Ivy Tech gives new hope in grim economy

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Thousands of Northeast Indiana residents are without a job, with nowhere to turn. But one local college is giving them a chance to turn their life around.

Ivy Tech is the fastest growing college in Indiana. Enrollment numbers are through the roof. The reason: It's giving people unimaginable opportunities during unbelievable times. "Students most often say to me, it feels like you care, and that's because we do," said Ivy Tech Chancellor, Mark Keen.

Ivy Tech is one of the largest statewide community colleges in the nation. Spring enrollment is up 14 percent from this time last year. This recession has put Ivy Tech on the map. "Ivy tech has always prided itself on in being the educational institution that is linked most closely to the workforce," said Keen.

To continue that reputation, Ivy Tech Northeast as well as the other campuses across the state are constantly monitoring the needs of the workforce. "We hear it out there in the community, we are very well connected with our employment base," said Keen.

In "our" community, the RV industry is taking the biggest hit. Fleetwood and Monaco both filed for bankruptcy. Thousands lost the only job they've ever had. Ivy Tech stepped in. "We took a look at what skill sets they would likely have, how we could we then put those into the mix and give them advanced skill sets that would enable them to get a better job or at least get a job back in this tough market," said Keen.

It's an effort that has kept the campus lots "full." The Northeast Campus saw an increase of 10.5 percent last Fall. They are predicting a 36 percent increase in 2015. And a 50 percent increase in 2020. "We are having to add ten classrooms, literally build out ten new classrooms every semester just to keep up with the growth," said Keen.

Jim Aschliman is the Executive Director of Workforce and Economic Development. It's a non credit training program for displaced workers. Right now workers are training in welding, HVAC, and CNC machining. Many of his students walk in with nothing, but In five weeks they leave with relevant and in demand training. "We see a little bit of everybody. 01:54 edit 02:51 people seem to be very very motivated to learn," said Aschliman.

Larry Neal is one of those students. He was struggling in his old job, so he decided to go back to school to pursue a career in the biomedical field. "I needed to respond to some changes in the economy and the job market," said Neal.

Josh Schmitz has a similar story. "I just got to a point where I wanted to go to school and go after a dream," said Schmitz. The recession forced Josh out of the restaurant business. "The tips just weren't there becaue the check average was down," said Schmitz.

But now Ivy Tech is helping him fulfill his life long dream to become a doctor. "Here at Ivy Tech I'm a completely different person, I have that hope, I have that drive and I really think it's going to set me up for success," said Schmitz.

Larry and Josh are "not" unlike thousands of other students at Ivy Tech. "At pizza hut the other day, a young man said to me, you changed my life, and I said, 'Me personally?', and he said well Ivy Tech," said Keen.

All they're asking for is a chance. "He said it's the first time in my life, I didn't have to choose between paying bills and buying my kids birthday presents," said Keen.

Ivy Tech is also one of the most affordable colleges in the state. You can get a degree for less than three thousand dollars a year. One downside to that, they are in need of more state funding. As Chancellor, Mark Keen says, "In a time when we are growing the fastest, the state can afford us the least."

Our snapshot of education continues with our partners at the News-Sentinel. In Monday's edition, education reporter Ashley Smith finds out if there are any jobs out there for those people who are going back to school.