The Biden Administration has strived to create more good paying jobs in our communities and believes that education is the important first step in connecting people with opportunities. On Monday, March 6 First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visited Ivy Tech Community College’s Valparaiso Campus to commend Ivy Tech on its success in readying students for the good-paying jobs they deserve and to reaffirm the Biden Administration’s commitment to supporting career-connected learning.
At the event, several students shared their stories with Dr. Biden and explained how community college has positively impacted their lives. Some of the students were high-schoolers working hard to get ahead on their college credits while others were older adults looking to start a different career. An Ivy Tech alumni even came to share how community college helped her land the job of her dreams at NIPSCO. It was a great opportunity for Dr. Biden to see firsthand how impactful Ivy Tech has been on the community.
“Bridging the gap for the next generation of jobs is incredibly important, and we’re doing that here in Northwest Indiana. It’s so exciting to have the administration and the first lady here for us to show off the know-how and grit of our workforce and the educational component that has fueled that,” said Congressman Frank Mrvan.
Members of the Biden Administration couldn’t praise Ivy Tech enough for all the work it's done for the community. They explained how out of all the institutions in America, community colleges like Ivy Tech have been the leaders in improving people’s quality of life.
“If you look at institutions around our country that are having a real world impact on people’s lives, the magnitude of lives being changed at Ivy Tech Community College and other community college campuses throughout the state is just truly impressive. So, thank you to everyone who has helped these people build their careers. Thank you all for working at a community college,” said Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk.
Dr. Biden emphasized how important it is for more institutions to look to Ivy Tech as an example and follow in its footsteps.
“Programs like this one bridge the gap between what students learn and the careers they can find, and we need more communities to follow Ivy Tech’s lead because when they do, all students, no matter what their backgrounds are, will have the chance to follow their passions and find a pathway to a great job,” said Biden.
Speaking of following in Ivy Tech’s footsteps, Deputy Secretary of Labor Julie A. Sue explained how the Biden Administration has already been working hard to encourage institutions to provide more career-connecting opportunities. In the last six months alone, the Biden Administration has devoted over $100 million dollars to community college investments throughout the United States.
The Biden Administration wants everyone to understand how critical community college is in connecting people with the jobs and opportunities the administration has set out to provide.
“These pathways are every bit as important as the physical roads and bridges that we are building. These roads and bridges connect people to the good jobs they want and need and employers to the people they want and need. Community colleges are the on-ramps to that entire system,” said Sue.
The day was ultimately a celebration of community college and an excellent opportunity to highlight its importance in our communities. Ivy Tech works hard to set up its students for success, and the Biden Administration’s acknowledgement of this work will only encourage Ivy Tech to achieve even more wonderful things moving forward.
“Thank you for uplifting community colleges, recognizing the workforce engine that we are, and educating people about the path we provide to get people to the middle class. We are so grateful,” said Dr. Sue Ellspermann, president of Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana.
To learn more about Ivy Tech Community College, visit https://www.ivytech.edu/.