Ivy Tech Community College is among four recipients that will receive a share of $255,000 in state grants designed to support adult learners at Indiana colleges and universities.
The funds awarded through the Indiana Higher Education Commission’s Adult Promise Grant program. Funded by the Lumina Foundation, the grants are designed to increase the number of adult Hoosiers with a postsecondary credential by developing easy-to-use resources and sharing best practices to serve adult learners.
Ivy Tech Community College received a $167,230 grant, the state said. Ivy Tech’s office of career development will use the funds to assist students find work-and-learn experiences and employment by assisting them to create a resume, interview preparation and developing employability.
“Focusing on Indiana’s adult learner population is critical for moving the state closer to our 2025 goal of 60 percent of Hoosiers with quality education and training beyond high school,” said Teresa Lubbers, Indiana’s commissioner for higher education. “The recipients of these grants are concentrating on removing the barriers along the way for adult learners.”
The state said preference was given to institutions that participate in Indiana’s “adult promise” financial aid program, the Workforce Ready Grant.
Eligibility requirements for the grant included Indiana institutions that administer state financial aid and community-based organizations focused on educational attainment. The grant period ends March 2020.
Other grant recipients for fall 2019 include:
- Pass The Torch for Women Foundation, $50,000: The grant allows the foundation to expand its reach to serve female college students.
- Indiana University Kokomo, $24,120: The college will develop ongoing partnerships with industries in the region to promote the Adult Promise opportunities among employees, providing them with advanced training in 21st century technologies.
- Anderson University, $13,650: The college proposes strategies to improve retention and success of adult students who either are starting or returning to college.
