Ivy Tech Lands $8M for Career Coaching Program
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded the Ivy Tech Foundation an $8 million grant to support a new employment initiative launched by Ivy Tech Community College.
The Career Coaching and Employer Connection program is designed to help better prepare Ivy Tech graduates by emphasizing career readiness practices in addition to course work.
“We have heard employers and have designed this program to ensure our graduates leave Ivy Tech career-ready, enter into available high-value, high-demand careers within local industry, and earn family-sustaining wages,” said Ivy Tech President Sue Ellspermann.
Ivy Tech says this new academic approach puts more emphasis on career advising and employer engagement throughout their time at Ivy Tech, not just when they’re ready to graduate.
As part of the CCEC, each student will have a required career action plan that has benchmarks every 15 credit hours, including resume development, interview preparation, and embedded “work and learn” experiences within their career focus.
“Lilly Endowment is impressed with the quality of thought and planning that has resulted in this strategic new approach to help Ivy Tech’s students prepare for and find meaningful careers in Indiana,” said Ted Maple, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for education.
Maple says Lilly Endowment is pleased with how Ivy Tech developed the program, using input from employers.
“As the state’s Community College, we are focused on aligning our programs with the needs of our state’s workforce,” said Ivy Tech Senior Vice President for Workforce and Career Chris Lowery. “This grant will help provide the resources needed to help guide our students into careers which are needed most in Indiana, both today and in the future.”
The college will roll out the new model in phases over the next four years.
Ivy Tech will receive $5 million over the first three years of the grant. It will eligible to receive an additional $3 million contingent on Ivy Tech securing at least $3 million from other external sources.