Richmond Region News

Ivy Tech Richmond pilots new remedial education models preparing students for college coursework, improving completion rates

Richmond- Ivy Tech Community College Richmond is piloting three Math and English skills courses designed to quickly prepare students to move into college level coursework and increase their college completion rates. These new model courses and three others are being offered this Fall at 10 Ivy Tech Community College campuses. 

The Ivy Tech Richmond pilots introduce students to new learning approaches that quickly improve their Math, English and workplace skills and readiness for college level coursework.  The courses include computer based learning strategies and individual coaching and tutoring.

The Accelerated Learning Project (ALP) enrolls students in two classes. Students enroll in college level 111 English and 093 Academic Skills. The two courses meet on the same day enabling students to attend the college level course followed by the Skills course with concentrated support and assistance in developing English writing skills. The model has been successful in other states with increased course completions and college completion rates. The ALP program also is being piloted on the Muncie campus.

The Online Instruction with Tutoring for K-12 Math course is a self-paced program using an online learning system with online tutors. The students are monitored by their online Math mentor/tutor and the instructor who is a K-12 math teacher. The mentor tracks the student’s progress and follows up when assignments aren’t completed. The course also is being piloted on the Kokomo, Terre Haute and Indianapolis campuses.

The third pilot course is a Co-requisite in the new 30 week Ivy Institute of Technology program. This online, self-paced and computer lab-based course includes an instructor available to monitor who is to monitor progress, provide assistance and support learners. The students study introduction to applied technology and electricity, applied math, fluids and thermodynamics and workplace skills that include reading comprehension, listening, writing and teamwork. The program has diagnostics to assess content mastery and student progress. The course also is being offered on the Warsaw, Indianapolis, Terre Haute, Anderson and Sellersburg campuses.

Implementing new strategies to increase Indiana college student success and graduation rates are part of Governor Mitch Daniels statewide focus on increasing college completion rates. Indiana ranks forty-first in the percentage of adults with a college credential. More than two-thirds of Indiana’s community college students require remediation to start college level coursework.

Students on Ivy Tech campuses also are joining in the effort to improve student completion rates. Chapters of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society are promoting Commit to Complete on community college campuses. Recently the Ivy Tech Richmond chapter launched a new Commit to Complete initiative with over 600 students pledging to complete their degree programs during Welcome Week in August.

The Ivy Tech remediation projects and Indiana University’s projects to create highly structured intervention strategies to support student success at its regional campuses are being funded by a $1 million innovation grant from Complete College America to the Indiana Commission on Higher Education’s proposal, “Smarter Choices, Faster Completion.” Indiana was one of 10 states winning these grants that are funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

-30-

September 23, 2011

Ivy Tech Richmond Student Recycling Project to Raise Money for Scholarships
Collection Dates October 1, 29 and November 19 in Richmond and Connersville

 Richmond-The Ivy Tech Community College Science of Traditional and Alternative Energy class is sponsoring a recycling project in Wayne, Fayette and Union Counties. Proceeds will go to an Ivy Tech scholarship for area students. This is the fourth semester students in this class are collecting recyclables to endow an Ivy Tech Richmond scholarship. The long-term goal is to raise $10,000. The amount needed to endow/assure a scholarship will be awarded annually.

Class members are accepting the following materials for recycling: paper, cardboard, glass, scrap metal, iron, copper, aluminum, cast metal and large items such as stoves, refrigerators, washers and dryers, autos and auto parts, mowers and metal machinery. They cannot accept electronics such as TV’s, computers and monitors.

Donors with large articles or a large collection of material should call Tyler Ledbetter at 765.960.0141 or Spencer Worthington at 765.914.8161 to schedule a pick up. Pickups can be scheduled until through November 19.

Donors of large articles will receive a receipt for tax purposes from the Ivy Tech Community College Foundation.

Drop off dates and times for smaller items are October 1 and 29 and November 19 from noon until 4 p.m. in Richmond and Connersville. The drop-off points are the Richmond Kroger Plaza parking lot on East Main Street and the Ivy Tech Connersville campus, 717 West 21st St.

All donations will be accepted. All proceeds from this project go to the Ivy Tech Community College Foundation Scholarship Fund.

Questions about the project should be directed to Ledbetter, Worthington or the course instructor Krista Morisen at kmorisen@ivytech.edu.

