the Foundation have played an important role in the College’s history, and there are many ways that individuals, businesses, and organizations may support the College.
The Foundation is authorized to solicit and receive gifts of cash, property, equipment, and/or bequests and to purchase or lease property for the benefit of the College. Foundation books and records are audited annually.
Nondiscrimination Policy
It is the policy of North Iowa Area Community College to not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, creed, religion, actual or potential parental, family or marital status or veteran’s status in its programs, activities or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code sections 216.6 and 216.9, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000d and 2000e), the Equal Pay Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 206, et seq.), Title IX (Educational Amendments, 20 U.S.C.§§ 1681 – 1688), Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq.).
Individuals having questions or complaints related to compliance with this policy should contact Shelly Schmit, EEO/AA Officer, 500 College Drive, Mason City, IA 50401 or via telephone at 641-422-4211or Shelly.Schmit@niacc.edu. Inquiries may also be directed to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, John C. Kluczynski Federal Building, 230 S. Dearborn Street, 37th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604-7204, phone number: 312/730-1560, fax: 312/730-1576, TDD: 800-877-8339, Email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov
Disability Services
North Iowa Area Community College strives to provide an accessible environment for students, faculty, and staff. We provide support to students with disabilities in reaching academic goals and work to ensure equal access to educational opportunities. North Iowa Area Community College employs a Disability Services Counselor who coordinates services between students with disabilities and their interactions with the college. Working in partnership with the student, the Disability Services Counselor will assist in developing an individual plan for services that will include accommodations in testing and instruction.
A student needing accommodations should register with NIACC Disability Services and speak to the Disability Services Counselor in the Student Access Office, AB106. For additional information, contact us at 1-888-466-4222, Ext. 4413, and ask for a brochure regarding Disability Services or to request a meeting with the Disability Services Counselor.
North Iowa Area Community College supports you in your right to file a grievance when you believe you have been denied equal access to NIACC’s services, programs, and activities. For a description of this procedure you may contact NIACC Disability Services or find it on our website.
A Disability Services Student Handbook can be found on our website at or can be provided in hard copy (or an alternate format) upon request, and lists contact information for NIACC’s ADA Coordinator and ADA Compliance Officer, along with other helpful information.
Office Hours
The administrative offices of the North Iowa Area Community College are open Monday through Thursday from 7:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., and open on Friday from 7:45 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. Additional hours by appointment.
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