WARSAW — The local Ivy Tech campus is undergoing a name change and will offer a new approach to getting an associate's degree.

Tony Booker, director of community engagements at Ivy Tech, says the rebranding — from Ivy Tech Warsaw to Ivy Tech Kosciusko County — is rather simple yet important.

"It reflects who we are and who we serve. We want to make sure we are presenting ourselves as a community college that reflects the entire community," Booker said during a taping of In The Know, the public affairs show you can hear this weekend on Kensington Digital Media radio stations.

Less than 40 percent of the campus enrollment comes from within Warsaw, he said.

"We're bringing students from Pierceton, Syracuse, Mentone — all over the place," Booker said.

Booker explained the change during a taping of In The Know, the public affairs show you can hear on Kensington Digital Media radio stations.

Booker said the idea of the change came from Kosciusko County leaders who said it would help attract students from outside the area including outside of the county.

"We want to make sure we position ourselves to be inclusive to the entire Kosciusko County community," Booker said.

Use of the name will begin shortly, marking the start of a six-month marketing campaign.

The campus is also offering a new approach to a two-year degree that's not yet available on other campuses.

It's called the "Degree-in-a-Year" and is intended for students interested in a business administration associate's degree.

Business Instructor Charles Neuwirth said the program will begin in August.

"It's designed for the motivated students. We're targeting those high school seniors that are used to attending class five days a week," Neuwirth said.

Neuwirth said classes will meet four days a week and that there is an expectation that students participate on campus.

"Being an associate of science degree, this is a fully transferable degree. So in one year, in three semesters — fall, spring and summer — you can complete your associate's degree and you can transfer to one of the public schools as a junior," Neuwirth said.

To learn more about the program, email Neuwirth at cneuwirth@ivytech.edu.

Booker and Neuwirth also discussed how the campus has rebounded since the pandemic and how many students study remotely.

Enrollment has increased since the pandemic and the campus has seen a three-percent increase in the past academic year.

They also discussed serving the orthopedic industry as well as the elimination of some positions dedicated to DEI — diversity, equity and inclusion.

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In The Know can be heard at the following times:

News Now Warsaw (99.7 FM and 1480 AM):

Fridays at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Saturdays at 7 a.m. 

Sundays at 7 a.m. & 2 p.m.

WRSW (107.3):

Sundays at 6 a.m.

Willie (103.5 FM):

Sundays at 6 a.m.

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