Ivy Tech expands partnership with Martin University
INDIANAPOLIS (Inside INdiana Business — Ivy Tech Community College is expanding a partnership that began last year with Martin University in Indianapolis to address the advancement of minority students overcoming racial gaps. The schools will share Ivy Tech Vice President of Academic Quality and Assessment Dr. Marcus Kolb as an Executive on Loan.
“With Martin University and Ivy Tech sharing so many common goals, and working to serve many of the same kinds of students, I am honored to be asked to continue to contribute to the growing partnership and help chart a path for the next set of initiatives and innovations,” said Kolb.
Ivy Tech says the program was launched in December 2020 and focuses on helping students meet educational goals and helps employers hire a more diverse workforce.
Both schools say the program will specifically focus on information technology. Martin University is planning to create a new Cyber Entrepreneurship program aimed to increase access to the IT field for minority groups. Ivy Tech says the new program will be intertwined with its NSA-certified Cybersecurity associate degree. Ivy Tech students who complete the cybersecurity degree are guaranteed admittance into the Martin program.
Martin’s Center for Racial Equity and Inclusion also plans to offer Ivy Tech access to training for staff, faculty and students through lectures, seminars and consulting engagements.
“Ivy Tech is excited about our full and robust partnership with Martin University. Dr. Marcus Kolb, who has been engaged with this partnership since inception, will provide the cross-institutional leadership to ensure we achieve the educational and career equity outcomes this partnership promises,” said Dr. Sue Ellspermann, President of Ivy Tech.
The two schools say they will also work to increase the pipeline of teachers of color by offering guaranteed admission into the Martin University School of Education, along with scholarship opportunities to Ivy Tech students completing elementary and secondary education degrees.