Ivy Tech Community College’s Achieve Your Degree Program provides state employees with an upfront tuition assistance
The State of Indiana and Ivy Tech Community College announced a new partnership that will offer state employees an affordable education with no upfront tuition costs. The state will join Ivy Tech’s Achieve Your Degree (AYD) program. Rather than paying for tuition expenses at the time of enrollment – which can be a barrier for some employees seeking to earn degrees and certificates – the state will pay Ivy Tech directly upon an employee’s successful completion of a course. State employees already have education reimbursement of up to $5,250 per year. Ivy Tech’s full-time annual tuition is less than $4,500, and the agreement with Ivy Tech means that employees won’t have to be reimbursed, but rather can enroll and begin taking classes with no upfront costs. Additionally, the College will provide the state with a rebate of up to 5% of the net tuition paid, which means the state will benefit from an even lower education cost.
Partnering with Ivy Tech Community College offers state employees access to more than 70 academic programs, as well as opportunities to receive associate degrees, short-term certificates and workforce certifications in various fields. Additionally, Ivy Tech’s Ivy+ Tuition and Textbooks model provides students with free textbooks for required courses through the spring 2023 and a flat rate tuition cost students who enroll in more than 12 credits.
On-site application assistance and academic advising are provided by Ivy Tech faculty and staff to accommodate state employees’ busy work schedules and to ensure appropriate course schedules. Ivy Tech will also provide individualized advising, financial aid and tutoring to foster employee success.
Through partnerships such as the Achieve Your Degree program at Ivy Tech, the State of Indiana can skill-up its current workforce and encourage employees to earn free credentials through on-campus and online coursework. As part of its NextLevel State Work initiatives, the State of Indiana will continue to pursue partnerships, policies and programs that continue to make the State of Indiana a competitive, engaged and flexible workplace.
Bloomington seeks input on proposed designs for city gateways
The Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a public open house December 15 from 6-7 p.m. in the Council Chambers in City Hall, 401 N. Morton St., to unveil the proposed concepts for two signature gateways at principal entry points to the city. During the open house, representatives from Rundell Ernstberger Associates (REA) will present concepts for the Miller-Showers Park gateway, on Bloomington’s north side in Miller-Showers Park between College Avenue and Walnut Street, and the Arlington pedestrian bridge gateway on State Road 45/46 east of I-69. The Arlington pedestrian bridge is owned and maintained by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), and any design must be evaluated and approved by INDOT.
The gateways are one of seven Bicentennial bond projects announced during Bloomington’s Bicentennial year in 2018. REA presented conceptual designs for the gateways in December 2019, and collected input from city officials and the public regarding the gateway concepts. The gateway project was placed on hold during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the City and REA are re-launching the project with the unveiling of new proposed concepts.
The conceptual designs include the proposed size, construction materials, themes, graphic features, and architectural and landscape elements. REA will collect feedback from members of the public, the Board of Park Commissioners, the Bloomington Area Arts Council, and city staff and officials through January 6. Feedback will be used to refine the proposed designs, and to develop cost options for each gateway location.
For more information about the Bicentennial gateways, contact Tim Street, Parks and Recreation’s Operations and Development Division Director, at 812-349-3700 or tim.street@bloomington.in.gov.
What’s New with Arts Organization Support, Webinar
The Indiana Arts Commission will be making changes to the Arts Organization Support (AOS) program in FY2024, as a result of the programmatic review that took place this year. Over 150 Hoosier provided input to this process and the coming changes are reflective of that feedback and the impact that that Hoosiers wish to see the AOS program have on Indiana. The changes and guidelines will be reviewed and voted on by the Commission at the December 9th Quarterly Business Meeting.
Following the Quarterly Business Meeting, a public webinar will be held to discuss the changes to the application, panel, and funding process. The “What’s New with AOS?” Webinar will be held on Monday, December 19th at 4:00PM ET. Register to attend the webinar.
Not able to attend live? Don’t worry, the meeting will be recorded, and additional application support sessions will be held in the coming months.
This Week in Hoosier History
1933 – The 21st Amendment was ratified in Congress, ending prohibition across the country. The end of the “Noble Experiment” was welcomed by many Hoosiers. Harry’s Place, on Highway 52 south of Lafayette, celebrated by offering live music by the “Rhythm Boys,” a fish sandwich, and a glass of beer, all for 10 cents.
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