OMAHA, NEBRASKA - AIM issued a report today that says Iowa's total postsecondary information technology (IT) degrees and certificates awarded was 2,333 for the 2012-2013 academic year. The total is 7% lower than the previous year. "After four years of steady growth, 2013 saw an overall decrease in the number of college IT degrees and certificates awarded in Iowa," according to Levi Thiele, AIM Director of Research.

Among other trends in Iowa; 25% of the total number of IT degrees and certificates in Iowa were awarded to women, a higher percentage than the national average; bachelor's degrees remain the most common degree awarded in Iowa in IT; and the five most popular IT degrees included: (1) Computer and Information Sciences - General, (2) Computer Science, (3) Computer / IT Administration and Management, (4) Computer Programming, and (5) Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications.

The report titled, "Iowa Postsecondary IT Degree Completions, 2009-2013" details a number of findings including postsecondary IT degree completions, IT degree award levels, analysis of gender, race, and ethnicity completions and the most popular IT degrees and certificates pursued.

The expectation for high-tech high-skilled workers in Iowa to effectively compete in ever-changing economic markets, means keeping technology education a priority. The Iowa Postsecondary IT Degree Completions study provides a fact-based measure of critical education priorities.

Analysts predict more than 4 million U.S. IT and computing jobs by 2020. Even if the actual job totals turn out to be lower, there is no way to fill those jobs with American students without education systems that adequately prepare them.

Based on the research, Dr. Thiele adds, "While women are making gains in IT degree completions in Iowa, they are still underrepresented. In order to keep up with the growing job market needs, we need to produce more graduates to fill these jobs and that includes more women graduates."

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About AIM

AIM is a not-for-profit community organization that promotes technology to empower people, enhance organizations and create brilliant communities. AIM's signature services include Careerlink- the region's leading career development website and Infotec- the Midwest's premier business and IT conference, and Hatchfund- a crowdfunding source for artists. For more information about these services, training, youth programs, research and more, visit www.aimforbrilliance.org.

 

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CANTON, Ohio ? Leading the cervid industry for more than 30 years, the North American Deer Farmers Association (NADeFA) assisted recent efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand scientific research on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) that could lead to a new disease prevention strategy.

During a recent depopulation of a CWD-infected herd of whitetail deer in Iowa, researchers from Kansas State University (KSU), who were sponsored by NADeFA, and the United States Department of Agriculture's National Wildlife Research Center collected a variety of samples, including blood, feces, nasal swabs, and tissue biopsies from the live deer prior to euthanasia. The 'live' samples will provide critical data needed to develop an all-new 'live' testing protocol for CWD.

"The herd depopulation in Iowa gave researchers a rare opportunity to collect significant live data, and we're very proud to have worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the private herd owner in Iowa to conduct the research necessary to successfully combat CWD and save the lives of thousands of deer," says Shawn Schafer, executive director for the North American Deer Farmers Association.

Current management practices require the destruction of entire deer herds when a single animal tests positive for CWD, however, most of the animals destroyed are often found to be perfectly healthy afterwards. The KSU research, sponsored by NADeFA and Cervid Livestock Foundation, is developing three testing methods ? nasal swab, rectal biopsy and blood samples ? for the early detection of CWD and to prevent the excessive euthanasia of thousands of animals.

"Without the help and cooperation of the land owner and NADeFA, these opportunities would not have been available," said Dr. Nicholas Haley, who is part of the KSU research team. "The samples will be evaluated using cutting-edge approaches to detect very low levels of the prion agent that causes CWD in an effort to identify which sample and testing strategy is the most useful for diagnosis. The development of a live-animal test may eventually allow identification of CWD-infected animals under quarantine without the need for large-scale culling of animals."

Chronic wasting disease, a fatal brain disease that affects deer, elk and moose, is similar to other prion diseases including bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease) and human Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Dr. Haley explains that the diagnosis of CWD, as well as BSE and CJD, currently requires samples collected after death or 'post-mortem,' including brain and lymph node tissues. Researchers hope that through the combined efforts of state and federal regulatory agencies, and deer and elk farmers, progress can be made on the development of an 'antemortem' or live animal test. Such a live test could be useful for diagnosis of human prion diseases and potentially other diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.     

"The samples we've collected will also be made available to researchers at various other institutions, such as Colorado State University and the National Institutes of Health at Rocky Mountain Laboratories, which are actively pursuing an antemortem test for a variety of prion and other neurological diseases," added Dr. Haley.

The North American Deer Farmers Association was founded in 1983 and is dedicated to the promotion of deer farming and ranching as an agricultural pursuit and serves its members through its educational programs and publications and by providing leadership in setting and maintaining quality standards. NADeFA represents the deer farming industry at all levels of government, and works closely with livestock producers and other organizations to promote ethical standards of conduct and husbandry in deer farming and to actively market standards for deer and deer products. NADeFA representatives are also available to media for expert testimony and information about deer farming and animal health issues, such as Chronic Wasting Disease, EHD and other topics.

For more information about NADeFA and membership, call 330.454.3944 or visit www.NADeFA.org.

Since 1983, the North American Deer Farmers Association (NADeFA) has worked to establish and promote deer farming as an agricultural pursuit and to facilitate education on breeding, handling and deer farm management. For more information on the North American Deer Farmers Association, call 330.454.3944 or visit www.NADeFA.org

In recognition of community helpers, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students worked together to create a work of art as a gift to our local fire department. As students explored the important roles of firefighters in communities, they created works of art that focused on fire trucks, the John J. Harvey Fireboat, and firefighter silhouettes. These smaller works of art were then assembled together to create a large composition.

This honorary collaborative artwork will hang in the Bettendorf Fire Department located on Spruce Hills. Rivermont Collegiate is currently planning a trip to deliver this work of art with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade Student Council Representatives. These select students will represent Rivermont as they meet our local firefighters, express their gratitude, and gift the artwork.

The artwork will be delivered to the fire department on Wednesday, September 24th at 11:00 am to 11:15 am.