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Nine students complete Ivy Tech ASAP program
Ivy Tech Community College celebrated the graduates of the Associate Accelerated Program (ASAP) on Friday, July 22 at the Greencastle campus.
The nine students completed their associate degrees and are ready to transfer to four-year colleges to earn their bachelor’s degrees or begin their careers.
Spread over five eight-week terms, ASAP classes are held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at Ivy Tech Greencastle. The program essentially becomes a student’s full-time occupation until graduation.
The limited enrollment program allows students to be part of small, closely-knit groups known as cohorts. A dedicated ASAP coordinator helps students navigate the program, identify academic and career goals, and then works with them to map out a clear path to success.
“The cohort model is ideal for this program as it allows classmates to build a supportive environment and be each other’s champion,” noted ASAP Coordinator Madison Pershing. “Plus our team of faculty offers individual attention to help the students stay on top of their coursework and be successful.”
ASAP graduates leave with not just an associate degree, but with the skills they need to succeed in additional academic programs and the workforce. Ivy Tech has transfer partnerships with many schools in Indiana, including some programs that offer guaranteed admission. This year, six of the ASAP graduates plan to transfer to a four-year college to earn their bachelor’s degrees.
“These students chose to advance their education by pursuing a rigorous and fast-paced program,” said Pamela Malone, Ph.D., Ivy Tech’s new Dean of the School of Arts, Sciences & Education, who oversees the academic curriculum for the ASAP program. “In less than a year, they’ve completed their associate degrees and are well-positioned for upward mobility. Ivy Tech alumni can earn $10,000 more annually with an associate degree compared to students with only a high school diploma, or they can save as much as $10,000 on the cost of their bachelor’s degree by transferring their Ivy Tech degree to a four-year college.”
Karl Turk, the JAG Specialist at Cloverdale High School, attended the celebration to support two Cloverdale High School graduates who were part of the 2022 cohort. He’s helped several students get into the ASAP program and plans to help recommend it to more students this year.
“Higher education is becoming so expensive, and the ASAP program is an expedient and cost-effective path for the students,” Turk noted. “I’ve noticed the students in the ASAP program take a strong ownership of their education and their future plans.”
Bailey Sanders, a 2022 ASAP graduate, is one of those students. She plans to transfer her Ivy Tech degree to earn her bachelor’s degree.
“I am transferring to Indiana State University where I will be studying marketing,” the 2021 Cloverdale graduate said. “I intend to get my bachelor’s degree and become a marketing director and team member for a small business.”
The ASAP program, while intense at times, also offers a flexible course schedule on Fridays, which allows the group to participate in local volunteer activities, visit four-year colleges to learn about transfer opportunities, engage in team-building activities and more.
“The program is difficult, but it motivated me and made me into a stronger student,” Sanders added. “I feel much more prepared to go to a larger university having completed this program first. Plus, it’s not all work. I really enjoyed the Friday activities like kayaking with my classmates and going hiking with our dogs.”
Classes for the next cohort begin on Aug. 22 and will conclude on July 30, 2023. Students interested in enrolling in the program still have time to apply. To qualify for acceptance into the program students must be 21 years old or younger, have a high school diploma and high school GPA of 2.5 or higher and must have completed the free Ivy Tech application.
Orientation for the next cohort is Aug. 17 and is mandatory for all new ASAP students. To start an application and learn more about the program, visit ivytech.edu/asap.