Ivy Tech Bloomington expansion opening draws near, capital campaign totals $3.9M

BLOOMINGTON – Amid visible construction at the Connie and Steve Ferguson Academic Building, Ivy Tech Community College’s Bloomington campus kicked off another academic year Monday, August 24 with Welcome Week activities for its incoming and returning students. The college is adding 90,000 square feet of instructional and programming space to its existing footprint on Daniels Way.

With over 80 percent of it constructed, the Phase II expansion is on-target for completion by December 31. Students will attend classes and utilize services there beginning with the spring 2016 semester.

“We’ll begin the process of moving select services, such as the bookstore, library, and tutoring center, into the new space as early as October,” said Chancellor Jennie Vaughan. “This will allow us to repurpose vacated spaces to meet the needs of growing services, including our assessment and testing center, and adjunct faculty offices.”

In addition to the bookstore, library, and tutoring center, the completed expansion will include additional classrooms (paramedic sciences, fine arts, kinesiology, and technology), a 400-seat lecture hall, culinary and baking labs, makerspace, student commons, and an increased storefront for Bloomingfoods Ivy Tech’s offerings.

Fundraising efforts for the $4 million capital campaign, “Here We Grow Again!,” supporting the new wing are ongoing. Members of business and industry, organizations, foundations, college vendors, and individuals, including the regional Ivy Tech family, have supported the campaign through gifts totaling $3.9 million.

Approximately 87 percent of Ivy Tech Bloomington employees have contributed a total of more than $90,000 to support the building fund, scholarships, new emergency assistance fund, community youth programming, and unrestricted gifts during the capital campaign.

“Ivy Tech Bloomington is beyond thankful for the outpouring of generous gifts from the community, industry, and others in support of this project, focused on the success of our students and graduates,” said Chancellor Vaughan. “I’m also very proud of our regional campus and the commitment to students that it has shown through significant contributions to ‘Here We Grow Again!’.”

“The campaign’s donors and leadership have been outstanding,” said Susie Graham, executive director of development at Ivy Tech Bloomington. “Though we’re nearing the finish line, we still have construction bills to pay and will need continued community support to help us reach our goal,” she said.

On Saturday, November 21, Ivy Tech Bloomington will host a building expansion open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., complete with tours. RSVP to Tina Phelps at tphelps@ivytech.edu or (812) 330-6001.

Currently, Ivy Tech Bloomington’s expansion is open for group tours on weekly basis. For questions or an appointment call (812) 330-6001.

About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College (www.ivytech.edu) is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s en gine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

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