Ivy Tech Human Resources hosts job fair for prospective adjunct faculty

KOKOMO, Ind. — Ivy Tech Community College’s Kokomo Region will host a job fair for those who are interested in teaching part-time at one of the Region’s six sites including: Kokomo, Logansport, Peru, Rochester, Tipton, and Wabash. The Adjunct Faculty Job Fair is slated for Thursday, June 20 from 5-8 p.m. at the Kokomo Region’s main campus located at 1815 E. Morgan Street, Kokomo.

Those who attend the Adjunct Faculty Job Fair will have an opportunity to meet HR staff, school deans, program chairs, Corporate College staff, and other full- and part-time faculty. They also will be shown how to go through Ivy Tech’s application process and learn how their academic credentials may qualify them to teach part time in a number of areas, including corporate training.

“There are a lot of people in our communities who simply haven’t considered teaching. They have jobs and aren’t particularly looking for employment, but when approached are very receptive to the opportunity,” said Kelly Fisher, faculty employment specialist. “We have great success hiring retirees, like Dr. Phil Burgan, who simply want to help develop and train the best nurses possible.”

Attorney Mike Bolinger is another example of a part-time instructor who desires to share his profession with students. He brings literally years of experience to the class, with relevant, practical examples of what he has seen in his practice that applies to his curriculum that helps students grasp concepts. Mike admits he has been proud to be part of Team Ivy for the last seven years and that working for the college is a way to pay society back for the great life his education and community have afforded him.

A recent change in policy with the federal government limits the number of hours part-time faculty can teach; adjuncts who once taught four sections will be limited to three, thus the college must seek out more professionals who want to share their expertise in the classroom. This change has made it necessary to hire additional adjunct faculty in most academic areas.

Ivy Tech’s Kokomo Region currently employs more than 270 part-time instructors. Executive Director of Human Resources Celestine Johnson expects that number to grow.

Upcoming Ivy Tech ‘boot camp’ in Logansport

LOGANSPORT, Ind.—Ivy Tech Community College Logansport will be offering another enrollment boot camp. The camp will be held on Monday, June 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The purpose of the boot camp is to help prospective students with busy schedules get through the enrollment process in one visit to campus.

Those who participate in Ivy Tech Enrollment Boot Camp can expect to get through (or finish if they’ve already started) the enrollment process and be ready to start fall classes on Aug. 19. College recruiters will help students complete the admission application if they haven’t already, complete new student orientation, complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) if they haven’t already, complete the placement assessment, and select the appropriate courses for the summer or fall semesters. Note: Students may waive the assessment by providing the admissions representative with a copy of their transcript showing previous college credit or SAT scores of 460+, ACT scores of 17+, or PSAT scores of 46+.

Currently, students may have to come to campus as many as four times before they are actually enrolled. This approach will eliminate those repeated trips.

Parents are encouraged to attend with their college-bound student. Participants who have not filed for financial aid should bring their 2012 tax returns. A financial aid associate will walk them through filing the FAFSA.

Students who plan to attend any Ivy Tech Kokomo Region campus in the fall should plan to come to boot camp if this approach works best for them. What is covered in Boot Camp is applicable to any Kokomo Region Ivy Tech student. Additional staff will be ‘deployed’ from the outlying Kokomo Region campuses to assist with the event so participants are assured excellent customer service and leave the event confident that they are prepared to begin their college experience. There is no cost to attend Boot Camp. For more information about Ivy Tech’s Enrollment Boot Camp, contact Suzanne Dillman at 574-753-5101, ext. 2179, or sdillman@ivytech.edu.

Making sacrifices – and connections Sarah Miller’s long days are paying off

KOKOMO, Ind. — There’s an old saying that “a mother’s work is never done.” Sarah Miller is a living example of just how true that statement is – and how rewarding life can be, even with all the effort it entails.

Miller enrolled at Ivy Tech Community College in 2006, right after graduating from high school. She took a break, however, and returned with some new responsibilities as a single mother of young children. That led her to look for flexible options as she continued her education.

