Officials of two schools shake hands this afternoon to seal an agreement between Northeast Iowa Community College and the University of Dubuque. N-I-C-C- president Rob Denson explains it’s recognition of how the two schools work together to offer more to students.They finalize an agreement allowing NICC students to also become a U-D student as soon as they’re accepted for registration. He says the University of Dubuque, like many private colleges, have accounting and teaching programs that community-college students want to move on to, without paying a penalty. Denson says the schools don’t compete, and today’s agreement just formalizes their cooperationIt’s to the benefit of both schools to keep students in the state and help them get good jobs. Denson says once looked down on as vocational schools, community colleges are an important part of the educational system and a steppingstone for many going on to four-year degrees. He says they’ve proven they work together well and even students going only for a vocational two-year degree need and get good skills in reading and writing that transfer to a college. Today’s agreement makes any student accepted at NICC immediately enrolled at University of Dubuque as well, with access to facilities and student counselors.