Iowa Wesleyan Representative Gives Update

Former Washington Rotarian, Adam McLaughlin, has recently become employed by Iowa Wesleyan University in Mt. Pleasant. Adam is the Development Director there, and wanted to speak to the group of the current condition and future stability of the 177 year old school. Iowa Wesleyan is the oldest co-ed school in Iowa, currently with 639 students enrolled on-campus and online. Since November, it has come out that the University is struggling financially, and Adam has been helping with a project called the Alternative Futures Project. The task force called for bids from other area educational institutions and business to form a partnership that will create a sustainable future for the University. Options for the new path could by partnering with other schools to share programs such as online classes, to merging with another school, to receiving funding from private business in the area. An option will be chosen by sometime in mid-March, but the goal is to keep the partnership and control local, and to get more involvement between Iowa Wesleyan and the Washington community and county.
Another potential option for growth is to create a new business major, specifically targeted to an agricultural audience, as this is currently a need in the area. The ultimate goal for the next few years is to create a sustainable plan for future funding, and to increase enrollment, up to 1000 students, as space allows.

Adam McLaughlin speaks about the future of Iowa Wesleyan University.

Cheryl announced that we will again be partnering with the Riverside Casino in Feeding the Hungry movement. Rotarians are encouraged to come to the Riverside Casino from 2-4 on Wednesday, April 17th to help package meals. Please contact Cheryl if interested.

Upcoming Events:
February 21: Craig Davis
February 28: Brandi Hemsley
March 7: Brent Hinson
March 14: Don Vittetoe - Ag Day
March 21: Connie Larson
March 28: Sean Cortum