BVU, Balance Autism Link Via Strategic Partnership
Through a collaboration with Buena Vista University, Balance Autism offers additional opportunities and educational benefits for its employees and their eligible family members.
Buena Vista University (BVU) and Balance Autism have entered a Strategic Partnership that mutually benefits both organizations as they strive to strengthen the communities they serve.
This partnership allows for employees of Balance Autism, as well as eligible family members of full-time employees, to receive grant funding to lower the overall cost of education while enrolled in classes at BVU’s Storm Lake campus. Partner grant funding also lowers the cost per credit hour for students enrolled in BVU’s convenient online undergraduate programs or the organizational leadership graduate program.
“We value education and professional growth, so it’s super appealing to be able to offer another opportunity for our employees and their family members to achieve that through this Strategic Partnership,” says Balance Autism Senior Director of Marketing and Enrollment Katie Princehouse.
“BVU offered me the opportunity to obtain my master’s degree in organizational leadership. The support and flexibility of the professors was outstanding. I started this program a month before the pandemic began and was highly impressed with the personal care and communication from everyone within the department.”
Balance Autism Campus/Youth Home Services Director Angela BookGlynn M.A. ’21
Balance Autism develops and implements a variety of innovative solutions to engage individuals of all ages with autism. The organization’s approach involves balancing science with imagination, evidence with creativity, and research with compassion to teach and make a lasting impact on those with autism, helping them to find a balance for life.
Formerly known as The Homestead, a nonprofit organization founded by a group of Iowa parents and professionals about 30 years ago, Balance Autism has grown significantly since its inception. The organization, which is headquartered in Altoona, boasts a workforce measuring 430 staff members who offer services to more than 300 children and 150 adults on an annual basis through its additional locations in Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Clive, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Iowa City, Pleasant Hill, and Waterloo.
“BVU offered me the opportunity to obtain my master’s degree in organizational leadership,” says Balance Autism Campus/Youth Home Services Director Angela BookGlynn M.A. ’21. “The support and flexibility of the professors was outstanding. I started this program a month before the pandemic began and was highly impressed with the personal care and communication from everyone within the department.”
BVU has long enjoyed strong educational ties in and around Council Bluffs and West Burlington, home to Iowa Western and Southeastern Community Colleges, respectively, campuses that have collaborated with BVU for decades. Students enrolled in a program through IWCC or SCC can seamlessly transfer their credits toward their bachelor’s degree at BVU. Students receive personalized support including admissions and enrollment counseling and academic advising right in Council Bluffs and West Burlington through BVU’s offices on the IWCC and SCC campuses.
“Buena Vista University is eager to join forces with Balance Autism through our Strategic Partnerships initiative,” says BVU Director of Strategic Partnerships Laura Todd. “Our mission at BVU is to strengthen communities across Iowa by providing affordable, accessible higher education, and we look forward to the opportunities it will create for Balance Autism employees and their family members and the many positive impacts it will have in our local region and throughout Iowa.”
For more information about BVU’s Strategic Partnerships and partner opportunities, please visit the BVU website at bvu.edu/strategic-partnerships or contact Strategic Partnerships at StrategicPartnerships@bvu.edu.