Ivy Tech has outgrown its current Grand Trunk and Valley Drive locations in Valparaiso with record student enrollments. In the last three years, the student population has grown by 50%, averaging 1,900 students per semester. Ivy Tech has also seen a dramatic increase in demand for customized training from business and industry. In response to this overwhelming student growth and community needs, the Indiana General Assembly approved a $36 million investment for construction of a new 185,000 square-foot campus, to be built in two phases on over 37 acres of land.

In June of 2004 the State Budget Committee granted an early release of funds in the amount of $15.8 million for Phase I construction of the Ivy Tech Valparaiso project to begin. The first phase of the new campus is nearing completion after an intensive 18 month construction schedule.

The new campus is everything we envisioned and more: a larger bookstore, a larger and more student friendly library, lots of student study space, a cyber cafè, bigger classrooms and more parking, all to meet the needs of the students and the community. Plans are underway to move into the new building this summer.

In late March of 2006, the State Budget Committee gave approval for early release of $20 million in funding for the second phase of the project, which is great news. We now have the ability to begin construction in mid-summer 2006 to complete the new Valparaiso campus by spring of 2008.

While this investment by the State is substantial, it still falls short of the funding necessary to equip labs with state-of-the-art-equipment to adequately fulfill local needs for specialized training.

To supplement the state funds for this project, our Region is in the midst of a capital campaign that will provide funds for increased technology on the new campus. The College recognizes the need for the campaign and will cover all administrative expenses so that every dollar donated to the campaign is a dollar for building excellence. Ivy Tech Community College State Board of Trustees and the Ivy Tech Foundation Board of Directors approved and endorsed the campaign.

Most importantly, over 80 campaign cabinet volunteers have raised over $1.7 million to date in cash, pledges and in-kind contributions, reflecting widespread community support for this essential project reflecting 86% of the $2 million goal. In fact, 78% of the campaign cabinet volunteers, including the Regional Board of Trustees for Ivy Tech Northwest, have made commitments to the campaign and have committed to bringing this project to successful completion