Ivy Tech ‘Redrawing’ Boundaries Again
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIvy Tech Community College is incorporating its Franklin Campus into the Central Indiana Region. The move is part of a system-wide effort to streamline operations. The school says 60 percent of students at the Franklin location live in the central region. February 27, 2014
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – With continuing efforts to find efficiencies and savings in its operations, as well as increase student access, retention and completion, Ivy Tech Community College is redrawing its regional boundaries and moving its Franklin Campus into Ivy Tech's Central Indiana Region.
The change comes on the heels of several Ivy Tech regional consolidations, including the Columbus and Southeast Regions, and the Bloomington and Evansville regions.
Before this change, Johnson County was split, with the northern part of the county being served by Ivy Tech's Central Indiana region and the southern half by the Columbus region.
Nearly 60 percent of the 1,200 students taking classes at the Franklin campus reside in counties served by Ivy Tech's Central Indiana region, according to Tina Gross, executive director of the Franklin Campus.
“Administratively, this regional change makes perfect sense,” she said. “We'll soon begin working to align our academic programming with our Indianapolis campus so that we can better serve students living in the broader Indianapolis area.”
Central Indiana Chancellor Kathleen Lee also noted that the changes in Ivy Tech's regions will not affect students.
“Students will continue to move between regions to complete degrees and take classes in locations most convenient to them,” Lee said. “It is not uncommon, for instance, for students living in Columbus to take classes in Franklin or Indianapolis. Ivy Tech is designed to help students as they juggle their college and life commitments no matter where they reside.”
Since moving to its current Franklin location on McClain Drive in 2008, Ivy Tech's enrollment has nearly tripled from 459 students to more than 1,200 today. The College currently offers full degree programs on campus and has several online degree opportunities available for those seeking a distance education option.
The Franklin Campus has approval from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education to offer degree programs in criminal justice, education, business administration, and liberal studies. All credits can be applied to degrees offered by any Ivy Tech campus throughout the state, including Columbus and Indianapolis. Credits earned at the Franklin campus are also transferrable to other Ivy Tech campuses and universities throughout Indiana and beyond.
College officials recognize strong community support for its growth over the last decade. Ivy Tech invested approximately $1.4 million in building renovations, $200,000 in furniture, and $400,000 in parking lot construction. The Franklin Redevelopment Commission contributed $450,000 toward these renovations, and another $100,000 was received from private donations. Ivy Tech employs 69 full- and part-time employees at its Franklin campus.
Although timelines have not been established, the college plans to renovate the remaining 9,000 square feet of its existing 30,000 square feet building. Additional classrooms, science labs, offices, and student support space is essential in meeting current needs for enrollment, Gross said.
The vision for Ivy Tech's Franklin campus, according to officials, is to expand its student services in Franklin, increase degree programs, and add faculty and staff to assist students in such areas as admissions, financial aid, and career services.
“The ability to expand our existing facility to accommodate more students and additional programming is critical to our role in educating and training the workforce in and around Johnson County,” Gross said. “We could not have made the strides we have made in this short period of time without the deep philanthropic spirit that runs through our community.”
IVY TECH FRANKLIN CAMPUS HISTORY
January 2004 Partnership with the School Corporation allowed for five classes at the former high school, now middle school.
August 2005 Partnership with Johnson Memorial Hospital allowed for classroom space at the hospital and expanded class offerings to daytime hours.
August 2008 Move to McClain Drive provided eight instructional spaces at the current facility near I-65 and SR 44.
April 2009 Expansion of the current facility provided an additional four instructional spaces and faculty offices.
November 2012 Franklin Development Corporation approved providing up to $400,000 in grant funds toward the purchase of the 27-acre parcel adjacent to the existing Ivy Tech facility.
March 2013 Ivy Tech purchased 27 acres next to its Franklin campus.
IVY TECH FRANKLIN ENROLLMENT HISTORY
Fall semester growth has been as follows:
2005 249 students
2006 296 students
2007 352 students
2008 459 students
2009 1,039 students
2010 1,332 students
2011 1,266 students
2012 1,197 students
WHERE IVY TECH – FRANKLIN STUDENTS RESIDE
Franklin 25 percent
Greenwood 24 percent
Indianapolis 16 percent
Whiteland 7 percent
Shelbyville 6 percent
Bargersville 3 percent
Columbus 3 percent
Trafalgar 3 percent
Nineveh 2 percent
Martinsville 1 percent
Edinburgh 1 percent
Mooresville 1 percent
Source: Ivy Tech Community College