Kirkwood’s JREC staff guide students through life

     Kirkwood’s Jones Regional Education Center in Monticello is a happening place.

     It’s not a stretch to say that the people who work there stay busy non-stop. Whether it’s meeting with high school students, college students or both, the staff at JREC has plenty of their plates.

Julie Welter

     Welter works part-time at JREC, yet certainly has enough to fill her days. Welter takes on three titles at Kirkwood: Career counselor, academic adviser, and continuing education coordinator.

     What does she love about working at Kirkwood? The students. Since starting in April 2008, Welter has seen so many changes, for the good, within the center.

     As the career counselor, Welter works with both high school and college students all taming courses at JREC. Her services help them narrow their choices for a possible career.

     Welter explained she takes students step-by-step through the “inventories:” interests, skills, values, and personality type. The personality test is based on the renowned Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

     “These lay out the best options for the student career wise,” she said.

     She said he involvement depends upon the individual student’s goals; whether he/she wants to go to college and complete a degree, change careers later in life, or just needs guidance.

     “Sometimes these tests produce ideas the student never thought of as a good fit,” said Welter of possible career paths. They also research the job outlook and projected salaries for the particular industry, as well as set up job shadows.

     “Students might feel their limited to jobs in smaller communities,” Welter said. “This can help open their eyes to different fields.”

     From there, Welter can then help students by guiding them in the right direction in terms of classes.

     “We talk about their strengths and weaknesses in our counseling sessions,” she said.

     Academic advising is the next step in the process, explained Welter.

     “What classes should you take to get to that career?” she proposed.

     Here is where she works closely with mostly the college population at JREC.

     “We line up their schedule, set up a successful plan, and look at any accommodations,” she said, such as learning disabilities.

     “I am here to support them in any way,” Welter offered.

     She also goes through the financial aid process as well.

     “That’s a major component,” she said of coaching students on college essays and scholarships, as well as resumes and cover letters.

     She said Kirkwood is lucky to have a small, local facility like JREC with great staff to help guide the students.

     “We all share in the responsibility,” she said.

     Welter most recently added continuing education coordinator to her schedule. This includes the planning, scheduling, and marketing of life and leisure classes offered to the general public at JREC. Welter describes these classes as “skilled courses.”

     Some of the variety of CE classes offered at JREC and upcoming include: babysitting, automotive basics, moped safety, Valentine card making, career decision making, nutrition in the New Year, adopting a dog, yoga, archery, child abuse reporting, cake decorating, bike safety, youth golf, barn quilts, and landscaping. Some of the classes are geared toward youth and some just for adults.

     Welter herself will teach career decision-making, a class tailored to parents of middle and high school students. She said it’s meant to help parents guide their own kids in the right direction, or to help advise their kids.

     In the past, Welter has taught a class or two at JREC, but scaled back after taking one a third title.

     “I just love working with people and helping them improve their live and meet their goals,” she said.

Abby Jaeger

     Jaeger actually attended KCC in Cedar Rapids after high school, earning an administrative assistant degree. Now she is back at Kirkwood, but this time running JREC’s learning center.

     “I do all of the scheduling,” said Jaeger.

     This includes setting up dates/times/locations for compass and placement testing and online course tests as well, if needed.

     Jaeger, who started in August, is also part-time, which she said helps after the arrival of her twin daughters just a few months ago.

     “It all runs smoothly here,” she said of the staff and flexible job.

     Jaeger mainly works with college students at JREC.

     “I help them out if they need anything, making connections and relations,” she said.

     Jaeger said education is a passion of hers, and wants to be that adult connection for these kids that she never had while in college herself.

     JREC offers students a variety of ways to “attend” class: physical class time, WebLive, anytime/anywhere, or a hybrid.

     Welter offered that a variety like this helps those who have busy work and life schedules.

     “Kirkwood is forward-thinking is developing their programs and meeting the industry and community needs,” said Welter.

     That said, some of these courses require the students to take monitored tests. This is where Jaeger comes in, connecting with the instructors to schedule a test.

     “I can help proctor a test,” she said.

     Jaeger added that in addition, any college student from any college could utilize JREC’s facilities for taking a test.

     “They just have to call and ask,” she offered.

     Jaeger said she knows that those college students who attend JREC have full loads (work and family) on top of classes.

     “Sometimes they just need help thinking things through,” she said. “I want these students to succeed and become successful. We just want to get you to where you want to go (in life).”

     Jaeger’s job also involves marketing Kirkwood, getting the word out about what they have to offer, drawing in those college students of all ages.

     “We want people to know what’s here,” she said.

     Jaeger recently planned College Student Appreciate Week, organizing events and activities at JREC.

     Living in Worthington, Jaeger also wants to get involved in the Monticello community.

     We’re lucky to have a place like this,” she said of JREC. “It’s a huge draw.”

Patrice Marling

     Marling works side-by-wide with Jaeger as an office assistant at the learning center at JREC. She started in early September and resides in Center Junction.

     “I love the interaction with the students,” Marling said of working with the college students. “I admire those who take advantage of the opportunities here.”

     Marling said there is a diverse group of college students taking courses at JREC.

     “I takes a lot of motivation,” she said of the adult college students who attend JREC. “But everyone learns in different ways.”

     After being retired for over a year, Marling said she just decided she needed a part-time gig to keep busy.

     “I just wanted to do something,” she joked. “I like staying busy.” JREC had an opening, so she applied and here she is today.

     Marling works three days a week.

     Prior to JREC she was a para-educator for 15 years in Anamosa. She also spent 15 years with Transamerica in customer service. Marling said her job, in many ways, is like customer service, assisting the students and supporting them along the way on their educational and career path.

     “Kirkwood has a great philosophy,” she said, “and stays in touch with the community.”

     Marling said when scheduling placement or compass tests, or working at the learning center desk, she likes seeing the determination of the students.

     “I believe in lifelong education,” she said.

     Marling admitted she wonders how the future of education will look years from now with testing and secure networks.

     To find out all that JREC/KCC has to offer, visit www.kirkwood.edu.