READI for: College Completion Pathways

Ivy Tech seeking funds to help high school students earn dual credits

Imagine graduating high school with a technical certificate that leads to lucrative employment on Day One. That is a reality for more than 100 students in the local community.

Ivy Tech Community College wants to offer that opportunity to even more students through its College Completion Pathways program with the assistance of a Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) grant from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC).

According to Ivy Tech Kokomo interim chancellor Ethan Heicher, the grant will allow the college to expand its dual credit offerings to rural high schools where resources may not be sufficient to support a college pathway course.

“The College Completion Pathway structure depends on the high school having an equivalent course,” said Heicher. “That takes a faculty member with the same credential as our instructors. It requires equivalent lab space. And they have to cover our course objectives completely. If the high school can do all three, we can grant free dual credit to that high school.”

The Early Childhood Education lab at Ivy Tech Kokomo. High schools like Lewis Cass Polytechnic must offer a similar lab to qualify for dual credit.

When a school can’t meet those qualifications, Ivy Tech can step in and fill the gap, but that means tuition and fees for the student. The READI grant requested by the college would cover that cost, leveling the playing field for students no matter what school they attend.

Ivy Tech College Completion Pathways

Project estimate: $4 million

Local investment: $2 million

READI request: $2 million