Profile of DMACC

History of DMACC

Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) is a publicly supported two-year institution serving Central Iowa. The College District includes all or major portions of Audubon, Boone, Carroll, Dallas, Guthrie, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Polk, Story and Warren counties and parts of 11 adjacent counties. It encompasses 6,560 square miles or about 11 percent of the land area of the state. Approximately 20 percent of the state’s population resides within the district.

DMACC was officially created on March 18, 1966, and was designated as Merged Area XI. A nine-member Board of Directors was elected and formally installed that same year. Board members run for election every fours years.

In 1968, the Board of Directors adopted Des Moines Area Community College as the official name of the institution.

• The first classes were held at the new Ankeny Campus location in 1968.
• Administrative and operational control of Boone Junior College was assumed in 1969. 
• The Carroll Campus was initiated in 1979.
• The Urban Campus began operation in Des Moines in 1972 at 920 Washington, then moved into a new facility at Seventh and Laurel in 1980.
• The first classes in Newton were held in the Fall of 1993 as a result of the cooperative effort of the Maytag Corporation, Iowa State University, the City of Newton and the DMACC Foundation.
• In October 2001, the state-of-the-art technology facility, West Campus, opened in West Des Moines.

Paul Lowery was the first superintendent/president of the College.

Dr. Joseph A. Borgen served 20 years as the president from 1981 until his retirement in 2001. David England was the president of Des Moines Area Community College from 2001 to 2003. Robert Denson became president in November 2003.

Mission and Goals

DMACC Mission:

DMACC provides quality, affordable, student-centered education and training to empower our diverse communities and to serve as a catalyst for economic development.₍₂₀₂₄₎

DMACC Vision:

DMACC’s vision is to improve the quality of life for our students, support our communities, and cultivate a prosperous Iowa.₍₂₀₂₄₎

DMACC Values:

• Accessible Learning: DMACC provides accessible and affordable life-long learning opportunities.
• Diversity & Inclusion: DMACC embraces the differences of individuals, champions mutual respect, and provides enriching environments for growth and understanding.
• Quality & Excellence: DMACC delivers high-quality instruction and services utilizing standards of excellence, ethics, and professionalism.
• Service: DMACC educates, supports, and provides resources to develop skills and talent for a competitive workforce.
• Engagement: DMACC fosters partnerships in and with the communities we serve.₍₂₀₂₄₎

Nondiscrimination Statement

Des Moines Area Community College shall not engage in nor allow discrimination covered by law against any person, group or organization. This includes in its programs, activities, employment practices, or hiring practices, and harassment or discrimination based on race, color, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information (in employment) and actual or potential parental, family or marital status. Veteran status in educational programs, activities, employment practices, or admission procedures is also included to the extent covered by law. Lack of English language proficiency will not be a barrier to admission and participation in career and technical education programs.

Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against may file a complaint through the College Discrimination Complaint Procedure. Complaint forms may be obtained from the Executive Campus Dean’s office, the Executive Academic Deans’ office, the Judicial Officer, or the EEO/AA Officer, Human Resources. ADA questions and concerns may be directed to the Section 504/ADA Coordinator at 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Bldg 6, Ankeny, IA 50023, phone 515/964-6857, dso@dmacc.edu. Title IX questions and concerns may be directed to the Title IX Coordinator at 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Bldg 1, Ankeny, IA 50023, phone 515/964- 6216, Title9@dmacc.edu. Questions or complaints about this policy may be directed to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, John C. Kluczysnki Federal Building, 230 S. Dearborn Street, 37th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604-7204, phone 312/730-1560, fax 312/730-1576, TDD 800-877-8339 Email OCR.Chicago@ed.gov.

