Ivy Tech Community College has been ranked the top community college in the United States for institutions with students taking at least one distance education course, according to Digital Learning Compass’ 2017 Distance Education Enrollment Report. The report reviews distance education trends and patterns among degree-granting higher education institutions in the United States. The College ranked No. 13 overall of the country’s top 50 institutions.
“Distance education is a part of the fabric of Ivy Tech,” said Vice President of Academic Innovation and Support Kara Monroe. “Unlike other institutions, which often force students to choose between online and on ground classes, at Ivy Tech students can enjoy the convenience of online classes with the added support of on ground educational resources giving them the best of both worlds. Distance education at Ivy Tech allows Indiana residents the ability to complete their educational goals more quickly.”
Digital Learning Compass defines distance education as “education that uses one of more technologies to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the instructor and to support regular substantive interaction between the students and instructor synchronously or asynchronously.”
Overall, distance learning continues to see growth across the country with a growth rate of 3.9 percent from 2015 to 2016. Digital Learning Compass explains this is higher than the past two years.
Ivy Tech offers over 1,000 online courses statewide for over 15 programs to help students earn their degree or credential at their own pace. For the spring 2017 semester, of the College’s 121,268 registered students, 36,621 were taking at least one distance education course.
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Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.