INDIANAPOLIS — City officials and Ivy Tech Community College Chancellor of Central Indiana Dr. Kathleen Lee, IUPUI Associate Vice Chancellor Boyd Bradshaw, and EmployIndy Chief Operations Officer Marie Mackintosh recently announced expanded postsecondary education programming made possible through federal CARES Act spending.
The appropriation included $327,500 for Indy Achieves completion grants, which cover debt, unpaid bursar bills, and other substantial debts preventing IUPUI and Ivy Tech students from continuing their postsecondary education. Students are able to use these newly allocated funds and return for the Fall 2020 term. While the deadline for IUPUI has passed, Marion County residents who want to return and complete their postsecondary degree or credential at Ivy Tech can still request a Reconnect Completion Grant by going to indyachieves.org/completion-grants.
The appropriation also included $1.1 million in additional funding towards Rapid Reskilling Grants to be distributed by EmployIndy to seven local adult education providers. The funds can be used for expenses related to e-learning and short-term postsecondary certifications that lead to better job opportunities. The City had previously allocated $1.5 million towards the program in the June 8 CARES Act package in order to increase the opportunities available to adult students seeking their high school equivalency, high school diploma, or postsecondary certifications. Local partners include Washington Township, Wayne Township, Warren Township, Goodwill Excel Centers, Marian University, Indy Reads, and the YMCA.
The City-County Council passed the second package of federal CARES Act funding on August 10, adding $16 million in public health, social service, technological, and economic recovery investments on top of the $76 million allocation passed on June 8.