Passed Indiana University in total enrollment
With enrollment over 120,000, Ivy Tech Community College announced it had surpassed the Indiana University system to become the state's largest post-secondary institution. Here's what that means for Elkhart:
* There were 1,460 students registered for the first day of fall 2008 classes, up 11.7 percent from last year.
* There were roughly 750 to 800 students enrolled at Ivy Tech during the fall 1998 semester.
* About 350 displaced workers have indicated they are taking mid-semester or online classes or will begin taking classes at Ivy Tech in January. Some of these workers may take classes in Warsaw or St. Joseph County.
* Initial proposals for the new Ivy Tech campus estimated the new facilities would need to accommodate 2,000 people. The current expectation is that in 10 years a 2,000 person facility will be insufficient.
* Roughly two-thirds of the state's other Ivy Tech campuses are larger than the Elkhart campus.
Source: Tracie Davis, executive director of marketing and communications for Ivy Tech's North Central region
By Tom Lange, Truth Staff
ELKHART -- Ivy Tech students will soon have a new place to go for class.
On Wednesday Ivy Tech officials announced they have completed the purchase of land near C.R. 17 and C.R. 18 for the community college's new Elkhart campus. Officials expect the new campus will be open at the start of the spring 2010 term.
The college announced it will use build-to-suit construction with a purchase agreement for the 70,000 square foot facility. This construction brings together private sector ideas and lets the developer be creative and maximize efficiencies. It also lets the college delay debt services until the building is complete to allow the college to save money in capital interest and future interest payments, officials said in a press release.
Elkhart County Council President John Letherman has been the listing agent for the property and managed it for land owner Thomas Corson since 1985. Letherman said he believed Ivy Tech had engaged a construction and development firm from Fort Wayne to carry out the project. He assumed construction would start quickly in order to meet the college's completion goal.
Letherman said Corson agreed to donate 30 acres and sell an additional 42 below cost. And he said the education and re-training the campus will offer the community is invaluable.
"It's a godsend to have this in the community," Letherman said, "it'll be great for everybody."
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