Your input is being requested in Iowa Lakes Community College's 2008 Community of Learners Survey.

The survey, which is designed to provide views of the college's current operations, as well as ideas for the future, is available to any community member living in the five-county area of Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Palo Alto and Kossuth counties.

"This will help us plan for the future of Iowa Lakes," Judy Cook, ILCC executive director of planning and development, said. "We want to hear from a good number of individuals from across our region. The more surveys that are taken, the more valid the data becomes."

The 24 questions on the survey take approximately three minutes to complete online. Topics covered include the quality of an ILCC education; preparation for job entry; continuing education programs; partnerships with business, industry, government and K-12 schools; and areas the college could improve upon for the future. Survey takers may also offer personal comments.

"The purpose of the survey is twofold," Cook explained. "First, we're looking for community perceptions: What is your perception of Iowa Lakes?" "Are there areas that you would like to see us change in terms of what we're offering, or maybe even when or how we're offering, in your community that would better serve your needs and the needs of your community?"

Survey results will also tie in with the community college's accreditation process, which ILCC is currently in the midst of with both the Iowa Department of Education and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

"We will be using these in multiple ways," Cook said. "First, for our internal continuous improvement processes for looking at programming and how we may want to plan differently in the future. Also for our accreditation review, which will be submitted later this fall as a response to questions that are part of that accreditation, in terms of what our stakeholder needs currently are. And from that, how will we respond to those needs."

Along with private colleges such as Dordt, Central, Des Moines University and Upper Iowa, ILCC is one of nine community colleges in Iowa participating in this academic quality assessment program.

"It's a much more dynamic process," Cook said of it. "You are much more engaged with the accrediting body for this process than under the self-study process."

ILCC's survey, which became available Sept. 1, will be online through October.

"This survey is hosted by an online company that we subscribe to annually. The responses are not coming directly to the college; they're going to that company. We will then get a report from that company. So, we've tried to make confidentiality one of our highest priorities," Cook said.

* To take the survey, participants are asked to visit the college Web site at www.iowalakes.edu and click on 2008 Community of Learners Survey. Those without access to a computer may telephone Cook at (712) 362-0439 to be mailed a paper copy of the survey.