Ivy Tech Encourages Students to take The Next Step

April 5, 2005      

BLOOMINGTON, IN – The Bloomington campus of Ivy Tech Community College looks forward to presenting Expo 2005: The Next Step on Thursday, April 7 from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Visitors to this expo will be in the unique position to accomplish two things: firstly, explore further educational opportunities at four-year institutions, and secondly, explore new job options.

Explains John Whikehart, Ivy Tech’s chancellor: “The educational experience at Ivy Tech prepares our students to either continue their education toward a baccalaureate degree at one of our four-year partner institutions, to have an entry-level degree for immediate employment, or to do both. Appropriately, the event is called “The Next Step” to encourage our students to think about what they will do when they complete coursework at Ivy Tech. The Expo is designed as a one-stop shop where our students meet with university and employment contacts to investigate further educational options and suitable job opportunities at the same time and place.”

For those students interested in pursuing their education further, representatives from Indiana colleges will be on hand to speak with them about transferring Ivy Tech degrees or courses to their institutions. Visitors will be assisted in identifying the right transfer options for them. Lending institutions will also be present to assist students in determining suitable financial options to pay for their education.

 Students and graduates are encouraged to explore the increased number of transferable programs and courses Ivy Tech now offers. Ivy Tech has had longstanding articulation agreements with many leading four-year colleges including Indiana State University and Ball State University. There is also a transfer agreement with Franklin College which offers online degrees. Over the past year, Ivy Tech has added a number of new programs – General Studies, Biotechnology, Kinesiology, Respiratory Care, and Radiation Therapy. These new associate degrees are all fully transferable to major educational institutions. The Biotechnology, Kinesiology, and General Studies degrees transfer to Indiana University Bloomington while the Respiratory Care program transfers to IUPUI and the Radiation Therapy degree transfers to the University of Southern Indiana. Comments James O. Smith, Ivy Tech’s Dean of Academic Affairs: “Currently Ivy Tech-Bloomington has 55 transfer agreements with Indiana universities and colleges. We are especially pleased with the recent articulation agreements established with Indiana University Bloomington where 209 credit hours transfer to this leading educational institution. Across the board, Ivy Tech-Bloomington offers well over 100 transferable courses.”

On the employment side of Expo 2005: The Next Step, Ivy Tech students, graduates and job seekers are given the opportunity to meet over forty employers from the business, technology, healthcare and service industries. At the same, the event gives employers a great cost-effective opportunity to meet candidates, review résumés and to recruit promising employees. "Our first Expo in 1998 allowed employers to look toward Ivy Tech to meet human resource needs throughout the year. Last year, over 40 employers were represented and exhibitors received resumes of many qualified candidates. The opportunity for students to present their credentials was a success, as was the opportunity for employers to interact with potential new employees,” says Katie Anderson, career services director at Ivy Tech. Well over two hundred and fifty students and graduates participated in Expo last year.

Expo 2005 is open to a diverse range of job seekers: associate degree candidates, students seeking internships or co-ops, or even summer employment. Current job holders who want to change careers or advance in their fields, graduates of the Ivy Tech Community College system, and community high school seniors are also encouraged to attend.

The event is free and open to the public. For a list of participating colleges and lending agencies, or for more information about transfer opportunities, contact Joe Kapsa at (812) 330-6024 or email jkapsa@ivytech.edu. For more information about the career fair and participating employers, contact Katie Anderson at (812) 330-6018 or email kanderso@ivytech.edu.

Also visit the Expo 2005: The Next Step web pages at www.ivytech.edu/Bloomington for more information.
Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington is located on the corner of State Road 48 West and Daniels Way on the west side of Bloomington.