WELCOME TO NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION!

1. WELCOME TO NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION! Today, we’re providing tools to help you have a successful start at Ivy Tech. Your success…is up to you!

2. Ivy Tech History • Indiana Vocational Technical College (Ivy Tech) was founded in 1963 • The Northwest Region was established in 1968, and now has over 10,000 students • The college became Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana in 2005 • Ivy Tech is regionally accredited, which means your credits will transfer both in and out of state • Ivy Tech Community College currently serves over 150,000 students throughout all of our locations

3. Ivy Tech Northwest • 4 easily accessible campuses East Chicago 410 E. Columbus Dr. East Chicago, IN 219-392-3600 Gary 1440 E. 35th Ave. Gary, IN 219-981-1111 Michigan City 3714 Franklin Michigan City, IN 219-879-9137 Valparaiso 3100 Ivy Tech Dr. Valparaiso, IN 219-464-8514

4. Steps to Success… First Day of Class Bookstore Pay Tuition & Fees Registration Academic Advising Assessment Financial Aid (if applicable) Orientation Admissions

5. Successful Students… Set Goals And Chart a Path to Achieve them

6. Your career path Ivy Tech offers two main options for students • Technical Certificates (30-36 credit hours) • Associate Degrees (60-75 credits) • Associate of Applied Science • Associate of Science • Associate of Arts

7. What is MY Path to Success? Degree Structure General Education Courses Bachelor’s Degree Transfer + AS/AA Program Courses Associate’s Degree Career AAS AS/AA

8. Q: Are you unsure of your goal? A: Career Services!

9. Career Services Three reasons to connect with Career Services Early On: • Following career goals prepares students for successful careers • Finding a major that fits can help students stay focused in school, which can lead to better grades 3. Sticking to a plan will prevent students from spending money on extra classes and make it easier to graduate on time

10. Career Exploration and Advising Services • Career assessments: Discover matches personalities, interests, skills, and values with careers • One-to-one personalized career advising to help with career planning and decision making

11. Career Exploration and Advising Services WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH YOUR MAJOR? Find out by logging onto Campus Connect.

12. Career Services Job Preparation Services • Learn how to write resume and cover letters • Sign up for JobZone, an online job and internship board • exclusive to Ivy Tech students and Alumni • Apply for internships, volunteer, or join student organizations to gain career • experience • Online mock interviewing to practice before the real interview • Job fairs to connect students and employers

13. Make a Plan Once you’ve chosen your degree, use an Academic Advising sheet to plan your upcoming semesters These sheets can be obtained from an advisor, or online at www.ivytech.edu/academics

14. Who is my advisor? Please see the handout for a list of your advisors

15. Successful Students… Understand Their Responsibilities

16. Even Successful Students Hit Roadblocks • Discuss issues with Instructors • Always keep in contact with your instructor with any concerns, questions or issues you have • Dropping or withdrawing from classes • To officially withdraw from a class, you need to fill out a Change of Enrollment form in Student Affairs. DO NOT simply stop going to class

17. Even Successful Students Hit Roadblocks • See Financial Aid before removing yourself from a class • Always check to make sure your aid will not be affected • Deadlines for withdrawing and dropping are posted on Campus Connect, and included in the handouts you received today

18. Your Information Privacy Policy Ivy Tech will not share any information about your student records or financial aid with anyone without your written consent (even spouses and parents). Please see Student Affairs with questions about how to obtain the form.

19. Paying for Classes Financial Aid Financial aid is money that is given or loaned to you to help pay for your college education. In order to qualify, you must file a FAFSA. www.fafsa.ed.gov

20. Paying for Classes Financial Aid To be considered for Indiana State grants, your FAFSA must be on file by March 10th each year There is no deadline for Federal grants

21. Paying for Classes Financial Aid If you plan to use Financial Aid for the Fall semester, you must have filed a FAFSA by August 1st. Students who file a FAFSA after August 1st will need to use Nelnet or make other payment arrangements.

22. 3 Types of Financial Aid • Grants & Scholarships - are given as awards and do not require repayment. • Loans - are borrowed from the federal government. You are required to repay the loan amount, fees, and interest. • Work-Study Employment – is a job at a college where you can earn a paycheck to help pay for your tuition and fees. See the Financial Aid office to apply.

23. Protect Your Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress • 2.0 Cumulative GPA • 67% Completion Rate of Classes • Failing & Withdrawing both count against completion rate

24. Protect Your Financial Aid Plan Ahead • Apply early for Financial Aid every year • Paperwork and documents need time to process • Refund periods • Understand limits of aid • Max amount of money you can get in a year, lifetime maximums • Attend classes!!!!

