History

History of Iowa Valley

Iowa Valley Community College District (IVCCD) was organized in 1966 as one of 15 community college districts in Iowa. The District operates Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls (founded in 1890), Marshalltown Community College (founded in 1927), and Iowa Valley Continuing Education, as well as a satellite center (Iowa Valley Grinnell, established in 1993).

ECC and MCC offer one-year and two-year career-technical programs as well as Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) transfer degrees. Iowa Valley Continuing Education offers training for business and industry as well as thousands of adult education programs and services throughout the Central Iowa service area. Iowa Valley Grinnell offers both college credit and adult education programs and services in Poweshiek County.

Selected Historical Highlights

1890 – Ellsworth Community College was established as the private Ellsworth Academy in Iowa Falls by Professor John Tobin. The institution was named after Eugene Ellsworth, a benefactor.

1927 – Marshalltown Community College was established as Marshalltown Junior College under the auspices of the Marshalltown School District.

1965 – Iowa’s 61st General Assembly passed legislation providing the impetus for the establishment of the community college system.

1966 – IVCCD (then called Merged Area VI) was organized July 9 following elections in which seven new board members were named. Four months later the first IVCCD superintendent, Robert Horsfall, was hired.

1967 – IVCCD administrative offices opened at 19 S. Center St. in Marshalltown in January. In July MCC became part of the District, followed in August by IVCE.

1968 – ECC became part of the District. Superintendent Horsfall resigned and Donald Skinner was named IVCCD superintendent.

1971 – Phase One construction was completed on what is now the Marshalltown Community College/Iowa Valley campus in Marshalltown; the campus was built in four phases, which opened in 1971, 1975, 1978 and 1983.

1972 – What had been known as Merged Area VI became “Iowa Valley Community College District” through an official name change.

1973 – Dr. John Prihoda was named Superintendent.

1989 – Voters approved a $7.5 million bond issue for construction of ECC’s Gentle Student Center and classroom expansions; construction of MCC’s B.J. Harrison Library and bookstore, as well as renovation of the student union and Student Success Center; construction of the IVCE Conference Center; and installation of the statewide Iowa Communications Network fiber optic telecommunications system.

1991 – Dr. Paul Tambrino was named President.

1993 – Iowa Valley opened a satellite campus in Grinnell at 929 Broad Street, offering credit and adult education programming.

2002 – In January the Iowa Valley Grinnell center relocated to its new location at 123 6th Ave. W. Tim Wynes was named President.

2006 – Voters approved a $35 million bond issue for construction of an Agriculture & Renewable Energy Center, Equestrian Center, and Activity Center at ECC; construction of a Student Activity Center and Orpheum Theater renovation at MCC; construction of a welding and technology lab onto the Construction Technology building in Marshalltown for IVCE; expansion of the Iowa Valley Grinnell campus; and technological upgrades and improvements.

2007 – IVCCD’s online Associate of Arts degree was approved by the Higher Learning Commission.

2008 – In March the IVCE Business & Technology Center was completed on the Marshalltown campus as an addition to the MCC Construction Technology building; it includes a state-of-the-art welding lab with 36 stations and several classrooms. Ribbon cuttings were also held this year for two other bond issue projects: the MCC Student Activity Center was dedicated in October, and the Grinnell Learning Studios Addition was dedicated in November.

2009 – A ribbon-cutting was held in August for the Dale Howard Family Activity Center on the ECC campus in Iowa Falls. The newest MCC Student Apartments, constructed by MCC students during the FY09 academic year, were opened for fall occupancy. Dr. Chris Duree was named IVCCD Chancellor in November.

2010 – A ribbon-cutting was held in May for the new Ellsworth Equestrian Center and the ECC Agriculture & Renewable Energy Center in Iowa Falls. In addition, on June 23 the District re-opened the Orpheum Theater Center in downtown Marshalltown under the auspices of IVCCD.

2013 – A ribbon-cutting was held in October for the new Iowa Valley Tama County Education Center. The District offers adult basic education/high school equivalency and English as a Second Language (ESL) courses in the former STC intermediate school/Partnership Center building at 215 W. 9th St. in Tama.

2014 – MCC dedicates remodeled Health Occupations and Advanced Manufacturing classrooms and lab spaces.

2015 – ECC celebrates its 125th anniversary.

2018 – The Iowa Valley Education & Training Center and Orpheum Theater Center were damaged when a tornado went through downtown Marshalltown on July 19, 2018; repairs on both buildings were completed in July 2019.

2019 – Dr. Kristie Fisher was named IVCCD Chancellor in July.

2019 – Voters approved a $32 million bond for renovations in November.

2020 – A derecho did over $2 million dollars worth of damage to the Marshalltown campus in August.

2020-21 – Iowa Valley adjusted in response to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. The response included face mask mandates, social distancing, and an increased number of online classes.