Published: July 30, 2008 11:05 pm         

Ivy Tech helping students with rising gas costs

Ivy Tech-Wabash Valley is trying to assist students with the rising costs of gasoline through flexible scheduling options, more online classes and instructional sites closer to home.

Starting this fall, students will be able to schedule their classes in a block format. This will allow students to come to campus just two days a week while still maintaining a full-time course load.

In addition, students interested in attending part time could choose the Friday scheduling option and complete general education classes while driving to campus just one day each week.

“We’re responding to what we’re hearing from students,” said Deanna King, vice chancellor of academic affairs. “With today’s gas prices, it’s more difficult for them to come to campus multiples times during the week. Many of our students come from outlying counties and have to drive in.”

The block scheduling will allow students to complete their classes by coming to campus just two days a week — Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays. “They can take a full load of classes and come just two days a week,” King said.

Depending on the classes or labs, some students might have to come to campus more than two days a week, she said.

While offering online classes is not new to the Wabash Valley region, distance learning options continue to increase each semester. Complete academic programs now available online include: accounting, business administration, computer information systems, design technology, early childhood education, general studies, human services, library technical assistant, office administration and paralegal studies.

Many other courses are available online and in a hybrid format. Hybrid courses involve some time spent on-campus and the rest of the time online.

The Wabash Valley Region also offers courses at eight locations throughout its service area, providing courses close to where students live and work.

These locations include:

• Main Campus, 8000 S. Education Drive, Terre Haute.

• Center for Workforce Development, 1700 East Industrial Drive, Terre Haute.

• Martin Luther King Jr. Center, 1438 S. 13th St., Terre Haute.

• Greencastle Extension Center, 1 N. Calbert Way (Indiana 240 East), Suite B, Greencastle.

• Sullivan County Learning Center, 31 W. Jackson St., Sullivan.

• Parke County Learning Center, 519 N. Lincoln Road (U.S. 41), Rockville.

Classes also are offered at:

• Community Learning Center of Greene County, White River Valley High School, Indiana 54, Switz City.

• LEAAP Center, 501 E. Jackson St., Brazil.

At Indiana State University, some employees this summer took part in a pilot project in which they had a four-day work week option. “It provided employees more flexibility to cut gas consumption,” said Teresa Exline, university spokeswoman.

The employees worked the same number of total hours, but they did it in four days instead of five.

The human resources office will get feedback on how well it worked, and “We’ll determine if there are options we might consider in the future,” Exline said.

The university also will look at potential ways to help students, including commuting students, saving on gasoline costs, she said. “We’re looking at options for both students and employees,” she said.

ISU students already do have flexibility in scheduling so they don’t have to come to campus five days a week, Exline said.