Ivy Tech Seeks To Acquire New Campus In County
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
During a luncheon attended by numerous state and local representatives Thursday, Ivy Tech Community College announced its intentions of acquiring a new 40-acre campus in the county.
In efforts to improve its educational services, mainly in machine tool training, and resolve current parking complications, the school is eyeing a new property to upgrade its facility.
Along with more than 130 members of the community in attendance, State Rep. Dave Wolkins, Winona Lake, and Senators Ryan Mishler and Robert Meeks were present for the proposal. Each supports the move, but said Ivy Tech needs to be approved by numerous boards and commissions before any official decision can be made.
"For this community, I can't think of anything more important than to allow Ivy Tech to remain and grow," Meeks said. "And higher education is growing, but there isn't enough money to go to everybody.
"Ivy Tech needs to getting moving on this."
In order for the school to finalize plans on the new campus, it must present their intentions before the Ivy Tech board, the Indiana Commission of Higher Education as well as the state's general assembly. Meeks estimated that if a proposal could be presented before the general assembly this year, the school could have a new campus within the next three to four years.
"This town is ready. We need it, and we just have to follow the steps," Wolkins said. "And I'm pleased to see so many community members involved, so I think this will happen at some point."
School officials said the current building, 3755 Lake City Highway, is at capacity during evening hours. Because 80 percent of the school's students are employed, the facility tends to have larger amounts of traffic during later hours of the day.
"We need to have that element of education. Currently, there's not an adequate space for community experience," Lauran Sattler, coordinator of Ivy Tech's computer information science program, said. "The students of Kosciusko County deserve to have a legitimate, identifiable institution."
A feasibility study will be introduced May 1 to evaluate the community's support for the new campus. The study is estimated to be completed June 1, and following results, the school will pursue the matter.
Ivy Tech currently is looking at properties on Ind. 15, north of the city, and on the west side of Warsaw along U.S. 30. Many school officials said they desire a highly visible, accessible area that could attract students from neighboring communities.
Thursday's presentation also introduced new goals for the school, including a plan to increase technical certificates and associate degrees by 50 percent. Orthopedic and agro-business skills also will be promoted by the school to better educate students on the county's local job market.
"It's an exciting future," Interim Dean Randy Maxson said. "And we're finding ways to be part of that." [[In-content Ad]]
During a luncheon attended by numerous state and local representatives Thursday, Ivy Tech Community College announced its intentions of acquiring a new 40-acre campus in the county.
In efforts to improve its educational services, mainly in machine tool training, and resolve current parking complications, the school is eyeing a new property to upgrade its facility.
Along with more than 130 members of the community in attendance, State Rep. Dave Wolkins, Winona Lake, and Senators Ryan Mishler and Robert Meeks were present for the proposal. Each supports the move, but said Ivy Tech needs to be approved by numerous boards and commissions before any official decision can be made.
"For this community, I can't think of anything more important than to allow Ivy Tech to remain and grow," Meeks said. "And higher education is growing, but there isn't enough money to go to everybody.
"Ivy Tech needs to getting moving on this."
In order for the school to finalize plans on the new campus, it must present their intentions before the Ivy Tech board, the Indiana Commission of Higher Education as well as the state's general assembly. Meeks estimated that if a proposal could be presented before the general assembly this year, the school could have a new campus within the next three to four years.
"This town is ready. We need it, and we just have to follow the steps," Wolkins said. "And I'm pleased to see so many community members involved, so I think this will happen at some point."
School officials said the current building, 3755 Lake City Highway, is at capacity during evening hours. Because 80 percent of the school's students are employed, the facility tends to have larger amounts of traffic during later hours of the day.
"We need to have that element of education. Currently, there's not an adequate space for community experience," Lauran Sattler, coordinator of Ivy Tech's computer information science program, said. "The students of Kosciusko County deserve to have a legitimate, identifiable institution."
A feasibility study will be introduced May 1 to evaluate the community's support for the new campus. The study is estimated to be completed June 1, and following results, the school will pursue the matter.
Ivy Tech currently is looking at properties on Ind. 15, north of the city, and on the west side of Warsaw along U.S. 30. Many school officials said they desire a highly visible, accessible area that could attract students from neighboring communities.
Thursday's presentation also introduced new goals for the school, including a plan to increase technical certificates and associate degrees by 50 percent. Orthopedic and agro-business skills also will be promoted by the school to better educate students on the county's local job market.
"It's an exciting future," Interim Dean Randy Maxson said. "And we're finding ways to be part of that." [[In-content Ad]]