During a recent visit to Ivy Tech Valparaiso, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona discussed the importance of quality career and technical education.
Cardona’s visit was part of the U.S. Department of Education’s 2024 Back to School Bus Tour. The week-long road trip featured stops in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.
Cardona toured the campus with U.S. Representative Frank Mrvan. Cardona met with students and participated in a roundtable conversation about the college’s career and technical education programs.
“What I saw here today is really top tier,” Cardona said in a press release. “Career technical education, these pathway programs, the work that is being done here at Ivy Tech is great.”
Rep. Mrvan and Ivy Tech officials welcomed the discussion with Cardona to highlight how the college prepares students with life-long skills for good-paying jobs.
“Sec. Cardona’s visit to Ivy Tech Valparaiso underscores the critical role that our campus – and the entire Ivy Tech system – plays in shaping the future of education and workforce development in Indiana,” Aco Sikoski, Ivy Tech Valparaiso chancellor, said.
Sue Ellspermann, Ivy Tech Community College president, called Ivy Tech “Indiana’s workforce engine.” Ellspermann said the college works to provide career-focused education that leads to high wage, high demand jobs in current and emerging industries.
“I firmly believe that if we can leave this in the bucket of education, this is Indiana’s best economic development program,” Cardona said. “A strong education system is your best economic driver. Schools like this one, accelerate that one.”
Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. The school also serves thousands of students annually online. Ivy Tech offers associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications and training.
