Mission & Momentum with Dr. Bruyan Renfro
Colleagues,

We’re getting close to midterms, and I came away from Fall Development Day energized by what I saw across EICC. There is a lot happening right now. Some of it is visible already, and some of it is just beginning to take shape, but all of it points to a college that is moving forward with purpose.

I saw people sharing ideas, asking good questions, connecting across campuses, and thinking seriously about how we can better serve students and one another. That kind of energy matters. Momentum is not something we announce. It is something we build together, one conversation, one partnership, one decision, and one student at a time.
And right now, we have plenty of it.

B.R.I.T.E. is moving from proposal to reality

I’m excited to share that EICC has been selected to receive a Strengthening Institutions Program, or SIP, grant through the U.S. Department of Education for our B.R.I.T.E. initiative.

We are fully funded at $1.23 million for the first year, with opportunities to renew the grant for up to four additional years. We are still waiting for the Department of Education to issue its official public release, so we’ll hold the broader announcement until that happens.

B.R.I.T.E., Building Readiness through Innovative Technology Education, will strengthen EICC’s institutional capacity while helping us respond to a regional workforce gap in artificial intelligence and emerging technology. The work includes AI literacy across programs, a new AI Programming A.A.S., a short-term Generative AI credential, faculty professional development, enhanced student support, and stronger employer partnerships.

I also want to recognize Rachael Mullins for pulling this proposal together with a strong team. This kind of work takes coordination, persistence, and a lot of attention to detail. I’m grateful for the effort that brought B.R.I.T.E. to this point.

Iowa STRONG gives us another reason to look ahead

We are also part of Iowa STRONG, a four-year, $10.8 million U.S. Department of Labor initiative involving all 15 Iowa community colleges.

EICC is budgeted to receive $817,445 over four years, the largest grant allocation among the ten funded subrecipient colleges. We will serve 362 participants across 11 programs and are bringing more than $1.75 million in leveraged EICC resources to the effort.

The work centers on Workforce Pell, short-term employer-driven credentials, stackable pathways, and stronger systems to support students.

And while one grant is moving forward, the next opportunity is already taking shape. I want to thank Ashlee Spannagel for leading that effort.

This is the rhythm of the work, right? We celebrate progress, and then we keep building.

The economic value of what we do

Sometimes it helps to zoom out and look at the scale of EICC’s impact.

A new ​​​​​​Lightcast economic impact analysis​​​​​​ estimates that EICC generates $709.7 million in added income each year across Area IX and supports 9,036 jobs. Put another way, one out of every 22 jobs in the region is supported by the activities of EICC and our students.

The analysis also estimates that the average EICC associate degree graduate earns about $11,330 more each year than someone with a high school diploma working in Iowa. For every dollar invested, students gain an estimated $6.20 in higher lifetime earnings, taxpayers gain $1.90, and society gains $9.10 in added income and social savings.

Those numbers are impressive, but behind every one of them is a person who came to us because they wanted something better: a better job, a better future for their family, a new skill, or another opportunity to move forward.
That is why this work matters.

A new chapter for Gaekle Hall

One of our oldest buildings on the Muscatine campus has a new look, and I hope many of you will join us for the Gaekle Hall Ribbon Cutting on Monday, Oct. 19, at 3 p.m. at Muscatine Community College.

The renovation created larger classrooms, updated technology, and stronger learning spaces for horticulture, information technology, teacher preparation, gaming simulation and development, and our Career Academies.

I want to thank Naomi DeWinter and Corey Johnson for their leadership throughout the project, and our faculty for their patience and flexibility during planning and construction.

Most importantly, this substantial renovation would not have been possible without the support of the Iowa Department of Education, Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, HNI Foundation, and MCC Foundation. Their investment made this transformation possible for our students and our community.

A quick reminder about Renfro Rundown

Our collegewide conversations return today under a new name: Renfro Rundown.

Dr. Mike Beane and Cami McBee will join me for our first sessions to talk about EICC’s work on Guided Pathways, including how academic affairs, student services, and other areas will work together to create a more coordinated student experience.
At its core, Guided Pathways is about helping students choose a clear academic or career direction, stay on their path, and get the support they need to complete their education and achieve their goals.

I hope you can join us.

Tuesday, October 6
Wednesday, October 7
Thursday, October 8
What Matters

There is a lot moving across EICC right now. New programs. New investments. New partnerships. New spaces. New chapters.

The real measure of this momentum is how it shows up for students every day.

Every day, a student has another chance to understand a concept that did not make sense yesterday. Every day, someone connects a student to tutoring, advising, financial support, or a career opportunity. Every day, a faculty or staff member helps a student build confidence, solve a problem, stay in school, or see a future they had not quite imagined yet.

That is where our mission lives.

The grants matter. The buildings matter. The partnerships matter. But they matter because they support the work you do every day with students.

That is the real momentum.

Sincerely, 

Bryan Renfro, PhD
Chancellor
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
101 West Third Street, Davenport
563-336-3301

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