GREENFIELD — Ivy Tech Community College will offer classes at the Hancock County Public Library starting in June.
On June 8, Ivy Tech will offer its Intro to College course. More than 100 Greenfield residents are currently taking the class, said Kyle Turpin, the library’s marketing director, who has been working on the agreement with Ivy Tech.
The arrangement represents something of a milestone for higher education in the county. Leaders for years have worked on ideas to offer college classes but haven’t been able to come up with a sustainable model. This new agreement breathes new life into the idea.
Turpin said there’s a need for such an option in the county. “I have friends in town who are taking Ivy Tech classes, but they have to drive to Lawrence or downtown Indy to do so,” he said. “Having courses here I think will help a lot.”
Most nearby counties have a connection with Ivy Tech or some other post-secondary program.
The Hancock County Public Library board voted unanimously this month to offer free computer lab space at the main branch in Greenfield.
Board member Peggy Pritzke agreed the plan was a no-brainer. “It just seems like a win-win,” she said.
The library is limiting the classes to 18 students in the 20-computer lab, so that a couple of extra computers are always available if technical problems arise.
Turpin was thrilled to come to an agreement with Ivy Tech. “They’re really enthusiastic to come into Hancock County,” he said. “They considered a lot of places in the county and they came to us, so I’m glad it could work out.”
Harold Olin, superintendent for Greenfield-Central Community Schools, was pleased to hear about Ivy Tech’s decision to offer classes in Hancock County.
“From my perspective, providing an opportunity for adults to receive post-secondary training in the local community is second only to keeping the cost affordable,” said Olin.
“Education beyond high school is important for everyone, regardless of what your career goals happen to be. I think it is important for every community to find ways to remove barriers that keep people from pursuing relevant on-going training that is pertinent to each individual,” he said.
