Lafayette, Indiana, USA
August 13, 2009
The
Purdue University College of
Agriculture and Ivy Tech
Community College in Lafayette are partnering on a new
program to help make higher education even more accessible to
Indiana students.
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. |
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