LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Ivy Tech Community College will host a Census Awareness program to promote participation in the 2010 Census on October 20 at 6:00 pm in the NCHS Auditorium of Ivy Hall.

Clayton Richard, current pitcher for the San Diego Padres and a McCutcheon High School graduate, will keynote the Census Awareness program on October 20th.

Clayton Richard, current pitcher for the San Diego Padres and a McCutcheon High School graduate, will be the keynote speaker. Following the keynote address, a panel of community representatives will speak on the importance of each Tippecanoe resident being counted in the census.

According to the United States Census Bureau, an estimated 28% of Tippecanoe County residents were not counted in the 2000 Census.

“It is vital that every resident of Tippecanoe County participate in the census. Just by filling out the short 10 question form, they are supporting and benefiting the wellbeing of our community,” stated Ivan Hernandez, Ivy Tech’s Director of Admissions.

Each year, over 400 billion dollars in federal and state funds are allocated for neighborhood improvements, emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, public health, education, and senior services based on census information.

The Census Awareness program is free and open to the public.

Ivy Tech Community College is located at 3101 S. Creasy Lane, Lafayette.

Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest singly-accredited statewide community college system with more than 130,000 students enrolled annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue University College of Agriculture and Ivy Tech Community College-Lafayette are partnering on a new program to help make higher education even more accessible to Indiana students.

The Pathway Program allows students to co-enroll at Ivy Tech and Purdue in preparation for an undergraduate degree in the College of Agriculture. Students in the program will take courses simultaneously at both institutions with the goal of eventually earning a bachelor of science degree in agriculture from Purdue.

The Pathway Program, announced today (8/13) during the Ivy Tech State Board of Trustees meeting, is an educational offering that allows students to co-enroll at Ivy Tech and Purdue in preparation for an undergraduate degree in the College of Agriculture. Students in the program will take courses simultaneously at both institutions with the goal of eventually earning a bachelor of science degree in agriculture from Purdue.

“We are pleased to partner once again with Purdue to develop a seamless higher education system in Indiana,” said Thomas Snyder, president of Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana. “Our state is becoming a model across the country when it comes to partnerships and efficiencies in higher education.”

Purdue provost Randy Woodson said the program builds on Purdue’s role as a leading land grant university and rich tradition of agricultural education.

“This partnership with Ivy Tech will insure Hoosiers have access to a world-class educational experience and will improve the odds of success for students that might need additional preparation prior to their enrollment in the College of Agriculture at Purdue,” he said.

Students will be able to apply to the program through a Web site that will be developed and announced in September. The program, which is only being offered through Ivy Tech in Lafayette, will begin this fall accepting students for fall 2010. The program is limited to those students who wish to study agriculture, but may eventually expand to other disciplines, Woodson said.

Because of the co-enrollment nature of the program, Pathway students will take agriculture courses at Purdue and be able to live on the Purdue campus. Unlike a transfer program, Pathway students will benefit from the ability to take Purdue Agriculture courses with other Purdue students in their major.

Students in the program will participate in activities to support their academic development and also have all the benefits of full-time students at both institutions. On the Purdue campus that includes access to the library, recreational sports facility, student organizations and athletic events.

“We expect the Pathway Program to translate into higher retention and graduation rates at both institutions because of the added academic support and social networking opportunities,” said Mary Ostrye, vice chancellor for academic affairs at Ivy Tech.

Students eligible for the Pathway Program must be Indiana residents, have a high school diploma or equivalent certificate and should not have earned more than 15 credit hours from another college or university. The students will pay the appropriate tuition and fees for each institution.

Once a student completes the program requirements and receives an associate degree in agriculture from Ivy Tech, they will be guaranteed admission into Purdue’s College of Agriculture.

“It is anticipated in the future that we will see greater demand for jobs in the life sciences and agriculture-related fields and this program is a way to help provide even more successful, career-ready graduates for the industry,” said Dale Whittaker, associate dean and director of the Office of Academic Programs in Agriculture at Purdue.

