Ivy Tech Assists Victims of Huricane Katrina

September 12 , 2005      

Bloomington, Indiana Ivy Tech-Bloomington is doing its part to assist students from colleges and universities shut down by Hurricane Katrina currently living in Bloomington and surrounding areas. Ivy Tech is also prepared to support the educational needs of its students that may be called into service to assist with clean-up along the hurricane’s path of destruction.

John Whikehart, Ivy Tech Community College – Bloomington Chancellor, says that the college will do whatever it takes to ensure students displaced by Hurricane Katrina can continue pursuing their academic goals. “These students have endured unbelievable hardships on their journey to our campus. Our goal is to make the transition into our college as seamless as possible. Faculty and department chairs as well as recruitment and financial aid staff are prepared to get these students into the classroom quickly so there can be some sense of normalcy restored to their lives.”

Internet classes, provided by Ivy Tech-Bloomington, allow National Guard members, firefighters and military reserve units called into action to continue taking classes wherever they may be located. Sixty-five classes are currently offered via the Internet.

Ivy Tech-Bloomington is also providing classroom space to the Monroe County Chapter of the American Red Cross (ARC) for volunteer training as they prepare to shelter 125 hurricane evacuees. Forty people attended Friday’s disaster services and mass care training at Ivy Tech and another 40 people registered for Saturday’s shelter operations and simulation training. Another ARC training weekend at Ivy Tech will be announced soon.

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