Ivy Tech growing faster than expected
Enrollment in for-credit classes up 12% this fall, early figures show

By Steve Hinnefeld
331-4374 | shinnefeld@heraldt.com
August 30, 2005

Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington has increased its enrollment for the 12th straight year, growing faster than any other region in the state community college system.

About 3,885 students are enrolled in for-credit courses at the Bloomington campus this fall, up 12 percent from a year ago.

“Clearly, there’s a recognition of the need for a community college in the state of Indiana, one that’s affordable and accessible,” said John Whikehart, the Ivy Tech-Bloomington chancellor. “And with that recognition comes growth.”

The figures are unofficial. Ivy Tech Community College will release official enrollment totals next week, including only students who have paid full tuition.

Whikehart said new programs in life and health sciences have helped fuel enrollment. And the campus has updated its recruitment efforts to reach out to first-time students.

Jim Smith, Ivy Tech-Bloomington dean of academic affairs, said the campus has also boosted its retention and advising initiatives, increasing the likelihood students will return to campus.

Ivy Tech offers two-year associate’s degrees and short-term certificates and in recent years has added programs in kinesiology, radiation therapy, respiratory care, biotechnology and paralegal studies. It also is beginning to offer liberal-arts courses that were formerly taught by Vincennes University in a now-defunct community college partnership.

While officials see Ivy Tech’s growth as a good thing, they admit it poses problems. Its $23 million, 146,000-square-foot facility opened just three years ago, but the building and parking lot are already crowded at peak times.

“We’re at the numbers that were predicted for 2011,” Whikehart said.

With other Ivy Tech campuses in line for state capital funds, Bloomington may have to manage by making more efficient use of its facilities, he said. For example, it’s trying to schedule more classes at off-peak times on Fridays and Saturdays. And it’s turning to the private sector for support with a $3 million “Grow Ivy Tech” campaign to fund programs, labs and equipment and scholarships.

Growth also makes it hard to make progress toward a goal of having more courses taught by full-time faculty. Thirty percent of classes are taught by full-time faculty and 70 percent by part-time adjunct instructors.

“It’s a challenge but it’s a challenge that, frankly, we ought to embrace,” Whikehart said.