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Columbus Campus

Columbus Main Campus Satellite Locations

New Student Guidebook

Welcome to Ivy Tech Columbus!

This guidebook is your go‑to resource for navigating campus life, understanding important dates and resources, and making the most of the opportunities ahead.

It’s designed to help you feel confident from your very first day — whether you’re learning what it takes to be a successful student, planning out your class schedule, exploring campus spaces, or connecting with the student services that will support you throughout your journey.

As you move through each section, you’ll find practical tips, helpful reminders, and clear guidance to keep you informed and empowered.

Welcome! We’re glad you’re here, and we can’t wait to see what you accomplish as you begin this next chapter.

We’re excited to support you every step of the way.

The Columbus Service Area

Ivy Tech Columbus serves six counties in south central Indiana — Bartholomew, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, and Shelby — with campuses in Columbus, Franklin, and Shelbyville.

Success isn’t just a a goal — it’s a habit.

These steps and routines can help ensure you are successful as an Ivy Tech student:

  • Attend New Student Advising and Orientation
  • Register for classes early (at least 30 days before each term)
  • Enroll in and complete IVYT in your first term
  • Be in paid status before the first day of classes
  • Use IvyLearn (Canvas) consistently (log in at least twice a week)\
  • Meet with your Academic Advisor each term
  • Meet with a Career Coach
  • Complete the FAFSA by April 15

Student Services & Support

Get to Know Ivy Tech Lingo

Key terms to navigate buildings, resources, and services

Your Academic Advisor is your resource for developing an Academic Completion Plan (ACP), registering for classes, and navigating your program of study. You can schedule an appointment with them in MyIvy to meet in-person, virtually, or by telephone.

An Academic Completion Plan (ACP) is your roadmap to selecting the correct courses to take during your time at Ivy Tech. Your Academic Advisor will help you develop and update your ACP during your regular advising meetings.

The AITC is located at the corner of Middle Road and Grissom Street and houses our Agriculture and Welding classes.

The AMCE is located off of Kelly Street and is home to many of Ivy Tech’s Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering, and Applied Science programs. 

Ivy Tech students and alumni are able to access Career Coaching resources for life! A Career Coach is available to discuss potential academic majors & career paths, to help you develop a strong resume & prepare for interviews, and to support you with internship & job search strategies.

The CLC is located off of Central Avenue and is a community-owned college space shared by Ivy Tech, IU Columbus, and Purdue Polytechnic. Ivy Tech students can find classes, hang-out and study spaces, the University Library of Columbus, and the Academic Resource Center in the CLC building.

The Columbus Service Area comprises 6 counties in south-central Indiana: Bartholomew, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, and Shelby.

The Cyber Academy is an Accelerated Associate Degree Program focused on the Associate of Applied Science in Cyber Security and Information Assurance. It is located at the Mustcatatuck Urban Training Center (MUTC) in Butlerville, IN.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an online form that must be submitted annually in order to determine your eligibility to receive financial aid. Your FAFSA information will show which grants and scholarships you can receive, as well as how much money you can borrow in student loans. Filing the FAFSA is also a requirement for Ivy Tech Scholarship opportunities.

Your Grade Point Average (GPA) represents your academic performance in all courses where points can be earned. Your GPA is calculated by dividing the number of credit hours you take into the number of quality points you have earned.

The Green2Gold program is a unique partnership between Ivy Tech and Purdue University that offers an affordable local pathway to a Bachelor of Science in engineering from Purdue. Upon acceptance to the program, students can earn an Associate of Science Degree from Ivy Tech Columbus and can then transfer to Purdue to complete any of 15 engineering degrees. Specific application criteria must be met in order to qualify for admission.

The IvyCares program helps to connect students with resources in areas such as:

  • Food security (The Hub)

  • Mental Health Resources

  • Technology Support/Loaner Laptops

  • Emergency Aid

  • Child Care Assistance

IvyLearn (Canvas) is Ivy Tech’s state-wide course management and online learning platform. Classes use IvyLearn for assignment submissions, discussion boards, announcements, and grades. Some classes are even conducted entirely through IvyLearn! It is important to login to IvyLearn on a regular basis.

