By Dr. Jeff Bird—
MUNCIE, IN—Ivy Tech Community College plays a vital role in Indiana, offering a wide range of secondary education options for Indiana residents. Our Muncie regional campus serves Muncie and Delaware county residents as well as those in Jay and Henry counties. The region is led by Chancellor Jeff Scott, and I had the pleasure to sit with Jeff to discuss the important impact of Ivy Tech and his passion for post-secondary education.
Ivy Tech Community College serves 6,500 unique students in the region, offering 41 different academic programs. It has 3 campus locations in Delaware County as well as a location in New Castle and works with the John Jay Center in Portland to serve Jay County. It partners with most K-12 schools in our area as well, and high school students often obtain degrees from Ivy Tech prior to their high school graduation. The healthcare programs in nursing, surgical technology, and ultrasound are flourishing. Ivy Tech also serves as the educational partner of the Muncie Manufacturing Alliance, training our workforce for today’s advanced manufacturing jobs. Ivy Tech’s criminal justice program is also very popular.
Ivy Tech supports its students with wrap-around services to include financial assistance, mental health support, and has a program to work with veterans having received the Collegiate Purple Star designation. Many students can obtain an associate’s degree with little to no debt.
Our regional campus for Ivy Tech has been recognized for outstanding performance by the State of Indiana, leading all Indiana campuses in converting enrollment into credentials. It has invested in its physical campus, completing a $43.5 million dollar campus revitalization, driving economic growth especially for downtown Muncie. Local enrollment is up almost 20% over the last 5 years, with the highest ever retention and completion rates.
Photo provided by Ivy Tech Community College, Muncie Campus.
Jeff Scott grew up in Grant County, attending Marion schools and eventually graduated from Mississinewa High School. He then attended and graduated from Ball State University with a degree in Criminal Justice and Political Science. He started his career in criminal justice in Grant County in several different roles and eventually went back to school to pursue a master’s degree in social work. He began his journey with Ivy Tech as adjunct faculty in 2004, assuming the role as Program Chair and soon thereafter became the Dean of the School of Public and Social Services and Education. He was named Chancellor in 2017 and has been leading Ivy Tech since that time.
Scott is also very invested in Muncie, serving on Next Muncie and was the recent Chair of the Board of Directors of the Muncie and Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. He has great passion for improving Muncie and Delaware County and our region, focusing on education and ending the cycle of poverty. Jeff said, “It is both an honor and a privilege to serve as Chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College Muncie, where every day I witness the transformative power of accessible education. Ivy Tech is far more than a college, it is a vital engine of opportunity that strengthens our community, empowers our neighbors and builds brighter futures for all who seek them.”
Ivy Tech Community College certainly is a vital cog in Muncie’s growth. It plays an important role in offering opportunities to our citizens to better themselves and drive economic growth and independence.
