Ivy Tech Community College recently revealed an in-depth study, conducted by Emsi, that highlighted the significant positive economic impact made by the college in the state of Indiana. The study spotlighted the local impact in the Valparaiso campus’s service area of Porter, LaPorte, Starke and Pulaski counties.
Aco Sikoski, Chancellor at Ivy Tech Community College Valparaiso Campus, commends the college for working hard to address the economic needs of the Region and is proud of Ivy Tech’s graduates that continue to enrich the Region.
“We contribute a lot to our students, and in turn, the vast majority of them give right back to the state economy. We are the most affordable post-secondary educational institution for the credentials that individuals can earn from this institution. We are the premiere workforce development institution when it comes to individuals earning credentials, and I cannot emphasize enough the value of what we do when it comes down to offering programs and training for individuals to learn much needed skills,” said Sikoski.
As the school continues to develop greater learning labs and more tracks to graduation, Sikoski notes Ivy Tech’s dedication to adapting to an ever-changing and growing job market.
“When we talk about how the industry is evolving and developing and how fast we detect changes when it comes down to implementation of state-of-the-art equipment into the training labs, we are on the cutting edge,” said Sikoski.
The Region economy benefits from Ivy Tech student graduates entering the workforce. The report reflects a $3.9 billion cumulative annual impact to the College’s major stakeholder groups-- students, taxpayers, and the communities it serves. Sikoski identifies the college’s focus on producing qualified graduates and improving graduates’ long-term career and financial outcomes.
“One of the main goals for our campus is elevating the wages of our graduates. Clearly, this economic impact report shows the improvements to quality of life for our graduates. It’s proving that what we do for our communities aligns with our mission and vision,” said Sikoski. “We are proud of our graduates, but that's not enough. We want to expand opportunities for our candidates.”
Ivy Tech continues to increase student success in the Region, proven by the findings of the economic impact report. The 2020 Ivy Tech Community College Economic Impact Report, based on fiscal year 2018-19, found Ivy Tech’s impact supported the equivalent of 1,204 jobs in the Valparaiso service area. Ivy Tech alumni were found to have the greatest impact on the state because of higher earnings and increased productivity of the businesses that employ them. In fiscal year 2018-19, Ivy Tech Valparaiso alumni generated $54.2 million in added income for the area economy. The study also found that students invested $502.8 million in time and money that will generate a cumulative return of $2.2 billion in higher future earnings over their working careers. The average Ivy Tech associate degree graduate from fiscal year 2018-19 will see annual earnings that are $10,100 higher than a person with a high school diploma or equivalent working in Indiana.
Ivy Tech prides itself on anticipating the Region’s economic needs and shaping programs to best suit them. The college has initiated programs that address relevant job market needs, such as creating the Energy Technology Program or the recent Associates in Nursing (ASN) transitional track for paramedics. The special areas of study that Ivy Tech offers students are open to students of all ages who want to better themselves, whether it is before entering the job market, reentering, or as a way to develop new skills for the student’s current position.
“We have not only traditional students right out of high school coming into our programs, but also we had students who are non-traditional. For us, non-traditional students are the individuals 25 and older: those who either have jobs or are graduates from other colleges and schools. Now, they may want to develop new skills, and quite a few of these individuals change their careers,” said Sikoski.
Ivy Tech is proud of being able to serve students with many different needs, and the university highlights its partnership with local businesses that give great job opportunities to graduates to increase the college’s economic impact. NIPSCO is just one Region business that partners with Ivy Tech graduates. The company works with graduates in the Energy Technology Program to place them with jobs.
“When students heard about our programs and partnership with NIPSCO, they came to us to earn their credentials. When these individuals completed the program, NIPSCO kept them through the process and hired them starting at more than $40 an hour,” said Sikoski. “These individuals are coming through this program, and now they are starting these really well-paid jobs. So that's what excites us the most: when we provide the skills and education for these individuals to get these high paid jobs.”
Building a better Region and providing students with the education they need to be successful Region residents is a priority for Ivy Tech. Their efforts are made evident through the 2020 Ivy Tech Community College Economic Impact Report. For details on the statewide impact, visit http://www.ivytech.edu/impact.
Those interested in becoming the next successful Ivy Tech graduate are encouraged to apply for admission. The next starting point for the college begins in January. Visit https://www.ivytech.edu/how-to-enroll/ to begin the application process.
