Iowa Private College Week Set for July 31 to August 4

High School Students Already Making College Plans DES MOINES, IA (July 18, 2017) - High school students are deep into summer jobs and activities. Many are also taking important steps toward deciding which college to attend. Several hundred have already signed up for campus tours at Iowa's private, non-profit colleges and universities during the first week of August. The first week of August is traditionally Iowa Private College Week (IPCW), when Iowa's non-profit, private colleges and universities synchronize campus tour schedules across the state, making it easy for students and parents to schedule up to ten campus visits in only one week. Campus tours help students learn about the strong academics, high graduation and job placement rates and financial aid that make private colleges an affordable and great quality option. During IPCW, July 31 to August 4, 25 Iowa colleges and universities coordinate start times for morning and afternoon tours at each campus. To make arranging the tours even more convenient, students can go to one registration website and schedule tours at any of the 25 campuses. The registration site includes information about each of the colleges and universities and has tools to help families map out a tour schedule.  During the week, Casey's General Stores provides 5-cent per gallon fuel discount coupons at each of the campus sites to help defray travel costs. And, students who visit at least three campuses and mail in an entry form are entered in a drawing for one of up to fifty $500 bookstore vouchers. "Students really get bombarded with information about college choice and that can make decisions seem overwhelming for them, and for Mom and Dad too," says Andy Baumert, vice-president for marketing and outreach at the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. "Actually visiting the campuses, asking faculty and students about class sizes, graduation rates and financial aid can help cut through the clutter and make good decisions about the right college for them," Baumert says. Students are encouraged to go to the website IowaPrivateCollegeWeek.org to find out more and to register for visits during Iowa Private College Week, July 31 to August 4. -30- IAICU Member Institutions Allen College, Waterloo Briar Cliff University, Sioux City Buena Vista University, Storm Lake Central College, Pella Clarke University, Dubuque Coe College, Cedar Rapids Cornell College, Mt. Vernon Dordt College, Sioux Center Drake University, Des Moines Graceland University, Lamoni Grand View University, Des Moines Grinnell College, Grinnell Iowa Wesleyan University, Mt. Pleasant Loras College, Dubuque Luther College, Decorah Mercy College of Health Sciences, Des Moines Morningside College, Sioux City Mount Mercy University, Cedar Rapids Northwestern College, Orange City St. Ambrose University, Davenport St. Luke's College, Sioux City Simpson College, Indianola University of Dubuque, Dubuque Wartburg College, Waverly William Penn University, Oskaloosa