- Photo by Andrew Neel: https://www.pexels.com/photo/macbook-pro-on-brown-wooden-table-2312369/
In response to the decision from the Indiana General Assembly to cut funding to the state college system, Ivy Tech Community College announced the end of its free summer classes for high-school students and made 202 layoffs across the state.
In Ivy Tech President Sue Ellspermann’s letter to employees sent on May 30, she said state higher education funding was cut by 5% in addition to the State Budget Agency possibly withholding 5% of the school’s allocated funds, resulting in a potential loss of $54 million over the next two years.
Emily Sandberg, assistant vice president of communications and public affairs at Ivy Tech, confirmed that the 202 layoffs consisted of roughly 3% of the college’s total workforce. This included 38 faculty, 162 staff and two administrative faculty members across six different campuses: Indianapolis, Bloomington, Columbus, Kokomo, Evansville and South Bend.
In addition to these changes, free summer college classes for Indiana high-school students are going away for at least 2025. Ivy Tech estimates it lost $12 million in tuition revenue through the program in the three years it was offered. The average student saved approximately $1,000 in tuition and fees.
Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, gave some comments on the potential impact of these new changes.
“Too many young Hoosiers struggle to achieve a higher education due to unreasonable costs. Free summer college classes help high school students—especially low-income students—acquire college credits that will help them save money when they work on their degree in the future,” Harris said in an email. “As a lawmaker, I’ve worked to make education more accessible for all Hoosiers, and this move will further limit the number of Hoosiers who are able to afford an education.”
This being the only free summer course program in the state, students are left with fewer opportunities to get a head start on college. Harris said these cuts alongside the 202 layoffs threaten the quality of education for future college students.
“Institutes of higher education play a fundamental role in strengthening our state, our workforce and our economy. These funding cuts will limit the quality of the services they are able to provide to students. It’s likely that those who have the option will further their education outside of Indiana, and those getting their degree in our state may be ill-prepared to thrive in the workforce,” Harris said.
More than 6,400 students participated in the free program last summer, and Ivy Tech expected demand to grow by more than 2,000 students this year.
“This is a challenging moment for our College, but I know Ivy Tech is strong. I remain confident in our resilience and in our commitment to our students and to one another,” Ellspermann said. “Together, we will navigate this period with compassion, integrity, and a continued focus on our educational mission.”
Luke Shepherd is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news site powered by Franklin College journalism students.
