College and Career Connection

College and Career Connection (CCC) is a program that exposes students to high-demand career areas and sets them on the pathway to career and educational success beyond high school. The program provides work-based learning opportunities for students in partnership with local businesses.

NICC's College and Career Connection is partially funded by the Iowa Intermediary Grant. 

• College and Career Connection Upcoming Events

Benefits for Students and Educators

• Students (and parents!) save time and money by knowing the career path to follow after high school.
• Career coaches work with students to find the right post-graduation plan.
• Opportunities for job shadows, internships, pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships.

Benefits for Business Partners

• Recruit future workforce by connecting with schools and individual students.
• Provide professional development to teachers regarding careers in your industry through workshops and externships.
• Serve as a career mentor to a student interested in your field of work.
• Explore the possibility for pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships. 

College and Career Connection Resources

• Candid Career - View Short Career and Job Search Videos from Professionals
• College and Career Connection Recorded Virtual Events
• Fun Fridays from the Field - Career Chats -  Recorded Virtual Events
• Online NICC College and Career Games for Students

Employer & Educator Forms and Resources

• Employer Work-based Learning Checklist
• Iowa Work-based Learning Guide
• High School Outreach Team
• NICC Apprenticeship Information

Department of Education - Sectors of Opportunity - Iowa Career Pathway Mapping Projects

• Opportunities in Advanced Manufacturing - Iowa Career Pathways
• Opportunities in Building Trades - Iowa Career Pathways
• Opportunities in Business & Financial Services
• Opportunities in Energy - Iowa Career Pathways
• Opportunities in Health Sciences - Iowa Career Pathways
• Opportunities in Hospitality & Tourism: Iowa Career Pathways
• Opportunities in Information Technologies - Iowa Career Pathways
• Opportunities in Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics- Iowa

Department of Education - Industry Toolkits

• Health Science WBL Toolkit
• Manufacturing WBL Toolkit
• Transportation Distribution and Logistics (TDL) WBL Toolkit

Testimonials

“I participated in College and Career Connection at NICC because I wanted to go on job shadows and learn more about the careers within the computer science field. There are so many different avenues and researching only does so much compared to seeing what the jobs are like in person.”

Tracy Schaefers
Edgewood-Colesburg High School

“Winneshiek Medical Center has offered job shadows, tours, and experiential learning to students across the area for decades. Because experience is one of the key methods of learning used in health care, it was a natural fit to partner with the Career Learning Link to continue offering these experiences. Our collaboration with NICC College and Career Connection is important because it gives us the opportunity to connect with the bright and dedicated youth in the area who may one day become our employees.”

Elly Lensch, MLS
Winneshiek Medical Center Education Department

“It’s exciting to see the students that are the next generation of leaders in our workplace. We value our involvement in activities such as these to grow our community.”

Kim Berns
Relationship Manager - Bank Iowa New Hampton

“My students began to see the benefits of the program right away through working with their career coach, going on job shadows and self-reflection. Participating in the College and Career Connection is for every student who wants to give their future a jump start.”

Jodi Ehlers, Business Teacher and School-to-Work Coordinator
Edgewood-Colesburg High School