Ivy Tech Offers New Summer Class Options

March 28, 2005      

BLOOMINGTON, IN – To allow students to make the most of their education and their time this summer, Ivy Tech - Bloomington has created four different summer term options for its students. Students will be able to take courses in two five-week semesters, an eight-week semester or a ten-week semester. Students will also be able to decide how they want their instruction to be delivered - in the classroom, online, via two-way video, or by a combination of these methods.

Comments Ivy Tech chancellor John Whikehart: "When we designed our summer offerings for 2005, we focused on three constituencies: high school students who can get a head start on their college education; university students at institutions such as Ball State who are home to Bloomington for summer break and can take courses to transfer back in the fall; and our own enrolled students who can complete their degree sooner than anticipated. We want students to have convenient, quality offerings so they can make progress towards their educational goals while still leaving time to enjoy their summer."

All sessions offer three-hour credit classes. The five-week sessions are more intense for students, combining classroom instruction with online learning that occurs concurrently. "We call the classes that combine different instructional delivery methods 'hybrid' classes," says James O. Smith, Ivy Tech's dean of academic affairs. "We are trying hybrid classes for the first time and look forward to seeing how popular these will be. In addition, we have also dramatically increased the number of pure distance education courses."

Instead of waiting for classes to resume in the fall, college students returning home to Bloomington for the summer can earn credits at Ivy Tech that transfer back to their colleges. Similarly, high school graduates can jump-start their post secondary education by taking advantage of the second five-week semester or the eight-week semester.

Courses in the five-week sessions are general education courses and many are transferable to Indiana colleges and universities. The eight-week session offers courses from 17 different program areas as well as a host of transferable general education courses. The ten-week semester largely offers courses that have extensive lab requirements. Programs available cover business (accounting, business administration, computer information systems, office administration), technology (electronics and computer technology, design technology, HVAC, industrial maintenance, facilities maintenance), health and life sciences (biotechnology, kinesiology, radiation therapy, respiratory care, paramedic science, radiologic technology, nursing - PN and RN), public services (criminal justice, early childhood education) and general studies.

It is Ivy Tech's hope that the flexibility of summer class options will accommodate the schedules and goals of currently enrolled Ivy Tech students, high school graduates, college students home for the summer, and working adults.

Another new development at Ivy Tech-Bloomington is that students can enroll for the summer and fall semesters at the same time. Students can register for summer and fall classes online, by phone or stop by the campus for walk-in appointments. The summer and fall schedules are available for viewing on the Ivy Tech web site. Alternately, students can call for one or stop by the campus.

The first five-week summer session runs from May 23 to June 25 and is followed immediately by the second five-week summer session which runs from June 27 to August 1. The eight-week summer session runs from June 13 to August 8 and the 10-week summer session from May 23 to August 1. The 16-week fall semester starts on August 22 and ends December 17.

For more information about summer and fall classes, as well as scholarships for high school students, please contact the office of student recruitment at 812-330-6350 or toll free at 1-866-447-0700 ext. 6350 or stop by Suite C104.

Also visit the Ivy Tech summer website at http://summer.ivytech.edu.

Ivy Tech is located on the corner of State Road 48 west and Daniels Way on the west side of Bloomington. .