With the Presidents of Indiana University and Ivy Tech recently signing of a state-wide articulation agreement in elementary education, Indiana University East and Ivy Tech Community College in Richmond have further solidified a relationship that will allow greater opportunities for education students to become teachers.

“This collaborative effort provides an excellent opportunity for students to receive a quality education while staying close to home,” said Marilyn Watkins, dean of the School of Education. “Ivy Tech and IU East education faculty are working closely to ensure a smooth transition between campuses for students.”

On Tuesday, February 10 IU President Michael A. McRobbie and Ivy Tech President Thomas J. Snyder announced a new partnership between the two institutions providing greater educational opportunities to Indiana residents and making system-wide articulation possible.

Ivy Tech Richmond and IU East have been putting the articulation into practice since the fall 2008. The agreement between the two Richmond institutions has provided a framework for students at Ivy Tech, who have completed an Associate of Science in Education, to continue their formal education at the Indiana University School East School of Education toward a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Upon successful completion of the degree and meeting the state licensure requirements, the student will be recommended for an Initial Indiana Practitioner License for Elementary/Intermediate (grades K-6) with Dual Certification, mild intervention.

The articulation agreement for the education program followed collaboration on a new partnership between IU East and Ivy Tech in March 2008.  The two institutions signed a statement of mutual purpose and declared their commitment to work together to provide efficient and affordable academic programs for east central Indiana and west central Ohio. According to the agreement, Ivy Tech is primarily responsible for the delivery of college preparatory, workforce certification, associate degree and transfer programming. IU East will concentrate its efforts on providing students with four-year bachelor’s and master’s degree programming. The statement was signed by James L. Steck, chancellor and vice provost of Ivy Tech Community College Richmond, and IU East Interim Chancellor Nasser Paydar.

Larry Richards, IU East Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs said, “With this agreement for Elementary Education, IU East has articulated every Ivy Tech associate degree possible with bachelor’s degrees at IU East, and is constantly in the process of updating all its agreements to reflect curricular revisions in the programs of the two institutions. Both institutions are dedicated to ensuring that students have as many possible routes to college degrees as possible, and that students who choose to earn an associate degree first have a clear pathway to continuing their education toward a bachelor’s degree at IU East. The availability of options for students is the goal, and the collaboration of Indiana University and Ivy Tech on the shared Richmond campus is making higher education possible for an increasing number of our citizens.”