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Iowa Lakes Community College

• About Iowa Lakes
• History & Accreditation
• Class Formats
• Libraries
• Smith Wellness Center

History of Iowa Lakes

Iowa Lakes Community College was officially organized in 1967 when the first board of directors was established to begin planning for the organization and development of the college. Legislation passed by the Iowa legislature established Merged Area III as a part of a statewide plan. This area included all or parts of the counties of Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Kossuth and Palo Alto and encompassed at the time 26 community school districts and two parochial school systems.

In 1968 the Estherville Junior College and its facilities were merged into the new district. The Emmetsburg Junior College was merged in 1970, which gave Iowa Lakes two major campuses in the area.

The two major campuses are now located at Emmetsburg and Estherville. Additional campuses were added and are located in Algona, Spencer and Spirit Lake.

The Emmetsburg Campus is located in the northwest part of Emmetsburg at 3200 College Drive. Vocational-technical, career option, and liberal arts programs are offered at the Emmetsburg Campus. It is connected to the Smith Wellness Center and the Public and College Libraries.

The Estherville Campus is located in the eastern part of Estherville at 300 South 18th Street. Facilities constructed since 1972 serve liberal arts, career option and
vocational-technical programs. It is located across the street from the Regional Wellness Center.

The Algona Campus was a building originally purchased in late 1986 and has been developed into a college campus with facilities for day and evening liberal arts courses, community and education services and a learning resource center. The Algona Campus is located just north of the city at 2111 U.S. Highway 169.

The Spencer Campus began operating in the mid 1970's. It is located at the Gateway North Center at 1900 Grand Avenue and includes facilities for day, evening, and weekend college liberal arts courses, medical and office programs, a computer lab, community services, education services, a learning resource center, the main offices of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and the area Small Business Development Center.

The Spirit Lake Campus opened in 1984. In 1995 the campus moved into new facilities and an addition was added in 2001 at 800 21st St. The campus houses day, evening, and weekend college courses, liberal arts courses, a computer lab, leadership management course's, community services, education services and a learning resource.

Accreditation

Iowa Lakes Community College is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; the Iowa Department of Education; the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs through the American Association of Medical Assistants.

The college is an institutional member of the American Association of Community Colleges. Programs are approved for veterans' education and by the U. S. Justice Department, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Iowa Board of Nursing.