Partnering with the Community College of Indiana to advance student success

Purdue University Calumet's strategic plan for advancing student success demands that we improve our retention and six-year graduation rates. To that end and as previously reported, we have implemented various support services and strategies to help students maximize their academic potential.

Beginning next fall, we plan to expand our strategic efforts by introducing restructured admission standards. Until recently, the absence of an Indiana community college system required regional universities such as ours to accommodate the needs of virtually all students regardless of their level of preparation.

However, with the successful emergence of the Community College of Indiana system, led by Ivy Tech State College, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education has asked regional universities to refocus their role and partner with Ivy Tech and the Community College of Indiana system to advance two distinct goals:

• Regional universities-to take appropriate steps to produce more baccalaureate-degreed Indiana residents.
• The Community College of Indiana / Ivy Tech-to provide remediation to equip under-prepared students with a foundation of skills and knowledge necessary to earn a two-year degree and matriculate into a baccalaureate degree program.

In response, Purdue Calumet, next fall, will raise its admission standards to attract the increasing number of students prepared to earn a Purdue baccalaureate degree. Additionally, we will provide a path to under-prepared students by partnering with Ivy Tech to offer the Achievement Academy.

In short, fully qualified students who satisfy Purdue Calumet's new admission standards will be admitted to the academic degree program of their choice. Students who do not yet satisfy Purdue Calumet admission standards will be admitted to our Academic Achievement Academy. Through the Academy, students will enroll on our campus in a prescribed curriculum that combines needed remediation taught by Ivy Tech faculty with student success-related instruction taught by Purdue Calumet faculty.

Satisfactory completion of this one- or two-year program will provide students the skills and knowledge necessary to progress into a Purdue Calumet degree-granting school of study.

Purdue Calumet and Ivy Tech are partnering to provide real choices that enable northwest Indiana students to succeed to graduation.

Sincerely,

Howard Cohen
Chancellor