AUDIO: Ivy Tech Offers New IT Pathways

Thirty students will be chosen this fall to join the new program at Ivy Tech's Batesville and Lawrenceburg locations.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - Thirty students will be chosen this fall to join two new cohort pathways for information technology (IT) at Ivy Tech’s Batesville and Lawrenceburg locations.

Those selected for the cohort will receive a scholarship which will cover all tuition, course, and tech fees associated with both two-year certificate pathways.

• Lawrenceburg’s pathway is a 32 credit hour program focused on software development, including web design and app development. Students will earn an Ivy Tech technical certificate in software development and the national Microsoft Technology Associate certificate.
• Batesville’s pathway is a 23 credit hour program focused on both hardware and software support. Students will earn a certificate in IT Helpdesk and the national CompTIA A+ certification.

These certifications will provide more qualified employees with a pathway for higher wages in the local workforce.

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“They really are walking away with some pieces of paper in hand, some resume building certificates and certifications, to help them be employable,” said Rebecca Rahschulte, Director of Ivy Tech Batesville and High School Strategies.

Scholarship funding is provided by a grant in partnership with the EcO Network, a group that works with businesses and schools in southeast Indiana to help residents connect to better economic opportunities through education.

In 2018, Ivy Tech staff, local businesses, and K-12 schools recognized the growing importance for IT professionals in the local workforce, so they decided to apply for the grant. Ron Eads, a Workforce Consultant for Ivy Tech, said local businesses made the difference in securing funding by writing letters of support.

“We probably would not have received this grant without the help of the area businesses who came on board with us in the beginning and stated that they would be willing and interested to help us in supporting the students securing work-and-learn experience,” Eads said.

The partnership reinforces the importance of IT in the southeast Indiana workforce and its connection to nearly every sector in our community.

“It is really being lifted up, not just within our region but within our state and nationally, as an area that is in need of increased focus, attention, and training just because of the jobs that are going to become available in the field,” Rahschulte said.

Those interested in joining either cohort must be high school juniors or seniors or adult learners who pass the requirements based on Accuplacer testing. To apply for the Batesville cohort, email Dr. Rebecca Rahschulte. For the Lawrenceburg campus, email Emily Hartnett.