DMACC offers career and technical programs in the following areas of study:

• Agriculture, Natural and Environmental Science 
• Architecture, Engineering, and Construction
• Arts, Design, and Visual Communication
• Business, Management, and Marketing
• Education, Public, and Human Services
• Health Science
• Hospitality and Culinary
• Information Technology
• Manufacturing
• Transportation & Logistics

Entrance requirements for specific programs can be found on the Academic Pathways website.₍₂₀₂₄₎

Student Right to Know

Institutions are required to provide students with information regarding campus security, alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, reporting of crimes, sexual assaults, Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action, college policy regarding HIV/AIDS, graduation rates and transfer data, drug-free schools, Gainful Employment information, and campus information. This data can be obtained at the Information Center on the Ankeny Campus and from the Provosts at all other campuses. It is also available on the DMACC website under DMACC Consumer Information. Des Moines Area Community College students are expected to be familiar with policies and procedures affecting their activities. Ignorance of policies and procedures will not excuse violations.

DMACC Catalog

The Student Right to Know Act requires an institution that participates in any student financial assistance program under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended) to disclose information about graduation rates to current and prospective students. Institutions that award athletically-related student aid are also required under the Student Right to Know Act to disclose data related to the institution’s student population and student-athlete graduation rates to potential student-athletes, their parents, coaches, and counselors. In addition to the graduation rates of student-athletes receiving athletically-related financial aid, Des Moines Area Community College complies with the other reporting requirements of the Federal Right to Know and Campus Security Act. To view any of this information, please visit the DMACC Consumer Information website. 

The Campuses

ANKENY CAMPUS is located on a 304-acre site six miles north of Des Moines within the city limits of Ankeny. The campus is easily accessible from both Interstates 35 and 80. A directory of campus facilities is located at each entrance.

BOONE CAMPUS is located on a 37-acre site at the southeast edge of the city of Boone, just north of Hwy 30. Constructed in 1968, the campus was renovated and expanded in 1995 and 2005.

CARROLL CAMPUS is located on a 9-acre site at 906 North Grant Road in the city of Carroll. The Carroll Campus was started in 1979, expanded with a new building in 2004 and renovated in 2023. 

NEWTON CAMPUS is located at 600 N. 2nd Ave. West in Newton and began operation in the Fall of 1993. The Jasper County High School Career Academy was added in 2009.

URBAN CAMPUS is located north of I-235 at 7th and Laurel in Des Moines at 1100 7th Street. The campus is comprised of five buildings. The Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families and DMACC Capital Center are both part of the Urban Campus. The Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families is located next to the campus on University Avenue. DMACC Capital Center is located on Des Moines Street just blocks from the Iowa State Capitol.

WEST CAMPUS is located west of Interstate 35 at 5959 Grand Avenue in West Des Moines. The campus opened in the Fall of 2001.

Credit classes have been offered on the basis of need in other locations throughout the area and in many area high schools. Community services and continuing education classes are offered in many additional communities within the College District.

Access to Campus Facilities

The DMACC campuses are generally open to students and the public from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, and from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. (Saturday hours may vary on individual campuses.) The campuses are closed during other times and holidays. Visit the DMACC website.

DMACC Centers

In addition to the six campuses that comprise Des Moines Area Community College, the college operates five centers:

• DMACC Capitol Center

  • DMACC Capitol Center opened in 2013 and expanded a year later. The center offers career, technical, HiSet classes and literacy programs.  One of the highlights of the center is its simulation lab that features life-like, automated mannequin patients that can be programmed to talk and display symptoms of various illnesses and conditions. More information is available on the Capitol Center website.

• DMACC at Perry VanKirk Career Academy

  • The Perry Center offers the DMACC Career Advantage Program to students from area partner schools - Adel-Desoto-Minburn, Dallas Center-Grimes, Madrid, Ogden, Panorama, Perry, West Central Valley, and Woodward-Granger. Students have the opportunity to enroll in tuition free dual credit courses as they discover and pursue their “Life’s Calling”. Career Academies include: Industrial technician Academy, CNA Academy, Criminal Justice Academy, EMT Academy, Human Services Academy, Liberal Arts Transfer Academy, Teacher Academy, and Welding Academy. Adult programs include Teacher and Paraeducator Apprenticeship (TPRA), CNA, EMT, and Welding.  HiSET (formerly GED) and various levels of English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are available as non-credit courses through the Continuing education department are also available.More information is available by calling 515-428-8100 or on the Perry VanKirk Career Academy website.

