FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 21, 2000 CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, Drake, (515) 271-3119 M.D. Isley, DMHEC, (515) 248-4983 DRAKE PRESIDENT ELECTED PRESIDENT OF DES MOINES HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS Drake University President David Maxwell recently was elected president of the Des Moines Higher Education Center Board of Directors. He will serve at two-year term. Robert Koob, president of the University of Northern Iowa, was elected vice president of the DMHEC Board of Directors and Carol Bradley, assistant to the president of Iowa State University, was elected secretary/treasurer of the board. The Des Moines Higher Education Center, which opened this fall in Capital Square, is a collaborative effort to provide quality higher education courses and training programs that will benefit the greater Des Moines community and help individuals and organizations reach their professional and educational goals. Seven colleges and universities are participating in the center: Des Moines Area Community College, Drake, Grand View College, Iowa State University, University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa and Simpson College. "I am honored by the trust placed in me by my colleagues, and look forward to working with the participating institutions and the staff of the center to develop creative and effective responses to the learning needs of the downtown business community," Dr. Maxwell said. "We have a real opportunity to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts, to set a new standard for collaboration and cooperation among Iowa's colleges and universities in ways that enrich Des Moines' economic, social and cultural development." Course offerings at the center are expanding rapidly. While there were seven courses offered when the center opened this fall, 37 courses are scheduled to be offered from now through August 2001, bringing the center close to full capacity for the spring semester. Drake is conducting one MBA class (Environment of Business) at the DMHEC this fall. That course will be offered again during the spring semester along with another MBA course on the Negotiation Process and Conflict Resolution.