Sue Ellspermann

INDIANAPOLIS — WGU Indiana has tapped Ivy Tech Community College President Sue Ellspermann as the newest member of the university’s advisory board. The board, composed of community leaders and officials from across the state, is called upon for advice and expertise as it relates to the changing educational environment in Indiana.

“Ivy Tech and WGU Indiana share a mission to help Hoosiers achieve their goal of a college education,” said Ellspermann. “I look forward to working closely with the rest of the board and Chancellor Barber to advise on ways to best serve current and future students.”

WGU Indiana, the state’s nonprofit online university, and Ivy Tech, the largest statewide community college system in the United States, have a partnership that provides Ivy Tech graduates transferring to WGU a 5 percent tuition discount for four academic terms. Students who graduate from Ivy Tech can enroll as WGU students to pursue bachelor or master’s degrees. More than 924 Ivy Tech graduates have transferred to WGU Indiana to obtain their bachelor’s degrees.

“We are fortunate to have a wonderful partnership with Ivy Tech and I am honored to have Sue join my advisory board,’ said Barber. “I am confident, that together, we will continue to pursue new opportunities for student success.”

Ellspermann has agreed to a two-year term on the board. Currently there are eight other members on the WGU Indiana Advisory Board, including:

• Kathy Davis, Owner, Davis Design Group and former Lt Governor of the State of Indiana
• Ron Stiver, President, Clinical Services, IU Health
• Dr. Vince Bertram, CEO, Project Lead the Way
• Linda Burskirk, Owner, Accountable Solutions
• Jamie Merisotis, President, Lumina Foundation for Education
• Gerry Dick, President, Grow Indiana Media Ventures
• Dr. Carolyn Konfirst, Patient Safety and Quality Advisory, Indiana Hospital Association
• Mike Langellier, President and CEO, TechPoint

Recently, WGU Indiana joined Ivy Tech, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and other educational institutions to communicate with displaced ITT Tech students. Together, leadership urged students affected by the closure to take a thoughtful approach to making a decision about continuing their education. Specifically, WGU Indiana will use its competency-based model to help displaced ITT students complete their degrees. And, to ease the financial burden of the transition, WGU Indiana is waiving the university’s $65 application fee and first-term resource fee of $145. Students can learn more about their opportunities at WGU Indiana, including a special scholarship program for ITT Tech students, by calling (887) 214-7014 (Mo Latu, Ext. 5838 or Kris Jackson, Ext. 6476) or visiting online.

Ivy Tech is also hosting an event for former ITT Technical Institute students, with WGU Indiana and other educational institutions to discuss possible next steps with these students. Former ITT employees are also invited to attend to explore employment opportunities. The event will be 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Ivy Tech Community College Illinois Fall Creek Center, located at 2535 N. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis. Financial advisors, veterans’ services, EmployIndy and human resources from Ivy Tech and other institutions will also be present to assist former ITT employees seeking career opportunities.