Courses in Michigan City designed to meet local employers’ needs
New classes Ivy Tech will offer at the career center in Michigan City include electrical, mechanical, welding, machine tool, and culinary.
“These programs will include evening courses that will allow for flexible scheduling, especially for those who are currently employed,” Ivy Tech Chancellor Aco Sikoski said. “We are grateful for this partnership between Ivy Tech and A.K. Smith, as it will offer an additional path for high school students and adults to earn college credentials.”
These new course offerings are a continuation of Ivy Tech’s current partnership with A.K. Smith and presents an opportunity to expand the college’s footprint in an environment that is already very familiar to A.K. Smith students and area residents.
“We are pleased to extend our partnership with Ivy Tech at the A.K. Smith facility,” Michigan City Area Schools Supt. Barbara Eason-Watkins said. “Together, we remain focused on building the skills of high school students and adults in our community in response to workforce needs.”
With these expanded program offerings, students who completed the Compressed Air Academy at La Porte High School or Michigan City High School will have the option to continue those efforts by completing a college credential close to home.
“As it stands now, those who wanted to continue on after completing the Compressed Air Academy would need to travel to Valparaiso to do so,” Sikoski said. “This partnership with A.K. Smith will make completing a college credential significantly more attainable for these students.”
A.K. Smith is one of Ivy Tech’s three locations in La Porte County, which include the Michigan City site on Franklin Street and the La Porte site on the property of American Licorice.
“In the future, there is a good possibility of expanding our course offerings at A.K. Smith to include those in the healthcare field,” Sikoski said. “We are eager to continue efforts to meet the needs of La Porte County residents and employers, and we look forward to increasing our program offerings at this additional location.”
Fall classes begin August 24 at Ivy Tech and include thousands of classes in online, virtual and face-to-face formats. Students will be able to choose week-to-week which format works best for them. For more information, visit ivytech.edu.
Ivy Tech Community College serves communities across Indiana, providing world-class education and driving economic transformation. It is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering high-value degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its communities, 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.