Headcount at Ivy Tech Community College-Columbus/Franklin continues to increase. As of the first day of classes, August 23, total headcount for the Columbus region was 4,631 as compared with 4,530 on the first day of fall semester classes last year; this represents an increase of 2 percent. FTE (Full-time equivalent) numbers for the first day of this fall semester are 3,425, representing an increase of 17 percent over last year’s FTE number of 2,927. These numbers indicate that more students are taking classes full time this year than in the past.
Ivy Tech Community College students statewide are now being counted differently from the method used in the past. Beginning this fall semester, the total headcount for each region is determined by the number of students listing that region as their home campus. In the previous method, students were counted based upon both home campus and course campus.
Ivy Tech’s Columbus region includes the counties of Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, and the southern portion of Johnson. A total of 111,452 students were enrolled statewide for classes on the first day of fall semester; this represents an increase of 4 percent over last year at this same time. FTE numbers statewide increased by 6 percent for the first day of fall semester to a record high of 69,656.
Emphasis is being placed on assistance for new students in the form of new policies, including a statewide, mandatory student orientation for all new, first-time, degree-seeking students. In addition, the college has implemented mandatory advising and placement in student success courses based on assessment scores.
“Faculty and staff at Ivy Tech are focused on assisting students to reach graduation,” Ivy Tech-Columbus chancellor John Hogan said. “The new policies will further support area residents as they reach for higher educational goals.”