DMACC Continuing Education

09/09/2026

🐾 A little care can make a big difference. 🛁💙

Our Dog Grooming students recently had the opportunity to give back by volunteering their time to help care for dogs in need. From bathing and blow-drying to nail trims and plenty of snuggles, these furry friends received some much-needed TLC before heading to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.

Instructor Katie Belken shared that students worked with Maggie and Baby, who are both available for adoption at the Southside ARL location, as well as two dogs from a neglect case. The day ended with a puppy party featuring four terrier mix puppies who needed baths, nail trims, and, of course, some good snuggle time! 🐶

Beyond helping dogs feel their best, these experiences give students valuable opportunities to continue learning and handling a wide range of dog behaviors.

Giving back is good for the soul, and we're so proud of our students for putting their skills to work for dogs who need a little extra care. 🐾✨

Des Moines Area Community College Animal Rescue League of Iowa

08/28/2026

🐶✂️ We are 'paws-itively' off to a great start!

Our newest group of Dog Grooming students jumped right into hands-on learning this week, getting familiar with the tools, techniques, and skills they'll use throughout their grooming careers.

From classroom instruction to working with their first furry clients, there's already plenty of learning, practice, and, of course, plenty of wagging tails happening at Bear Clips Dog Grooming Salon! 🐾💙

We can't wait to see what the rest of the term has in store for these future professional groomers!

Des Moines Area Community College

08/27/2026

REMINDER: Upcoming course on the Culture and History of Southern Italy with our very popular instructor, Richard Wagner. Sign up today at https://bit.ly/4wiQSsq.

Discover the history, culture, and beauty of Southern Italy! 🌍

From ancient Greek and Roman settlements to medieval communities, remarkable architecture, local traditions, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Southern Italy is filled with stories waiting to be explored.

Join us for Southern Italy Travel, Culture, History, a four-week lecture series exploring the regions, peoples, cities, and landscapes that have shaped this fascinating part of the Mediterranean.

📅 September 1 through September 22
🕐 Tuesdays, 1:00 to 3:00 PM
📍 DMACC Ankeny Campus, Building 7

Whether you're planning a future trip or want to deepen your appreciation for Italian history and culture, this course offers a fascinating journey without leaving the classroom.

Learn more and register at: bit.ly/4wiQSsq

08/26/2026

🐾❤ Would you know what to do if your dog or cat experienced an emergency? Learn essential Pet First Aid & CPR skills in this hands-on, five-hour class at the DMACC Southridge Center.

You’ll learn how to respond to common pet emergencies, including:
- First aid and bleeding management
- Chest compressions and rescue breathing
- Choking management
- Emergency assessment and response
- First aid for fractures, poisoning, seizures, and more
- How to build a pet first aid kit
- Snout-to-tail wellness assessment

The class is open to professional pet caregivers, pet parents, and volunteers, and includes an official DMACC certificate.

📍 DMACC Southridge Center
📆 Next class is 8/29/26 from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Don't wait until an emergency happens to wish you were prepared. Learn skills that could help save a pet's life.

👉 Register today at https://bit.ly/4oAUVhB or call 515-964-6800.

08/17/2026

🚑 Learn from the experts who know critical care and EMS from the field.
What sets DMACC's Iowa Critical Care Certificate Programs apart from others? Our students learn directly from experienced emergency physicians and EMS educators who are deeply committed to advancing prehospital care in Iowa.

Meet the instructors helping prepare the next generation of critical care providers:

👨‍⚕️ Gabriel Lancaster, MD
Emergency Medicine physician and Medical Director for the Indianola Fire Department. With a background in paramedicine and extensive involvement in EMS, event medicine, provider education, and protocol development, Dr. Lancaster brings valuable prehospital experience to the classroom.

👨‍⚕️ Brian Jennett, MD
Emergency Medicine physician, educator, and Associate Program Director for the Iowa Methodist Medical Center Emergency Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Jennett completed a Retrieval Medicine and Critical Care Transport fellowship and has worked closely with EMS agencies throughout his career. He is also a Medical Director in Norwalk, IA.

