08/19/13 High school students in Plymouth and surrounding high schools will soon have a higher education option. Ivy Tech Community College will offer dual credit precision tool manufacturing training courses to Plymouth High School students this fall. The courses will be offered at a Plymouth Community School Corporation facility and be taught by an Ivy Tech instructor.
According to Ivy Tech North Central Chancellor Thomas Coley, “Ivy Tech’s role in training a skilled workforce is vitally important to the economic stability of our region. Manufacturers in the Marshall County area communicated to both Ivy Tech and the Plymouth Community School Corporation the desire to partner with us to provide training opportunities to high school students that will lead to jobs immediately after graduation. Dual credit students are also more likely to continue their post-high school college experience.”
According to Plymouth Community School Corporation Superintendent Daniel Tyree, “Marshall County Industrial Corporation Association has been working on this for over a year now. We are excited to finally seeing the course offering come to fruition. Not only will high school students be able to earn a valuable skill and get college credit for their work, we will be helping our existing manufacturing firms fill much-needed jobs.
The dual credit partnership has some unique aspects. One is that students who participate in the North Central Area Vocational Cooperative will also receive dual credit.
Another unique aspect of this particular dual credit program is the partnership with ITAMCO. The company has donated $100,000 worth of equipment in addition to technical assistance for the program.
Mark Neidig II, purchasing manager at ITAMCO said, “ITAMCO feels strongly about the need to maintain a vibrant domestic manufacturing base that is not just competitive globally, but leads the way. Unfortunately, America’s position as the global manufacturing leader is threatened due to a technical skills gap between high school curriculua and the needs of a high-tech manufacturing environment. Part of maintaining this leadership position is combating the skills gap by being an active participant in the development of our local workforce. It is critical that high school students have solid and relevant technical skills upon graduation so they are ready for the workforce on day one. The program at PHS is a first step towards reversing the skills gap and making our students more successful in the global economy.”
Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system serving nearly 200,000 students annually. Ivy Tech has 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. Ivy Tech is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association.