“One of the great things about Ivy Tech is that they offer so many online classes,” Miller says. “As the mother of a five-year-old and two-year-old, I could not have done it without this convenience.”

Miller’s willingness to shift to a new way of learning – and her hard work – are paying off. She graduated in May with an associate degree in computer information technology, with an emphasis on computer security. She also earned an internship at the Indiana Statehouse, where she had contact with some of the most influential people in Indiana.

The internship made Miller’s day quite a bit longer. She commuted about 60 miles from Kokomo to Indianapolis every day, dropping her children off at daycare at 6 a.m. The commute back to Kokomo was especially grueling, and she seldom arrived home before 7 p.m.

“It wasn’t easy,” Miller says, “especially being single. I’m grateful my children have an amazing father who helps out by picking them up after daycare.”

At the Statehouse, Miller was responsible for everything from troubleshooting printer and network issues to completely rebuilding computers. She also assisted in the live streaming of community hearings and other government sessions, making sure anyone with an Internet connection could have access to the coverage. In addition to the hands-on experience, Miller says the connections she made, and the opportunity to showcase her commitment, were invaluable.

“I got to work with such high-caliber people,” she says. “I feel that when I left the internship, I’d made important connections to help me move forward with my career. I think the fact that I commuted every day for this job shows my dependability and work ethic.”

While both her internship and studies at Ivy Tech have come to an end, Miller’s education isn’t. She hopes to earn a bachelor’s degree and then a master’s so she can land her dream job of working in computer forensics for the FBI. Accordingly, she’s grateful to Ivy Tech for giving her the opportunity to experience the world of computer security in a government setting.

Not surprisingly, though, Miller is most thankful for her parents, Greg and Crystal Miller, who sacrificed for her when she was young, and for setting the example that she follows in working hard to support her children.

“They have been extremely supportive,” Miller says. “I wouldn’t be where I am if it weren’t for them.”

Upcoming Kokomo discover healthcare camp

KOKOMO, Ind. — Ivy Tech Community College will allow area youth to learn more about nursing careers. The 2013 Kokomo Discover Healthcare Camp will be July 8, 9, and 10.

2013 Summer Camp includes:

• Getting hands-on experience using nursing equipment
• Practicing various nursing skills such as taking blood pressure and pulses and using glucometers
• Visiting hospital departments and services
• Experiencing the excitement of nurses in action
• Job shadowing nurses on duty
• Meeting college nursing faculty, students, and graduates
• Discovering the growing need for nurses
• Exploring numerous careers available in nursing
• Learning first aid through training
• Receiving a free stethoscope, blood pressure cuff and a T-shirt

Students interested in applying are encouraged to see their high school guidance counselor or contact Jennifer Hughes at 765-459-0561, ext. 283 or jhughes32@ivytech.edu. Enrollment is limited. There is a $20 fee to participate, but scholarships are available.

Upcoming Peru discover nursing camp

PERU, Ind. — A partnership between Ivy Tech Community College, North Central Indiana Area Health Education Center, and Dukes Memorial Hospital will allow area youth to learn more about nursing careers. The 2013 Peru Discover Nursing Camp will be July 8 and 9.

2013 Summer Camp includes:

• Getting hands-on experience using nursing equipment
• Practicing various nursing skills such as taking blood pressure and pulses and using glucometers
• Visiting hospital departments and services
• Experiencing the excitement of nurses in action
• Job shadowing nurses on duty
• Meeting college nursing faculty, students, and graduates
• Discovering the growing need for nurses
• Exploring numerous careers available in nursing
• Learning first aid through training
• Receiving a free stethoscope, blood pressure cuff and a T-shirt

Students interested in applying are encouraged to see their high school guidance counselor or contact Jennifer Hughes at 765-459-0561, ext. 283 or jhughes32@ivytech.edu. Enrollment is limited. There is a $20 fee to participate, but scholarships are available.

The North Central Indiana Area Health Education Center works to increase awareness among minority, rural, and disadvantaged students about potential healthcare careers.

