The East Chicago De La Garza campus of Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana recently celebrated the introduction of a new program that will allow high school students to earn a Career Development Certificate in Manufacturing and Industrial Technology. Ivy Tech, in partnership with the School City of East Chicago and East Chicago Central High School, through Ivy Tech’s Tech Prep program, will offer high school students the opportunity to complete as much as 24 college credit hours and earn a Career Development Certificate that will be fully transferable to a Technical Certificate or Associate Degree in Manufacturing and Industrial Technology at Ivy Tech.

All Tech Prep classes will be taught by Ivy Tech staff and classes will be made up with only tech prep students.

Upon successful completion of the program, students have been guaranteed interviews by the following participating employers: Mittal Steel, NIPSCO, BP Amoco, Safety Kleen, Union Tank and Praxair. Tuition expenses will be covered by School City of East Chicago.

Louis Gonzalez, Executive Dean of the De La Garza Campus says the CDC evolved from the tech prep program that has been in existence for the past four years. “Through this program, students will be given a greater opportunity to attain higher education, and achieve their life-long goals”.

In order to qualify for the program, students must first complete high school Algebra, Geometry, English, Science and pass the ISTEP exam.