Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana has opened the new Valparaiso Campus, 3100 Ivy Tech Drive in the Eastport Industrial Centre, and held an official dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony on September 6th at 1:00 p.m. More than 200 community, civic and education leaders from throughout the state and northwest Indiana region attended the event that included tours of the new facility. Invited guests at the ceremony included Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana President Gerald I. Lamkin, Ivy Tech State Board of Trustees Chairman Bill Goins and Mayor Jon Costas of Valparaiso.

The 86,000 square-foot campus, built on 37 acres of land, is designed to provide a supportive environment for learning. The new campus has state-of-the-art classrooms, a cyber café, a large student commons, several areas for student gathering, and areas for students to work together in small groups. Current Valparaiso Student Government Association President Shannon Gollnick said, "The new Valparaiso campus provides students with a state of the art learning environment that takes not only learning into consideration, but also student comfort."

Views of lobby and students commons area with bookstore in background

The new campus also features a paralegal law library, bookstore, and library with media center. "Student Affairs offices, classrooms, and student commons areas are all designed around students and provide for a unique learning environment, not found on many college campuses", said Gollnick.

Pete Peuquet of Chester, Inc. and John Mang (formerly of Mittal Steel), co-chairs of the capital campaign, announced that the capital campaign, begun in 2004, raised over 3.3 million dollars. Chancellor J. Guadalupe Valtierra said the college is very happy with the community support of the new campus. He also stressed that the College is still accepting contributions toward the completion of phase II.

Welding Stations

The new campus is the first phase of a two-phase project for Ivy Tech in Valparaiso. Phase II construction began in summer 2006. The entire campus, when completed in 2008, is a $38 million, 185,000 square foot project.

The Valley Drive Campus will still remain in use for students in the associate of science in nursing program, practical nursing program, and for students taking science classes until phase II construction has been completed. Programs offered at the new campus include: accounting, business administration, computer information systems, criminal justice, design technology, general education, manufacturing and industrial technology, office administration, paralegal studies, and pre-engineering.

Computer Classroom

Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s second largest public post-secondary institution with over 75,000 students enrolled. Ivy Tech has 23 campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.