Putnam Promise Program will help students get affordable start on education

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Ivy Tech Community College Greencastle made a significant announcement this week, announcing the launch of the Putnam Promise Program.

This innovative opportunity is designed to help the Putnam County 2020 high school graduates get an affordable start on a degree with support services to combat uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Graduates and their families are faced with tough decisions. We heard them loud and clear,” said Treg Hopkins, site director of Ivy Tech Greencastle. “Thanks to the generosity and support of the Putnam County Foundation and other generous community donors, the Putnam Promise Program will ensure students get an affordable start on a degree, whether they’re looking to enter the workforce quickly or transfer to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s.”

Putnam Promise is an 11-month accelerated program that enables students to earn 60 college credits at a fraction of the cost of other colleges.

It follows the model of Ivy Tech’s Associate Accelerated Program (ASAP), where coursework is spread over five eight-week terms with classes held Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Classes are held in small, close-knit groups known as “cohorts.”

“Students stay together in their cohort throughout the program,” Hopkins said. “This creates an encouraging environment where students can cultivate friendships and depend on each other every step of the way.”

To help families facing financial struggles due to the pandemic, the Putnam County Foundation created the COVID-19 Relief Scholarship for qualifying students in the Putnam Promise Program. To check eligibility, students must file their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If a student has already filed a FAFSA and their financial situation has since changed due to the pandemic, they still may qualify for funds.

Ivy Tech Greencastle’s implementation of the Putnam Promise Program will provide stability, opportunity and employability to each of its participants, whether they are students with a clear end-goal in mind or exploring options.

For more information and to apply, visit link.ivytech.edu/putnam.

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