Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington was awarded a Perkins Competitive Grant from the Indiana Department of Education in the fall of 2016 to increase rural career and technical education pathways in biotechnology. The $85,000 grant is being used to establish dual credit biotechnology courses through Ivy Tech. Starting in the spring 2017 semester at Brown County, Owen Valley, Eastern Greene and Bloomfield high schools, students have the opportunity to earn dual high school and college credit at no cost to them.

The biotechnology courses are currently taught by an Ivy Tech instructor and the grant will also provide training for high school science teachers to gain credentials to teach the coursework beginning in the 2017-18 school year. An additional $15,000 was provided to Ivy Tech Bloomington by Cook Pharmica to help launch and sustain the program for years to come by providing funding for textbooks that can be reused by the participating high schools.

“We have a mission at Ivy Tech Bloomington to help fill the local industry skills gap, and one way we do that is through partnerships like this with Cook Pharmica,” said Jennie Vaughan, chancellor, Ivy Tech Bloomington. “With the help of this grant, high school students can take dual credit classes in biotechnology, developing a clear pathway toward employment in the life sciences, an industry that’s thriving in our region.”

Tedd Green, president, Cook Pharmica, said, “We appreciate the work Ivy Tech does to help students in the local community develop the skills they need to enter the workforce upon graduating high school. This program is a true community partnership that supports the education of our local youth and the workforce development needs of the growing life sciences industry in South Central Indiana. We are pleased to be a partner in this program.”