Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
During Dean Joann Walgamuth's dj vu-like enrollment report, guests at Tuesday's annual community forum heard again that the campus is out of space and finances.
Occupancy of the United Office Complex alleviated crowded conditions at Lakeview Middle School only temporarily.
Enrollment is up 7 percent over last year to 650, and those students are taking 26 percent more credit hours than in 2002-03. The count does not include high school students taking dual-credit courses.
There are 4,790 students in the college's Region 2 - the Warsaw, Elkhart and South Bend campuses, an 11 percent increase.
In 2001, the average age of an Ivy Tech student was 35 with a family to support. Two years later, 47 percent of the students are between the ages of 15 and 24, 71 percent are female and 78 percent are part-time.
"We're out of space," Walgamuth said, adding that the building is being sold but she doesn't know to whom. "The 20,000 square feet is renewable every two-years for the next 10 years. The additional 3,100 square feet we've leased could be gone."
She said 28 students are enrolled in the just-approved health care program, with more than 125 enrolled in general education courses pursuing an associate's degree in nursing (55), practical nursing (44) and medical assistant (34).
The majority of students are interested in business, computer information systems, manufacturing and industrial technology, accouting and office administration courses.
The Fast Track manufacturing training course has 63 graduates with eight students enrolled.
The college also provides custom training to about 40 companies.
General education credits can be transferred to a number of institutions including: Ball State University, Bethel College, Ferris State University, Goshen College, Grace College, Indiana State University, IUPU Fort Wayne, Purdue University, St. Mary's College, Southwestern Michigan College and the University of Southern Indiana.
Region 2 also will become one of six regions to pilot a biotechnology program as early as next fall.
Walgamuth explained the Early College concept, too, which would enable a qualifying student to take courses at Ivy Tech and while in high school with dual credit. The student could graduate with a high school diploma and an associate's degree.
The programs won't come about without a lot of strategy and planning, however, a plan Paul Nowak, executive director of resource development, explained.
He said the vision for Region 2 is to make Ivy Tech the community college of choice and to be the primary partner for community and economic development in the region.
Completed surveys, available online at ivytech.edu/warsaw, will be reviewed and committees formed to study the data. Campus plans for the formulation of a regionwide plan will be made throughout the winter, to be announced next spring.
