Indianapolis Campus

Ignite is a program and community at Ivy Tech Community College for former/current foster youth, homeless youth, and independent youth coming to Ivy Tech Community College as first-year college students. If your plans include attending Ivy Tech Community College or you currently attend, we want to connect with you, as we are a resource for independent youth making their transition into college here. Apply to Ignite to get connected to our community of support.

Ignite is for independent first-year students under the age of 26. You are eligible if you have experienced any of the following:

• Students who have been in foster care: students who are currently in foster care or have been in foster care.
• Students who experience housing insecurity or homelessness: students who face housing challenges can have very different experiences, but still qualify. This could be living with friends or relatives who are not their parent or guardian (or “couch-surfing); living in an emergency shelter; living in transitional housing programs or group homes; living in a car, park, campground, abandoned building, bus station, or other public places. Any student who does not have fixed, adequate housing qualifies.
• Students who are emancipated or unaccompanied- students who are living on their own independently, having been legally emancipated or not, unaccompanied by an adult, parent, or guardian.
• Students who have had legal guardianship appointed by a court- students are considered independent when a court appoints a guardian who is not their parent.
• Students who are independently caring for dependents or are providing the primary support for their family- students who may or may not have a household with adults present, but they are acting as head of that household and/or providing the primary support for their family, including but not limited to: having children of their own or raising younger family members.

Ignite is a mutually supportive community that unites independent youth with similar backgrounds at Ivy Tech Community College to create a culture of belonging. As a team, we encourage and share in our learning and growth. We connect on-campus and virtually to support you and your goals in the ways that best benefit you. As a student in Ignite, you will receive assistance with but are not limited to:

• Stipend each month
• Connection help with other programs on campus
• Financial aid assistance
• Mentoring
• Academic plan
• Tutoring
• Housing issues
• Mental Health
• Scholarship opportunities
• Much more!