INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Indiana Commission for Higher Education today named Ivy Tech Community College one of two recipients of the 2023 Stan Jones Student Success Award, which recognizes higher education institutions with promising student success practices. Ivy Tech was recognized for Ivy+ Textbooks, the College’s equitable access program to deliver low-cost, digital-first textbooks and courseware to students on or before the first day of class.
"Ivy Tech is dedicated to providing students with an excellent education at an affordable price, and Ivy+ Textbooks is a prime example of how we’re innovating to respond to the needs of today’s students,” said Dr. Sue Ellspermann, president, Ivy Tech. “When students have first-day access to high quality course materials at an affordable and predictable price, they’re able to focus their energy on what matters most: learning."
The average college textbook costs an estimated $105.37, according to the Education Data Initiative, and a 2019 national survey conducted by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund found that two-thirds of students have skipped buying an assigned course material because of its cost. The Ivy+ Textbooks program allows eligible Ivy Tech students to purchase textbooks and course materials – more than two-thirds of which are delivered digitally – for a flat rate of $17 per credit hour. To date, the program has saved 135,000 students more than $36.4 million on their required materials.
The Ivy+ Textbooks program also contributes to student success. Since 2021 – the year that Ivy Tech implemented Ivy+ Textbooks – more students are earning more than 30 credit hours (a 2.32% increase) and are succeeding in courses at higher rates (up 1.82%). Hispanic, Pell-eligible, State aid-eligible, Asian and Black students are experiencing the highest gains due in part to having day-one access to required course materials.
Ivy+ Textbooks helped my back-to-school stress by eliminating the hunt for the right book for the right class. I was able to start the first day of classes with confidence because I knew I had what I needed for each of my classes. I'm also thankful for the simplicity of the process.
– Addie Coil, Ivy Tech Muncie Student
“The success of Ivy+ Textbooks is possible because of Ivy Tech’s commitment to innovation, agility, and ensuring the program continuously evolves to reflect changes in higher education and the needs of students,” said Dom Chase, senior vice president and chief financial officer, Ivy Tech. “Through consistent evaluation, improvement, and listening to the needs of its students and communities, the College is dedicated to making sure Ivy+ Textbooks remains a leading example for other institutions considering this avenue for their own textbook initiatives.”
Ivy+ Textbooks is part of Ivy+, an Ivy Tech initiative to identify and scale best practices to drive innovation and student success while advancing the College’s three-year strategic plan, Higher Education at the Speed of Life.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.
