Indian Hills pulls the plug on robotics program with intent to revitalize in 2025

OTTUMWA, Iowa — Indian Hills Community College has decided to suspend its robotics program for the upcoming academic year due to declining enrollment.

College President Matt Thompson says they have four first-year students finishing the program this year with a teach-out plan.

“When we had four students only in the first year, we felt like it was time to push, push pause on the program, evaluate and look at ways that we can make some improvements, work with business and industry members to help us find ways that we can attract more students and maybe do some work-based learning,” Thompson explained about the decision.

Thompson says the College plans to engage with businesses relevant to the industry that have previously employed their graduates.

He named Agri-Industrial Plastics in Fairfield and John Deere in Ottumwa as examples.

Thompson says careers in that field can be lucrative and are in high demand.

He hopes that revamping the program stimulates students’ interest in acquiring those technical skills.

“Yeah, these are great paying jobs, and that’s the challenge of it,” said Thompson. “They’re needed in our area and across the state of Iowa, really across the country. So, you know, wages that are life-sustaining for families, you know, upper $40,000, $50,000 range to start with. And so these are really high-paying jobs in our area. So, that’s why we feel like it’s important to really evaluate and figure out how to make improvements and then bring it back, once it’s in a better place”

The two professors affiliated with the robotics program will not return to campus next year.

Thompson hopes they can get the new program ready to roll out for Fall 2025.