• DMACC Career Academy, Hunziker Center

  • The $5 million DMACC Career Academy, Hunziker Center opened its doors on August 14, 2006. The center is located at the northwest corner of Interstate 35 and U.S. Highway 30 in Ames. Through a partnership with Story County’s seven school districts, the Academy offers career and technical programs to high school students during the day. Some of the high school educational programs include state-of-the-art labs for building trades, criminal justice, culinary arts, health careers, auto collision repair and automotive technology . In the afternoon and at night a wide variety of college-credit liberal arts courses are offered through the Boone Campus. The Hunziker Center telephone number is 515-663-6700. More information is available on the Career Academy, Hunziker Center website.

• DMACC Southridge Center

  • Opened in the Fall of 2013, the DMACC Center for Career and Professional Development at Southridge provides 65,000 square feet to bring administrative, academic, career training and educational services under one roof. Southridge is located at the crossroads of SE 14th Street and Army Post Road in Des Moines. The Southridge Center offers college-credit, liberal arts and sciences classes to students pursuing associate degrees, as well as other educational services including programs for Youth Consortium, Adult Basic Education (ABE), English as a Second Language (ESL) and High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) which has replaced General Education Development (GED) classes. The center also houses a Testing Center, available for student  and community use.  A large conference space is available to rent for events, conferences and/or meetings. Two additional educational components offered at Southridge include: DMACC Continuing Education and the Warren County Career Academy. The DMACC Continuing Education Program offers non-credit classes for personal and professional development, including the Workforce Training Academy (WTA). The Warren County Career Academy is an extension of DMACC’s Career Advantage Program that provides college credit and vocational training to high school students. More information is available on the Southridge Center website.

• Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families

  • The Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families focuses on delivering three core services: connection to income/work supports, teaching financial literacy and asset building, and offering educational/workforce training opportunities that will provide a livable wage. It delivers these services through an integrated service delivery model that is a first of its kind. The center provides multiple services for the community (including DMACC students) including training and other programs to match training opportunities with support services. This direct connection to employers and the Center’s employer-directed training opportunities are driving solutions to unemployment and underemployment for many in Central Iowa. This includes programs such as Workforce Training Academy, Digital Skills, Small Business development, and English Language Learner classes. The Evelyn K. Davis Center also provides educational opportunities, easy access to educators, and diverse programs including Summer Youth Employment Program, Re-entry support services, Men on the Move Clothing Closet, Opportunity Passport, and Financial Empowerment and Inclusion. The Center opened in 2012 as a partnership between the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, United Way of Central Iowa and Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC).

• DMACC Templeton Regional Center

  • The newest center servicing DMACC territory in Carroll and Audubon counties opened in the fall of 2022.  Located in the heart of historic Templeton, Iowa this 10,400 square foot building will host Career and Technical training academies primarily for surrounding communities and the area schools of IKM-Manning, Audubon, Exira-EHK- and Coon Rapids-Bayard. More information is available on the Templeton Regional Center website.

Accreditation

Des Moines Area Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

The college is also approved by the Iowa Department of Education. Both career option and college transfer curricula carry the approval of the U.S. Department of Education and are approved for veterans’ benefits. 

Many DMACC programs have specialized accreditation specific to their field of study.

Ankeny Campus

2006 S. Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny, IA 50023-3993
515-964-6200 or toll-free in Iowa: 800-362-2127
FAX: 515-964-6391

Boone Campus

1125 Hancock Dr., Boone, IA 50036-5399
515-432-7203 or toll-free in Iowa: 800-362-2127
FAX: 515-433-5033

Carroll Campus

906 N. Grant Rd., Carroll, IA 51401-2525
712-792-1755 or toll-free in Iowa: 800-622-3334
FAX: 712-792-8500

Newton Campus

600 N. 2nd Ave. W., Newton, IA 50208-3049
641-791-3622 or toll-free in Iowa: 800-362-2127
FAX: 641-791-1728

Urban Campus

1100 7th St., Des Moines, IA 50314-2597
515-244-4226 or toll-free in Iowa: 800-362-2127
FAX: 515-248-7216

West Campus

5959 Grand Ave., West Des Moines, IA 50266-5302
515-633-2407 or toll-free in Iowa: 800-362-2127
FAX: 515-633-2409