The Purdue College of Agriculture has majors and minors in 11 academic departments that include agricultural and biological engineering, agricultural economics, agronomy, animal sciences, biochemistry, botany and plant pathology, entomology, food science, forestry and natural resources, horticulture and landscape architecture and youth development and agricultural education.

Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest singly-accredited statewide community college system with more than 130,000 students enrolled annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. -– Lean or Six Sigma – which continuous improvement program is right for your business? Ivy Tech Community College’s Workforce and Economic Development Department will help answer that question at a free Discovery Session on August 28 from 8:00 a.m. to Noon. The session will be held in the NCHS Auditorium in Ivy Hall on the college’s campus at 3101 S. Creasy Lane in Lafayette.

Registration is requested by calling (765) 269-5882 or (765) 269-5871.

Ivy Tech Community College-Lafayette is the statewide provider of Six Sigma training. Ivy Tech offers customized continuous improvement training for a wide variety of businesses including healthcare, warehouses, government and manufacturing. To date, 25 companies have achieved significant savings benefit through increased efficiency and effectiveness.

“I was a little apprehensive that the tools and techniques would not translate to healthcare,” said Gail Summers, Quality Improvement Director at Wabash Valley Hospital. “I was pleasantly surprised that this was not the case. The trainers did a great job customizing the methods to all types of industries. I completed Lean training with quick and easy resources to implement what I had learned.”

Ivy Tech delivers training across the state in partnership with FinTek Group. FinTek has successfully trained and consulted with leading organizations through North America and Europe for over six years. Training is scheduled over a three month period. It includes sessions for executives on how to effectively align company strategy, resources and support. Managers become skilled in plan development and execution. Team or event leaders learn how to facilitate and execute a continuous improvement plan.

Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest singly-accredited statewide community college system with more than 130,000 students enrolled annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. -– A new student orientation called “I Am Ivy Tech” will take place at Ivy Tech Community College in Lafayette on Thursday, August 6 from 8 am to noon.

The orientation will offer tips and information advantageous to a student’s first year of college.

General information and presentations about transitioning to college, student success, and the many student services available on campus will be covered, as well as, a library resources tutorial and a hands-on guide for using the student web-portal, Campus Connect.

All first time students, registered for classes, and their parents are encouraged to attend.

To reserve a place at “I Am Ivy Tech” please contact Eric VandeVoorde at (765) 269-5462 or evandevoorde@ivytech.edu.

Ivy Tech Community College is located at 3101 S. Creasy Lane, Lafayette, Indiana.

Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest singly-accredited statewide community college system with more than 130,000 students enrolled annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Ivy Tech Community College-Lafayette and the Universidad Politécnica de Francisco I. Madero in Hidalgo, Mexico today signed an historic international partnership agreement. The agreement opens up opportunities for the exchange of faculty and students and other collaborations on educational activities.

The delegation from Hidalgo Mexico included Aunard de la Rocha Waite, Minister of Economic Development, Herminio Baltazar Cisneros, Chancellor of Universidad Politecnica de Francisco I. Madero, Rocio Ruiz de la Barrera, Minister of Public Education, and The Honorable Osorio Chong, Governor of the State of Hidalgo, Mexico. Governor Chong is the first Mexican governor to visit Indiana.

The agreement between Ivy Tech Lafayette and Universidad Politécnica de Francisco I. Madero in Hidalgo, Mexico opens up opportunities for the exchange of faculty and students and other collaborations on educational activities.

“This is a very historic accomplishment for the State of Hidalgo and for Ivy Tech Community College,” said Gov. Chong. “Hidalgo is focused on agriculture and technology. Ivy Tech is focused on education. This agreement will benefit the faculty and staff of Ivy Tech and of the (hidalgo university).”

The partnership agreement is the result of letters of intent that were signed by the representatives of the college and endorsed by the Autonomous University of Hidalgo during an agricultural trade mission led by Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman in February 2008.

“The program envisioned here with our friends and colleagues in Hidalgo will allow for the development of our respective college communities and those students we serve to expand their academic knowledge and cultural awareness,” said Dr. David Bathe, Chancellor of Ivy Tech-Lafayette.

Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest singly-accredited statewide community college system with more than 130,000 students enrolled annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.