Ivy Tech - Bloomington and Indiana University Sign "Hoosier Link" Agreement

November 18 , 2005      

Bloomington, Indiana.  Officials at Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington and Indiana University Bloomington entered into a unique residential-based transfer transition program during an official signing ceremony held today at Ivy Tech. The new program, "Hoosier Link," is the only program of its kind offered in the state of Indiana.

John Whikehart, Ivy Tech Community College - Bloomington Chancellor, said, "The collaboration between Ivy Tech-Bloomington and Indiana University in the 'Hoosier Link' program is an excellent demonstration of how Indiana's new two-year community college and its premier four-year university can work together to best meet the needs of Indiana students. While we each have our own unique mission, there continue to be partnership opportunities for both institutions to make higher education more attainable for Hoosiers."

Beginning in 2006, between 100-200 students will be selected each fall by the Office of Admissions at Indiana University to enter the "Hoosier Link" program. "Hoosier Link" students will live in IU Residence Halls while taking a minimum of 26 transferable credit hours at Ivy Tech and at least one IUB course per semester and maintaining a 2.5 grade point average. Students selected to participate in the "Hoosier Link" program will also be required to participate in various academic, personal and social developmental experiences throughout their first academic year including special orientation classes, academic skill enhancement workshops, pre-advising workshops, community service activities and mentoring sessions.

"Hoosier Link" students will also participate in ongoing advising experiences with both Ivy Tech and IUB staff to ensure that course work done at Ivy Tech will transfer to their targeted major at IUB. Participating students will also have full access to Ivy Tech and IU technology accounts, parking services and the opportunity to participate in student activities on both campuses.

The "Hoosier Link" agreement was signed on behalf of Ivy Tech-Bloomington by Chancellor John Whikehart and Dean of Student Services Diana Jacobs and by Chancellor Kenneth Gros Louis and Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Services Jack Rhodes for Indiana University Bloomington.

Hoosier Link Agreement Information

. The agreement is only available with the Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington Campus.
. Students participating in the program will be selected by the IU-Bloomington Office of Admissions and offered the opportunity to participate in the program.
. Students will be guaranteed transfer to IU-Bloomington with completion of at least twenty-six (26) transferable credit hours (a combination of course work from Ivy Tech and Indiana University), which would apply toward majors at IU-Bloomington and the attainment of a GPA of 2.5.
. This is a residential experience. Students would live in IU-Bloomington housing or receive a waiver due to extenuating circumstances (based on a policy established by IU-Bloomington Residential Programs and Services.)
. Students would sign a program participation contract to: 1) agree to abide by the requirements to participate in various pre-transfer programs and experiences throughout the year to support their academic, personal and social development. Programs will include components such as academic skills enhancement workshops, pre-advising workshops, community service/service-learning activities and mentoring programs; 2) participate in special ongoing advising experiences while enrolled at Ivy Tech to ensure that course work taken while enrolled at Ivy Tech will be transferable toward their targeted major at IU; 3) abide by all rules and regulations as per the student code of conduct/college rules at each institution; 4) enroll concurrently in at least one IU-Bloomington course each semester while enrolled in course work at Ivy Tech, and 5) sign an agreement for information to be shared between both institutions pertaining to their student records and academic performance. This information will be used for the purposes of tracking these students to ascertain student success and persistence.