When Ivy Tech Community College’s Northwest region launched its Associate Accelerated Program last year, it was with great expectations and high hopes.
Those wishes proved justified. ASAP, in which students earn a liberal arts associate of science degree in 11 months, is now halfway through its second year of giving students a running start on their way to four-year degrees.
“Currently, we have a great cohort of students who have worked hard this semester and are doing really well,” program coordinator Katrina Hudson said. “These students began the program in June and now are sophomores in college. In addition to their ASAP educational experience, they have done civic engagement activities, been on college visits and participated in workshops on financial literacy, workforce training and team building. “
This talented group of eight students is building on the strong foundation established by ASAP’s initial 10-member cohort.
More Top Picks Best Wide Angle Lenses
“Every student who graduated from the ASAP program during the 2015-2016 year was accepted into their first-choice institution,” Hudson said. “Some of those choices include Columbia College Chicago, University of Indy, IUPUI, Indiana University-Bloomington and Purdue University-Lafayette. Most importantly, every student deserved to be selected to their first-choice institution. If a student can get through two years of education in only 11 months, they can complete any other degree at any higher educational institution due to the rigor of the ASAP program.”
Criteria for admission to the program are tough as well. Requirements include at least a 2.5 GPA, good school attendance and a recommendation from a teacher or counselor. Students must complete a separate ASAP application and sit for an interview. Those accepted are allowed to work only on weekends.
ASAP is aimed at students whose goal is to earn a four-year degree. Classes begin in June and end the following May. Students in the cohort take all courses together at the Gary campus, but they come from all over the Region. All classes last eight weeks, except for math and biology, which are 16 weeks.
By the end of this fall semester, ASAP students will have completed 37 college credits, including core courses fulfilling transfer requirements to four-year schools. So far, more than 300 students have shown interest in the 2017-2018 program, and eight have been accepted.
“It’s kind of challenging and time-consuming,” Alyssa Yanez of Hobart said of juggling the demands of ASAP with a weekend job. “It makes you have more time management. You have to take this program very seriously.” Yanez plans to transfer to IU-Bloomington to study sports broadcasting.
Jada Johnson of Merrillville already had been accepted into Ball State University when she decided to enroll in ASAP instead.
“When I get to my four-year (college), I’ll be more prepared and able to handle it,” said Johnson, whose goal is to study genetics.
“I’d rather be in college less time and it’s cheaper,” said Valparaiso’s Ellen Bowman, who plans to enter the pre-veterinary program at Purdue Northwest. “When we get to four-year (college), everyone else will be stressing, but not us.”
“Some colleges have created scholarships for ASAP students,” Hudson said. “A lot of the older generation still think of Ivy Tech as a trade school, but we’re doing far more than we were doing years before. People don’t know how much we offer. Having this program sets Ivy Tech at a higher level. A lot of people don’t know our credits transfer. We have articulation agreements with just about every college in Indiana.”
Hudson pointed out the program saves students money and time.
“You can still go to Purdue, for instance, but you’re going to graduate from Purdue faster,” she said. “Because the workload is so rigorous, it prepares you as far as time management and balancing your workload. It’s not big lectures. You’re not just a number. I meet with my students biweekly.
“ASAP is a really good start for students.”
Donna Kiesling is a marketing assistant at Ivy Tech Community College.