Dive Brief:
- Ivy Tech Community College is not graduating enough of its students to meet minimum completion rates set by state officials who approve programs for workforce training dollars.
- The Journal Gazette reports that some officials on the State Workforce Innovation Council are hesitant to cut off funding from Ivy Tech because it is the largest service provider, but others don’t want state money going to a program they don’t consider effective.
- Based on the state guidelines, two-year programs must graduate at least 28% of students to remain eligible for a portion of the $58 million allocation, and shorter certificate programs must reach a 60% graduation rate, according to the article.
Dive Insight:
Ivy Tech is facing scrutiny from multiple directions. Lawmakers have already ordered a review of its programs based on a study showing huge drops in enrollment over the last three years and poor outcomes for students. Ivy Tech was recharted in 2005 as a system of state community colleges from its founding as a vocational technical college. It saw huge enrollment boosts in the years following its takeover of the state system, but enrollment has fallen steeply more recently.
The Journal Gazette reports that a state-commissioned study found fewer than 30% of Ivy Tech students graduate with a degree or certificate within six years. In a time of closer scrutiny on state budgets, colleges receiving state funding are being asked to step up their accountability and prove positive student outcomes. While it doesn’t look like Ivy Tech will lose funding right away, The Journal Gazette reports that state officials will be back to check on its progress in August.