Upcoming Ivy Tech ‘boot camp’ in Logansport

LOGANSPORT, Ind.—Ivy Tech Community College Logansport will be offering another enrollment boot camp. The camp will be held on Wednesday, May 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The purpose of the boot camp is to help prospective students with busy schedules get through the enrollment process in one visit to campus.

Those who participate in Ivy Tech Enrollment Boot Camp can expect to get through (or finish if they’ve already started) the enrollment process and be ready to start summer classes on June 10 or fall classes on Aug. 19. College recruiters will help students complete the admission application if they haven’t already, complete new student orientation, complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) if they haven’t already, complete the placement assessment, and select the appropriate courses for the summer or fall semesters. Note: Students may waive the assessment by providing the admissions representative with a copy of their transcript showing previous college credit or SAT scores of 460+, ACT scores of 17+, or PSAT scores of 46+.

Currently, students may have to come to campus as many as four times before they are actually enrolled. This approach will eliminate those repeated trips.

Suzanne Dillman, associate vice chancellor of student affairs, noted that as expected two audiences have dominated prior Boot Camps: Working adults who have such busy schedules that multiple trips create huge barriers and the traditional, right-out-of-high-school students who decide that going away to college may have to wait for financial reasons. Additional students expected to attend are those who went off to a big university and realized they weren’t ready. “We’re already hearing from parents and some students who want to transfer in college credit to Ivy Tech.”

Parents are encouraged to attend with their college-bound student. Participants who have not filed for financial aid should bring their 2012 tax returns. A financial aid associate will walk them through filing the FAFSA.

Students who plan to attend any Ivy Tech Kokomo Region campus in the summer or fall should plan to come to boot camp if this approach works best for them. What is covered in Boot Camp is applicable to any Kokomo Region Ivy Tech student. Additional staff will be ‘deployed’ from the outlying Kokomo Region campuses to assist with the event so participants are assured excellent customer service and leave the event confident that they are prepared to begin their college experience. There is no cost to attend Boot Camp. For more information about Ivy Tech’s Enrollment Boot Camp, contact Suzanne Dillman at 574-753-5101, ext. 2179, or sdillman@ivytech.edu.

Professional Communication student Rebecca McVay wins Ivy Tech’s second-annual student speech competition

More than $475 was raised for local charities as a result of the students’ advocacy speeches in the Speak Up. Speak Out. Project.

KOKOMO, Ind. – Ivy Tech Professional Communication student Rebecca McVay won the college’s second-annual Speak Up. Speak Out. (SUSO) Project on Tuesday night in Kokomo, raising $226 for Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child in the process. McVay, selected by a panel of judges, beat out three other finalists for the top honor in the public speaking competition by exhibiting the best combination of outstanding vocal and physical delivery as well as exceptional speech organization, among other traits. By winning, McVay earned tuition for a three-credit-hour class.

Agriculture student Carlee Glassburn had a big night as well, winning runner-up honors for the competition while also being named the People’s Choice Award winner. The People’s Choice Award winner is selected by the audience; audience members vote with monetary donations and the award goes to the student who raises the most money during the voting. As a result, nearly $250 will be donated to Agapé Therapeutic Riding.

The two other students who competed during the finals included Christina Pifer, a Health Care Support student speaking on behalf of Peak Community Services, and Michael Eads, a Computer Information Technology student advocating in support for the Kokomo Rescue Mission’s Red Ribbon Christmas. Finalists Christian Rappuhn and Ann Pinkerton were unable to attend.

The SUSO Project is a voluntary speech competition among Kokomo Region students who have taken or are currently taking the college’s Fundamentals of Public Speaking course. Each participant selected a nonprofit organization and delivered a persuasive speech on its behalf. To make it to the finals, the students gave condensed versions of their speeches during the semifinal competition on April 2.

The SUSO Project has two broad purposes: to help students connect the principles of public speaking with civic responsibility and to start them on the road to civic engagement through interaction with a community organization.  It gives students the opportunity to connect the lessons of their public speaking class to “real-world” application, using principles learned in class to attempt to steer an audience toward a very real goal.