Ivy Tech Community College has found homes for all its fall classes in Seymour. The college recently found itself without teaching space due to the reversion of Jackson County Education Center to an elementary school.
The displacement of classes comes at a time of increasing enrollments for Ivy Tech in Seymour.
Ivy Tech’s current fall semester enrollment in Seymour of 218 is ahead of last year’s fall semester by 56 percent. The enrollments as of Wednesday were already ahead of the College’s projections for the year 2017 and just 10 enrollments shy of its farthest projection for the year 2018.
Ivy Tech is offering 30 classes in Seymour this fall semester, which begins Aug. 24. The school corporation is offering the college space at the high school this fall. Other classes will be held at the Schneck Medical Center, First Church of the Nazarene Seymour and Lutheran Community Home.
“We have been and continue to be dedicated to our mission of delivering classes and training to residents of Jackson County,” said Ivy Tech Chancellor John Hogan. “We have been offering classes in Seymour for more than eight years. Thanks to our community partners, we can continue to honor our commitment to serve students throughout Jackson County.”
According to officials, a communications plan is being put into place to inform students taking classes in Seymour where and when their classes will meet.
Ivy Tech began offering classes in 2001 in two storefronts at the former Tanger Outlet Center along I-65. For the past few years, the college has leased space from Seymour Community Schools in the Jackson County Education Center on Poplar Street in Seymour.
“Our enrollment numbers certainly indicate there is a demand for higher education in Jackson County,” said Ivy Tech Spokesman Randy Proffitt. “We’re grateful to community leaders who have a vision for higher education in Jackson County and who understand the economic development impact that Ivy Tech Community College can bring to the area.”
Since the Education Center’s closing, community leaders have been planning an alternative location and a new building for a learning center in Seymour. While discussions continue, Ivy Tech has settled on its space for the upcoming fall semester.
“We are optimistic permanent space will be developed soon,” Proffitt added. “Until then, we’ll continue to meet demand as best we can and will work with the community in every way possible to make a learning center in Jackson County become reality.”
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest singly-accredited statewide community college system with more than 130,000 students enrolled annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine 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.