Ivy Tech To See Significant Regional Changes

Ivy Tech Community College announced significant regional changes Tuesday, the largest structural reorganizing in the school’s 50 year history.

Indiana’s largest post-secondary institution will now operate under the direction of 11 regional chancellors, a reduction from the current 14. Ivy Tech’s State Board of Trustees said the change is part of an effort to increase efficiency and focus on the communities they serve.

The change consolidates only administrative functions as the 14 regional boards of trustees will continue to fulfill their functions of community outreach and operational expertise in assistance of the chancellors.

The College first combined regions in April of 2013 when Chancellor Thomas G. Coley was named to oversee both his current North Central region in addition to the Northwest region.

Under the new structuring, the East Central region – Anderson, Marion, Muncie and New Castle – will absorb the Richmond region – Richmond and Connersville – under the direction of current East Central Chancellor Andrew Bowne.

The Columbus and Franklin branches will join the Southeast region already composed of Batesville, Lawrenceburg and Madison. An interim chancellor will be named in the coming weeks.

“Our new structure will allow us to best assess existing skill gaps between available jobs and Indiana’s workforce and partner with business and industry to fill those gaps,” Ivy Tech President Thomas J. Snyder said in a statement.

The college also plans to name “Campus Presidents” at 20 sites throughout the state. The title will replace the current Vice Chancellor/Dean position, resulting in no additional staff. Further details on the position – which reports to the regional chancellors and focuses on community outreach – are expected to be released later this month.

“Regional consolidation, along with the recent restructuring of our academic divisions, and soon to be named Campus Presidents, will allow us to expand our outreach efforts and ensure that we are providing what our communities need,” Snyder said.

John Sittler is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

Photo courtesy Ivy Tech Community College via facebook.