25. Getting Your Refund Ivy Tech Debit Card Verify that your address is correct on Campus Connect Follow the directions with the card to make a selection on www.ivytechdebitcard.com: 1. Either authorize the card for refunds 2. Or, elect to have refunds deposited into your personal checking account

26. Getting Your Refund If you choose to have your refund put on the card, do not use it until the refund has been loaded onto your card. Check Campus Connect for this date (several weeks into the semester). See the Business office at your campus if you have questions

27. Paying for Classes All students who are enrolled in Fall classes must have their payment arrangements made (Financial Aid or Payment Plan) by August 13th or you will be dropped from classes.

28. Payment Plans Nelnet Business Solutions (NBS) • Enroll online for a monthly payment plan • Automatic withdrawal from bank account, credit or debit card • Fees • $25 enrollment fee per semester • $25 late payment fee • Enroll using Campus Connect • See the Business Office if you have questions

29. Successful Students … Use Campus Resources

30. Successful Students … Use Campus Resources Your Ivy Tech email is your PRIMARY form of contact for all college business. Instructors will use it as the main way of contacting you with class notes.

31. Student Life • There are many clubs and organizations active at each of our campuses • Your campus has a Student Life Coordinator who can help you get involved or even begin a club yourself • Our SGAs and  many of our student organizations host group pages on Campus Connect that you can join. See your Student Life Coordinator if you need assistance in finding and joining these pages

32. Student Life • Student Life and the SGAs provide a number of regional and campus activities and field trips throughout the year. Ivy Tech Student pay a reduced cost for these activities. For the latest list of upcoming events, please see your Student Life Coordinator, or visit Campus Connect and Facebook • www.facebook.com/ivytechnw

33. Student Life • Before getting involved with Student Life, make sure your schedule is manageable. • Some of the opportunities for leadership roles: Student Government Association: SGA provides students with the opportunity to take part in student governance and represent the student body in key leadership positions. Student Leadership Academy: This year-long program engages students in discussions and activities involving Leadership of Self, Team, Organization, and Community.

34. Library Services • The Region has a Virtual Library accessible via Campus Connect, as well as physical locations at each campus. • Library services include: Creation of student IDs, A/V Equipment, Ask-A-Librarian Service, and many more

35. Tutoring Centers • Tutoring services are available FREE to students in the area of English, math and some sciences • Please inquire at your campus about where and how to sign up

36. Ivy Tech Alert This message alert system delivers text messages to your cell phone if you carry this service with your cell phone carrier.  To activate this service immediately, please visit the following link and complete the Easy Sign Up! directions.  Please make sure you choose your main campus in the section “Optional Group.” http://www.ivytech.edu/alert

37. Where Should You Go for Help? • Academic Advising • Faculty Advising • Financial Aid office • Registrar • Business Office • Disability Support Services • Career Services

38. Academic Advising Student Affairs Advisors < 16 credit hours Faculty Advisors 16+ credit hours Achieving your educational goal Student Affairs advisors work with entering students as they navigate their first year at Ivy Tech. Once students are taking courses specific to their major, they are referred to a faculty advisor to see them through to graduation.

39. Disability Support Services • This department provides accommodations and support for college coursework for students with a documented disability (documentation must be from a professional who is licensed to diagnose) • Forms are available at your campus Student Affairs Office

40. Disability Support Services • Students need to fill out Accommodation Request Forms each semester they are requesting the accommodation • If you have more specific questions, make an appointment with Disability Support Services at your campus

41. Pop Quiz! What department(s) should you visit… • If you want to change your major? • If you want to change your schedule? • If you want some advice on planning your last two semesters before graduation? • If you want to withdraw from a class? • If you’re confused about the Ivy Tech Debit card? • If you discovered on Campus Connect that you were selected for Financial Aid verification?

42. Successful Students… Create realistic schedules

43. Three Steps to Scheduling Classes 1. Decide how many classes to take 2. Determine which classes to take based on your assessment scores 3. See an advisor to register for classes

44. How much time should you plan to spend each week studying? Part-time Full-time

45. Choose the Best Class Format for You • Traditional 16-week courses • Accelerated 12 or 8 week courses • Online – Distance Education courses

46. Choose the Right Location for You • General education courses may be taken at any campus. You may need to attend classes at another campus to complete your program.

47. COMPASS Assessment • Our initial assessment designed to identify your basic skill levels in math, reading and language usage • It is an untimed computer based assessment. The length will depend on each student’s ability. • Results will determine your potential need for skill advancement courses, or if you are ready for college level courses

48. COMPASS Assessment • You may be eligible for a waiver for part or the entire assessment • If you have previous college credits, or recent SAT or ACT scores, please see Student Affairs to see if you qualify for a waiver

49. Developmental/ASA Courses • These courses are designed to help you refresh or develop fundamental skills in English, math and other areas. • They also can help ease the transition from high school or the workforce to a college environment

50. English Course Sequence Pre-College Level College Level ENGL 031 COMPASS Reading 44-65 ENGL 032 COMPASS Reading 66-79 ENGL 111 COMPASS Writing 70+ ENGL 024 COMPASS Writing 23-51 ENGL 025 COMPASS Writing 52-69 Must also be college-level in Reading and Writing to register for this course! STOP