Vincennes Awarded Logistics Training Grant

September 24, 2012

News Release

Vincennes, Ind. -- Vincennes University is the recipient of a $2.9 million three-year federal grant to bolster instruction at VU’s Logistics Training and Education Center (LTEC) in Plainfield.

“VU already provides a staffing solution to logistics companies to fill trained entry-level, team lead, and supervisor positions. This grant will assist us to further align our associate degree program and industry-recognized credentials to meet employer needs, making VU graduates even more marketable for logistics jobs and promotions,” said David A.
Tucker, vice president for VU Workforce Development/Community Services.

The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Labor in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education as part of 27 awards to individual institutions totaling more than $78 million and 27 awards to university consortia totaling over $359 million. The Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grants will be used for the development and expansion of innovative training programs in fields such as advanced manufacturing, transportation, and health care as well as science, technology, engineering, and math.

VU’s program will target counties in central Indiana including Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Morgan, and Shelby.

Assisting with the initiative will be an Employer Leadership Group comprised of Indiana’s leading logistics companies - Amazon, Con-way Freight, Fed Ex Corporation, MD Logistics, Ozburn Hessey Logistics (OHL), RedCats USA, Ryder System, and UPS. Each company will play a vital role in the design and implementation of the logistics program.

The federal funding will enhance VU’s existing logistics education and training to more effectively meet the needs of eligible workers and employers. Several strategies will be employed, such as creating a blended learning environment by combining classroom instruction and online courses with a hands-on logistics lab that simulates companies surrounding the Center. This grant will allow VU to embed industry-recognized certifications into components of the curriculum, develop a career pathway design, and help adults succeed in acquiring the skills, degrees, and credentials they need for high-wage, high-skill employment.

The goal is to fill the substantial middle-skills gap currently existing in Central Indiana and meet the needs of employers industry-wide. With a Logistics Training and Education Center already operating and basic entry-level courses being offered, VU will use this grant to move the program to the next level by focusing on the thousands of middle-skill jobs that need filled and the competencies needed to fill those jobs.

“Vincennes University’s project will ensure that participants are served through a continuum of services that help them in obtaining employment or advancing in their career,” said VU President Dick Helton. “VU will partner with the public workforce system to assess skill levels, refer participants to the LTEC program, and connect participants with employers.”

Known as the “Crossroads of America,” Indiana is a global leader in the logistics industry. Ranking in the top 10 across logistics-related categories, Indiana has more pass-through interstates than anywhere in the country, providing access to 80 percent of North America’s population within a day’s drive. The Indianapolis area and the I-70 corridor represent the heart of Indiana’s logistics sector that includes the second largest FedEx hub in the country at the Indianapolis International Airport, the 6th largest cargo airport in the nation. More than 26 million square feet of distribution and manufacturing space surrounds the airport.

The Vincennes University Logistics Training and Education Center features 30,000 square feet of classrooms, cutting-edge training equipment, and significant material handling/flexible lab space that houses a fully operational warehouse. By combining specialized equipment, state-of-the-art logistics technology, and extensive lab space with employer-driven credentials, certificates, and curriculum, the program will fill the logistics training gap that currently exists in Central Indiana.

VINCENNES UNIVERSITY - Indiana’s First College

VU is state-supported with campuses in Vincennes and Jasper and additional sites such as Plainfield, Indianapolis, and the Gibson County Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics. VU also offers instruction at military sites throughout the nation.

In addition to offering 200 associate degree and certificate programs, VU also offers bachelor’s degree programs in technology, homeland security, nursing, secondary education programs in mathematics and science, and special education/elementary education.

VU enrolls students from throughout Indiana, 28 other states, and 30 countries. Tuition and fees are the lowest among Indiana campuses with residence halls. VU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Founded in 1801, VU is Indiana’s first college and is the only college in the nation founded by an individual who would later become President of the United States. William Henry Harrison, the ninth U.S. President, founded VU while serving as governor of the Indiana Territory. More information is available at www.vinu.edu.

Source: Vincennes University