T-R PHOTO BY TREVOR BABCOCK The Buena Vista University office at Marshalltown Community College. BVU is furthering its educational ties in Marshalltown with a strategic partnership with the Marshalltown Community School District.

A reduced cost of education for local school district employees and their family members is now available.

The Marshalltown Community School District and Buena Vista University (BVU) have entered into a strategic partnership. Under the agreement, credit hours at BVU are provided at a lower cost for employees of the school district as well as for their spouses and dependents, which amounts to a 30 percent discount per credit hour for those enrolling in an online or hybrid learning program.

Those attending BVU at the residential campus in Storm Lake can receive up to $2,000 annually for educational expenses. Participants can pursue any type of undergraduate degree with the option to pursue a graduate degree in organizational leadership. Current BVU students who are eligible for the discount can still take advantage of the partnership.

Training programs, workshops and more with BVU professors and staff are also available. MCSD Director of Human Resources Nora Ryan said the district has been searching for colleges in the state willing to form a partnership to help further the education of school employees and their families.

“BVU was one of, if not the first, to reach out and say, ‘We are really interested in this,” Ryan said.

While all certified teaching staff have at least an undergraduate degree, the district employs almost 400 employees in various other roles.

“Not all of them have a college degree, so maybe they are interested in an undergraduate degree and obtaining that while they’re employed here,” Ryan said. “It really is a great program, and it can be applicable to all of our staff members. So, that’s really exciting for us.”

She feels this strategic partnership is part of a trend among Marshalltown businesses, which began with JBS Marshalltown’s program providing free community college to employees as well as their dependents. Both the school district and JBS Marshalltown are among the largest employers in the community.

“I think it’s starting a great trend amongst the Marshalltown businesses in demonstrating that we value our employees. We want them to continue their education, and we want to assist in any way that we can,” Ryan said.

The strategic partnership furthers BVU’s educational ties in and around Marshalltown. Marshalltown Community College (MCC) has collaborated with BVU for decades, and students enrolled in a program through MCC are able to seamlessly transfer their credits toward their bachelor’s degree at BVU. Plus, students receive personal support including admissions and enrollment counseling and academic advising through BVU’s office on the MCC campus.

“BVU’s Strategic Partnership represents a wonderful opportunity to enhance our benefits package offered to some 900 employees who continually strive to make us the best district we can be,” Superintendent Theron Schutte said. “Making a post-secondary education more accessible and affordable allows our employees to grow, advancing their knowledge as they continue to challenge and aid the young people of our district in reaching goals and celebrating successes each day.”

Director of strategic partnerships at BVU Laura Todd said the agreement would create a ‘win-win’ for both communities.

“We are honored to be working with the Marshalltown Community School District, an innovative leader practicing initiatives such as the dual-language program and the Marshalltown Virtual Academy, in an effort to further empower learners, families, educators and the district,” Todd said. “BVU believes that an accessible education remains at the heart of building individuals and communities. Marshalltown, BVU, and Iowa will all benefit as a result of this partnership.”

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Contact Trevor Babcock at 641-753-6611 or

tbabcock@timesrepublican.com.