Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) will offer a wide range of no-cost classes throughout April as part of Community College Month, inviting residents to step inside classrooms, labs, and learning spaces across the region. In addition to free classes, EICC campuses will host a number of free events throughout the month, creating even more opportunities for the community to connect, explore, and celebrate.
Classes and events will be held throughout EICC’s service area, including Clinton Community College, Muscatine Community College, Scott Community College, and additional EICC facilities. The classes are open to the public and designed to be hands-on, practical, and welcoming to all experience levels.
Community members can explore a broad mix of topics, from welding, vehicle care, and safety skills to creative workshops, technology basics, and career exploration. Classes run April 1–30. Space is limited, and registration is required.
“Community College Month gives us a chance to open our doors and say thank you,” said Bryan Renfro, PhD, chancellor of Eastern Iowa Community Colleges. “Our communities support our students and programs in countless ways, and this is one way we invite people to step inside, get curious, and experience learning up close.”
Community College Month is recognized nationally each April to highlight the role community colleges play in education, workforce development, and community growth. The annual #CCMonth campaign is led by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) to bring attention to the value and impact of community colleges across the country.
Across the nation, community colleges serve as the workforce engine for their regions, preparing nurses and medical technicians, welders and advanced manufacturing specialists, cybersecurity professionals, logistics experts, early childhood educators, and more. Many students complete career-ready credentials in two years or less, and sometimes in just weeks through short-term training programs. With lower tuition, strong transfer pathways, and industry-aligned programs, community colleges provide an affordable, high-value return on investment in higher education.
“These classes are designed to be approachable and hands-on,” Renfro said. “Whether someone wants to try a new skill, explore an interest, or simply see what happens inside our labs and classrooms, we want them to feel welcome.”
Classes begin April 1. A full schedule and registration information are available at eicc.edu/ccmonth.
March 2, 2026
For immediate release
Iowa DNR to begin annual spring burning
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will be conducting prescribed burns this spring on wildlife management areas managed by the DNR’s Maquoketa Wildlife Unit in Clinton, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson, Jones and Scott counties.
Areas scheduled for prescribed burns are Barber Creek, Goose Lake, Syracuse and Wapsi, in Clinton County; Bloody Run, Cow Branch, Ensign Hollow, Volga, Leonard, Sny Magill and Big Springs, in Clayton County; Buffalo Creek, Backbone State Park, Manchester Hatchery and Ram Hollow, in Delaware County; Whitewater and White Pine Hollow, in Dubuque County; Big Mill Creek and Green Island, in Jackson County; Muskrat Slough and Oxford Junction, in Jones County; and Crow Creek, Lost Grove Lake, McCausland and Princeton, in Scott County.
Prescribed burns are used to improve wildlife habitat, control invasive plant species, restore and maintain native plant communities and reduce wildfire potential and vary in size from a few acres to several hundred acres. Areas are typically burned every one to five years.
Prescribed burns typically begin mid to late morning and are completed by late afternoon or early evening between mid-March and mid-May. Burns will be conducted on a day that meets the objectives and weather conditions defined in the burn plan. Any prescribed burns that are not able to be completed this spring will be considered for the burn schedule next fall.
Contact DNR wildlife biologist Nick McClimon at 563-219-4148 with any questions or concerns.