-30-

Ivy Tech Richmond site of Finance Fitness Fun Fest, Spooky Family Fun Night October 28

Richmond- The fourth annual Ivy Tech Richmond Finance Fitness Fun Fest is partnering with the college’s Spooky Family Fun Night Friday, October 28 to provide fun and useful financial information for students, their families and area residents.

James Cunningham, an internationally known, award-winning comedian and speaker, will highlight Friday evening’s events on the Richmond campus. His fast-paced, interactive reality show Funny Money creates insights into handling personal finances. Cunningham takes this fun and entertaining approach to dealing with money to dozens of college campuses across North America each year. He combines comedy, advice and the opportunity to win cash prizes into a fun and useful event. Funny Money starts at 6:30 p.m. in Johnson Hall’s Stidham Auditorium and is part of a series of events designed to help attendees grapple with the realities of paying for college, home and family needs in today’s economy.

The Finance Fitness Fest events begin at noon in Johnson Hall. Dr. Jacqualyn Green will lead Managing Stress to the Max. At 1 p.m. Tina Gutierrez will lead Laughter and Yoga, and at 2 p.m. Kerri Krumal will lead Digging Out of the Financial Hole. Attendees will be able to visit informational displays from 3-6:30 p.m. staffed by financial and health professionals. The Wayne County Health Department will offer flu shots (adults $18, children 6mo - 18yrs $14) billed to Medicaid, Medicare for eligible recipients and receipts provided for private insurers.

From 5:30-6:30 p.m. meals will be available to participants and their families with a completed vendor attendance card. Cunningham’s 6:30 p.m. Funny Money presentation includes audience participation and cash prizes. Following the session attendance prizes will  be awarded. The Spooky Family Fun Night for children will be from 6-7:30 p.m. It includes a magic workshop with magician Tony Truitt, a Halloween Trail and treats.

The event’s sponsors include U.S. Bank, Wayne Bank and Trust, NATCO Credit Union, First Bank, Indiana University East, Richmond Furniture Gallery, Galileo Charter School, Meijer, Follett Bookstore, Johnson Chiropractic, Texas Roadhouse, Walmart and Ivy Tech Student Success and Student Life.

For adult and children’s reservations and additional information contact Sharon Lilly at sbrothers@ivytech.edu, 765-966-2656 ext. 1203 and visit ivytech.edu/richmond/studentlife/events.html. Additional Finance Fitness Fun Fest sessions are planned on the Connersville Ivy Tech campus, Tuesday, October 25.

-30-

Ivy Tech Community College Richmond Chancellor James Steck to retire in June 2012

Richmond- James L. Steck, Chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College Richmond announced this week he will retire at the end of the Spring 2012 term. 

Steck joined Ivy Tech Richmond in 1985 as Chair of the Technology Division and served as Dean of Instructional Affairs and Executive Dean before being named Chancellor in 1997. 

During Steck’s tenure the Ivy Tech Richmond campus added Johnson Hall and renovated McDaniel Hall and expanded offerings on the Connersville campus.  The student enrollment has doubled since 2005 to more than 5,000 students a year.  There are eight schools, 26 programs and over 60 degrees currently offered on campus and online by Ivy Tech Richmond.

-30-

December 9, 2011

Ivy Tech Richmond Recognizes Employee Service

Ivy Tech Community College Richmond recognized employees for years of service, community volunteerism and support for the Ivy Tech Foundation at a luncheon December 9.

Eugene Ayton, Equal Opportunity Officer and Business Administration faculty member, was recognized for 16 years of service. Ayton, former Business Administration program chair and Human Resources Director, is retiring at the end of the 2011 Fall term

Ayton also was a human resources executive at the Ford Motor Company in Connersville and Philadelphia, and the Mead Corporation in Dayton, Ohio. He is active at Bethel AME Church as Associate Minister and Fisherman Male Chorus member. He is a former member of the Townsend Center Board, Starr-Gennett Board, United Way Allocation Committee and Richmond Police Department Merit Commission.

Other employees recognized for years of service include: Lindy Covalt, 30 years; Diana Pappin, Jeff Plasterer, 25 years; Brenda Bennett, Susan Zurwell, 20 years; Stephanie Alexander, Linda Przybysz, Melissa Smith, Tina Smith and Leanna Angi-White, 15 years; Delores Hazzard, Tami Lamb, Tammy Lowe, Brian Olsen, Julia Sherck, Kristin Sweet and Candi Tutterrow, 5 years.

-30-