BVU, Denison Community School District establish Strategic Partnership
More than 300 employees of the Denison Community School District will have access to educational benefits through a Strategic Partnership with Buena Vista University.
Buena Vista University (BVU) and the Denison Community School District (Denison CSD) have established a Strategic Partnership, combining their efforts to strengthen the workforce and their communities.
This partnership allows for employees of Denison CSD, 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/hybrid undergraduate programs or the organizational leadership graduate program.
“The expanded opportunities this partnership will provide to our employees and their families is a positive for our district and community, allowing greater access to higher education opportunities.”
Michael Pardun, Denison CSD Superintendent
BVU professors and staff are also available for training programs, workshops, and more should officials with Denison CSD seek those services and expertise.
“We are fortunate to be a strategic partner with BVU,” says Denison CSD Superintendent Michael Pardun. “The expanded opportunities this partnership will provide to our employees and their families is a positive for our district and community, allowing greater access to higher education opportunities.”
The Denison CSD has nearly 330 employees that educate approximately 2,300 students. The district serves Crawford County including the towns of Buck Grove, Denison, Deloit, and Kiron. Located in Denison, the district consists of a high school, middle school, two elementary schools, and an alternative high school.
“BVU's flexible structure allowed me to focus on my responsibilities at school and home while continuing my education at the same time,” says Denison CSD Broadway Elementary Principal Trevor Urich, a BVU graduate. “The faculty does an excellent job of developing relevant content to allow for continuous learning and growth.”
BVU has long enjoyed strong educational ties in and around Denison, home to Western Iowa Tech Community College, a campus that has collaborated with BVU for decades. Students enrolled in a program through WITCC 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 Denison through BVU’s office on the WITCC campus.
“Our goal is to provide educational benefits that create opportunities for individuals throughout Iowa and beyond,” says BVU Director of Strategic Partnerships Laura Todd. “We are excited to partner with the Denison Community School District and we look forward to the positive impact it will have on the community.”
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.