Manchester tackles Daniels' challenge

NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. (WANE) - Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels wants colleges to offer three year degrees. Manchester College , in North Manchester, is one of the only schools in the state to offer it to students in all majors.

On Monday in Indianapolis, Governor Daniels spoke to a group of university presidents, trustees, and other higher education officials. Daniels criticized the funding system, which rewards colleges and universities for having higher enrollment.

"What we're really trying to do is get as many people as we can herded in and keep them in there as long as we can," said Governor Mitch Daniels.

Daniels wants students at Indiana colleges to graduate quickly and immediately contribute to the state's workforce. Three years ago Manchester College created a program called Fast Forward. The program is designed to get students into college and graduated in three years.

"It's those students that know what they want to do, someone who says in high school I want to be this when I graduate. Those are the students who come in, join Fast Forward, and excel," said Adam Hohman, Interim Director of Admissions for Manchester College.

Fast Forward students take classes all year round, either in the classroom or online. During the summer, students take general education courses, allowing them to take courses in their major during the traditional academic year. Students who transfer in some college credits will be able to take a lighter load in some semesters or the summer time. Here's what one student's course load might look like:

• Year 1: Fall-16, January-3, Spring-16, Summer-12
• Year 2: Fall-16, January-3, Spring-16, Summer-12
• Year 3: Fall-16, January-3, Spring-15

Sam Chapman is a sophomore student in the Fast Forward program. She is majoring in Political Science, and her plan is to go to law school when she is finished at Manchester.

"It's just very worth it to me since I have to go to school for three more years," said Sam Chapman, Manchester Sophomore.

Fast Forward can also save students up to $25,000 in tuition, fees, room, and board. This year, Manchester College received 850 applications, which is nearly twice as many as last year. Fast Forward is set up to accept 30 students, but Manchester plans to allow more students into the program in the future.

Manchester College has 1,223 students from 21 states and 20 countries. It has more than 55 areas of undergraduate study and two masters programs. Manchester is a college of the Church of the Brethren. The student to faculty ratio is 14 to 1.