Transfer agreements allow Ivy Tech Community College students to further their education, and a recently-announced grant from the Kresge Foundation is further paving the way.
Three Indiana University campuses – IU Kokomo, IU South Bend and IU Northwest – are sharing a three-year, $450,000 grant to provide academic support and financial incentives for Ivy Tech students to transfer to Indiana University to complete a four-year degree.
“Our goal is to help more Ivy Tech students complete their two-year degree and then attend IU Kokomo and complete a four-year degree,” said IU Kokomo Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke, in a press release. “This grant will allow us to provide a transfer adviser, who can give personal support to all interested students. Working together with Ivy Tech faculty and staff, I know we can help more students in our region complete a college degree. I appreciate the support of The Kresge Foundation to achieve more pathways to a college degree.”
Of the 180,226 students enrolled in Ivy Tech courses statewide during the 2012-13 school year, new data from the National Student Clearinghouse shows that 26,752 students transferred course credit to other institutions and 3,882 students transferred a credential or degree. That’s almost 17 percent of Ivy Tech students that year who built on their community college experience to further their education.
“In previous years, we only had data on students transferring to in-state, public colleges and universities. This new data from the National Student Clearinghouse confirms Ivy Tech has a greater number of students utilizing the transfer option with a far greater reach across the country,” said Thomas J. Snyder, president of Ivy Tech Community College, in a press release. “Not only are these students furthering their education, but they are saving thousands of dollars on the cost of their education by starting their educational career at Ivy Tech.”
Ivy Tech estimates that for every 1,000 students who complete an associate degree before transferring, the state of Indiana and taxpayers save nearly $14 million.
The new program supported by the Kresge Foundation grant will require participating students to attend college full time, maintain good academic standing, meet regularly with college and university advisers, and finish both the associate and bachelor’s degrees in no more than nine semesters.
The program provides students with academic support and financial incentives, including guaranteed admission; university advising and mentoring while attending Ivy Tech; scholarships that offset tuition increases; and advice to help students minimize college debt.
In addition, Pell-eligible students who meet a minimum GPA requirement can apply for scholarships at these IU regional campuses to ensure that the combination of federal, state and campus support will cover tuition, fees, books, lab and other direct educational costs.
The grant will provide start-up funding for three full-time IU transfer specialists who will work on-site at Ivy Tech campuses and also fund start-up of summer bridge programs piloted by the IU campuses. This IU initiative is modeled on a successful program at Governors State University (GSU).
The three IU regional campuses and Ivy Tech have already met to discuss naming the program, recruiting students and collaborating on improving degree completion and reducing student debt.
The program aligns with two of The Kresge Foundation’s education program strategies: creating pathways to and through college, and building the capacity of institutions focused on low-income and under-represented students.
The Kresge Foundation is a $3 billion private, national foundation that works to expand opportunities in America's cities through grant-making and investing in arts and culture, education, work in the environment, health, human services and community development efforts in Detroit. In 2013, the board of trustees awarded nearly $20 million in grants to support higher education in the United States and South Africa, with half benefiting U.S. community colleges.