👨‍⚕️ Todd Sexton, DO
Emergency Medicine physician and core faculty member at UnityPoint Health in Des Moines. Dr. Sexton has a passion for EMS, medical education, and point-of-care ultrasound and serves as a medical director for multiple Iowa EMS agencies.
Together, these instructors bring real-world experience, clinical expertise, and a passion for EMS education to DMACC's Critical Care Transport (CCT) and Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) programs. The program includes hybrid learning, high-fidelity simulation lab training, and specialty population clinical rotations. He is also Medical Director for Polk City Fire, Altoona Fire, Monetzuma, and East Poweshiek ambulance services.

Looking to train multiple members of your organization?
DMACC can work with organizations interested in registering employees or team members for the program. If your hospital, EMS agency, or healthcare organization is interested in group enrollment, reach out to learn more about available options.

📅 Program begins September 1
📍 Hybrid format
⏰ 15-week session

Learn more at https://bit.ly/4pIlylo or call 515-964-6800.

08/14/2026

Are you a land surveyor preparing for the Principles and Practice of Surveying exam?

Strengthen your preparation with DMACC's upcoming Land Surveying course in Boone! This two-day course is designed to assist candidates preparing for both the NCEES 6-hour PS examination and the 2-hour Iowa State-Specific examination.

Topics will include:
-U.S. Public Land Survey System standards and specifications
-ALTA/ACSM Surveys
-Federal statutes, laws, rules, and regulations
-Boundary and legal description principles
- Professional survey practices, including research, field procedures, calculations, and documentation
-Ethics, risk management, contracts, and other professional and business practices

📅 September 17 and 18, 2026
🕗 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
📍 DMACC Boone Campus

Invest in your professional development and prepare for the next step in your surveying career.

Learn more and register today at https://bit.ly/45scEiE.

08/14/2026

💙 You spend your days caring for others. When was the last time you took a day to care for yourself?

If you’re feeling burned out, overwhelmed, or simply in need of a break, the EveryDay Courage in Caring Self-Care Retreat is designed with you in mind.

Whether you’re a CNA, nurse, DSP, home care aide, family caregiver, or another helping professional, caregiving can be both incredibly rewarding and demanding. This full-day retreat offers an opportunity to step back, recharge, connect with others who understand, and rediscover the courage within you.

What to expect:
-An uplifting keynote from bestselling author and two-time TEDx speaker Steve Fredlund
-Breakout sessions focused on self-care, wellness, resilience, and balance
-Practical tools and inspiration you can take with you
-Time to connect with others who understand the rewards and challenges of caregiving

📅 September 21, 2026
🕗 8:00 AM to 3:15 PM
📍 FFA Enrichment Center, Ankeny

You spend so much time caring for others. Give yourself permission to recharge.

Register today at https://bit.ly/4wzljL7.

08/14/2026

🎓✨ Cheers to our Summer 2026 Workforce Training Academy graduates!

Our celebration included WTA graduates who completed their training in Dog Grooming, Nurse Aide, Industrial Electrical Maintenance, and MIG Welding. Each graduate put in the time, effort, and determination to build new skills and take the next step toward a rewarding career. 👏

We were honored to welcome our new DMACC President and CEO, Dr. Lori Suddick, who delivered the welcome address, and Kyle Collins, Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs, who shared this year's keynote address.

We also heard inspiring words from two of our graduates, Julie Tallman, Dog Grooming, and Barb Magee, MIG Welding, who represented their fellow classmates as student speakers. 💙

Of course, no celebration is complete without plenty of cookies/refreshments, photos, and time to celebrate with classmates, family, friends, instructors, and staff!

Congratulations to all of our Summer 2026 WTA graduates! We can't wait to see where your skills and hard work take you next. 🎉

Des Moines Area Community College

08/13/2026