Students at Ivy Tech Community College in Bloomington will have an opportunity Thursday to build connections with more than 60 community agencies and organizations.

They're being encouraged to attend a community-service fair, called "Community Connections - Where Students and the Community Come Together," from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Officials at the Bloomington community-college campus say the connections made are likely to be two-way.

The agencies can provide services for Ivy Tech students, many of whom are holding down jobs and supporting families. And students will add to the volunteer base for the agencies in the college's six-county service area.

"We want to provide students with an opportunity for civic engagement, an important component of the holistic education of a community-college student," said Diana Jacobs, dean of student affairs at Ivy Tech.

Jacobs said some Ivy Tech faculty have made service learning and volunteerism part of their courses, and some are giving credit for attending the fair and doing research on the agencies involved.

She said the college sent invitations to service groups in Monroe, Owen, Greene, Morgan, Lawrence and Martin counties, expecting about 25 to take part. Instead, more than 60 signed up.

"We were absolutely amazed by the response," Jacobs said.

The groups will set up booths and tables in the Ivy Tech Student Commons to provide information on how they can help students and how students can help them.

Victoria Powell, a criminal justice student, said many Ivy Tech students are in college to try to better their lives, in some cases after job layoffs, divorces, accidents and other personal catastrophes. Many need help with child care, housing and other needs, she said.

For information about the fair, contact Joe Kapsa at 330-6024 or jkapsa@ivytech.edu. The college is on Daniels Way just off Ind. 48 west of Bloomington.