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Education in the River Heights Region BUILDING A BRIDGE TO EDUCATION LOCALLY… The River Heights region boasts two high-level institutions for students who choose to further their education after high school or later in life, Inver Hills Community College and Dakota County Technical College. Inver Hills Community College The Right Direction Our Mission Dedicated to the power and promise of education, we inspire students, build careers and strengthen communities. Our Vision We will be an innovator in education, creating a vigorous intellectual environment for emerging leaders, scholars, and professionals. Providing an affordable gateway into the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, we will enrich individual lives and support our diverse communities, locally and globally. Our Values • Student success • Excellence and innovation in education • Caring for our environmental, human and financial resources • Equity, inclusion, integrity and respect • Continuous improvement Inver Hills Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) via the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) pathway. Office of the President On March 18, 2020, the Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, on the recommendation of Chancellor Devinder Malhotra, named Michael Berndt to serve as the president of Inver Hills Community College (Inver Hills) and Dakota County Technical College (DCTC). Overview Founded in 1970, Inver Hills Community College offers nearly 40 degree options, including an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree with nine emphasis areas. The A.A. degree is an ideal choice if you are planning on transferring to a four-year college or university. You will save money and have the added advantage of working one-on-one with your instructors. Inver Hills offers an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree that is designed for both transfer and entering directly into the workforce. The A.S. is perfect if you are looking for a balance between a liberal arts education and learning the specific skills you need for your future career. Our Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree is made to order if you wish to launch your career as soon as possible. You can earn an A.A.S. at Inver Hills in an IT or business program, gaining the competence you need to quickly excel in these high-demand fields. Designed for transfer, our Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.), degree allows you to establish yourself in one of three fundamental artistic pursuits: art, music or theatre. Our art department provides instruction in six important focus areas, including ceramics, photography and painting. Both the music and theatre departments deliver opportunities to participate in live performances, the former in ensembles, the latter in collegeproduction plays. The college also provides state-of-the art customized training to area business and industry through the Minnesota Training Connection, a full-service division operated in collaboration with Dakota County Technical College. Our 90-acre campus features nine modern buildings set amid beautiful gardens surrounded by wooded hills and wetlands. The buildings are situated around a central mall in a university-style setting. Inver Hills is located in Inver Grove Heights less than 10 miles from St. Paul just off U.S. Route 52. Many of our students come from Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We also have international students from a dozen or more countries. Most of our students reside within 20 miles of the campus, particularly in Dakota and Washington counties, as well as, St. Paul. About half our course offerings meet during evenings, late afternoons and weekends so that working adults can attend. Typically, well over 50 percent of our students hold jobs and learn part-time. College is one of the most important journeys of your life. By choosing Inver Hills, you will make the most of the experience and get your future aimed 24 2020-2021 | South Metro Living