Getting involved is one of the best ways to make the most of your college experience. IvyLife (Student Life) is where you can discover all of the different clubs, organizations, and events that exist at Ivy Tech. IvyLife can be accessed through MyIvy and you will want to select Columbus to see all of the local opportunities!

Located in the Columbus Learning Center (CLC), the University Library of Columbus is a shared space between Ivy Tech, IU Columbus, and Purdue. Ivy Tech employs both full-time and part-time librarians to assist you with all your research questions.

Moravec Hall, opened in 2022, is the primary campus building for students on the Columbus campus. It is located at the corner of Central Avenue and Poshard Drive and houses classrooms, laboratory space, study areas, the testing center, the Bursar’s Office, Student Life, the Hub, Financial Aid, Academic Advising, and faculty/staff office space.

The Muscatatuck Urban Training Center (MUTC) is home to the CyberAcademy. Additionally, MUTC serves as a unique urban/rural multi-domain training environment for military, local, state, national, and international partners.

MyIvy is your digital link to everything Ivy Tech. You can access your email, review your financial aid information, schedule an appointment with your advisor and support team, register for classes, access your classes through IvyLearn, and so much more! Be sure to login to MyIvy on a regular basis.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is a federal requirement that financial aid recipients must establish and maintain in order to continue receiving financial aid. It is important to stay in good standing and meet the GPA (2.0 or higher) and course completion rate (67% or better) requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Since 2012 the eagle has served as the local mascot for the Columbus Service Area. In 2022, we held a naming competition for our beloved eagle and the student-submitted name, Talon, was selected. The eagle was originally selected to represent our service area because of the connection to the logo for the Columbus newspaper, The Republic.

Students in the Columbus Service Area have access to both in-person and virtual tutoring services. All Ivy Tech students can access virtual tutoring services through their IvyLearn (Canvas) Course Sites. Additionally, the Columbus Service Area has partnered with IU Columbus on the Academic Resource Center (ARC), located in the CLC. The ARC provides in-person and virtual (Zoom) options for tutoring in several subjects.

Student Success Roadmap

Get Ready for Success

    • Register Early – Meet with your academic advisor & register in Mylvy using Schedule Builder.
    • Attend NSAO (new students) – Get connected, prepared & confident.
    • Tech Setup – Log into Mylvy & IvyLearn. Need help? Contact EdTech.
    • Books – Ivy+ digital textbooks are in IvyLearn—check your courses
    • Financial Aid – File your FAFSA & set up a payment plan through the Bursar Office.
    • Accommodations – Need accommodations in the classroom? Reach out to Disability Support Services.
    • Meet with a Success Coach – Get tips on time management, goals & 8-week class success.
    • Tutoring & Writing Help – Use the Library and Tutoring Center (in-person or online).
    • Ivy Cares – Help with food, child care, transportation & more.
    • Career Coach – Explore majors & career options early.

  • Academic Alerts? – Talk to your Success Coach & get tutoring help

    Workshops – Join sessions from the Center for Student Success on time management, test prep & more.

    Student Counseling – Reach out for mental health support if overwhelmed

  • Study Tables - Join review sessions for Math 123 & more.

    Check Grades - Stay on track in IvyLearn. Ask your instructor if unsure.

    Register Early for Next Term - Meet with your advisor to avoid delays.

  • Canvas School Communities (ROOTS) – Explore resources, announcements, and discussions.

    Student Life & Clubs – Join a student org, attend an event, or connect with peers.

    Social Media – Follow @ivytechcolumbus on Facebook and Instagram

Text with Talon!

Ivy Tech Columbus connects with students through a friendly text-messaging chatbot named after our mascot, Talon the Eagle.

Talon sends students text messages to check in on them and share resources.

Students can also send messages to Talon 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ask any questions they might have. Talon responds immediately!

Ask Talon about personal support, financial questions, academic help, and more!

Examples of questions students can ask Talon:

  • Where is financial aid?
  • How do I contact my advisor?
  • What student clubs can I join?
  • And more!

To opt-in for texting with Talon, send a message to 855-627-1758.