Ivy Tech and WGU Indiana

by Kathy Foust

Almost everyone who knows me knows that I got my AS from Ivy Tech. I've promoted Ivy Tech from the beginning because I had a good experience there, though the quality of that experience got lower with every semester.

When I compare WGU Indiana with Ivy Tech, there really isn't anything good to say about Ivy Tech other than the fact that they have partnered with WGU Indiana to offer a scholarship for students transferring from Ivy Tech to WGU Indiana. Other than that, there isn't anything to recommend.

I got a call the week before Christmas from someone who was concerned about getting their books and so on for their classes at Ivy Tech that were scheduled to start Jan. 13. The call was concerning the fact that their financial aid had yet to be processed and they wanted to know if I would check out their account to make sure everything was in order on their end. Why me? Because this person was going into their first semester and really didn't know how to navigate the site.

So, I checked around and everything seemed to be in order, though the financial aid hadn't been processed. I thought I would call the school and see if they had begun to process financial aid yet, making a general inquiry rather than one specific to this student so I wasn't asking to violate any privacy laws.

Ivy Tech had a message on their phone that the office was busy and they would not be answering the phones until January 10. Mind you, this is the week before Christmas break and classes start Jan. 13.

After Christmas break, the student and I both called the school, only to get the message that financial aid wouldn't be answering their phones that week.

Eventually, after the semester started and about 50 failed phone calls later, the student was told that they didn't have his FAFSA, though he had put their school code in it. And since the semester had already started, he can't enroll.

Ivy Tech has grown 8 times in size since I started. That's 8 times the amount of students it had when I started. That means they've surely hired more staff...doesn't it? No, apparently not.

After speaking to a woman who works at Ivy Tech, who I have respect for not to name, I found out that the school has added.....0 members to handle the growing student population. Ivy Tech FAIL!

After dealing with the consistent assistance at WGU Indiana, I can't say that I could in good conscience ever again recommend Ivy Tech. Before WGU Indiana, I didn't even know that university staff could be that helpful or responsive. There is always someone there ready to assist me with any questions I have.

When I expressed concern about not having enough funds to finish my degree, they went out of their way to help me find the funds.

When I got frustrated with a test I was struggling with, they simply gave me more study aids and words of encouragement.

WGU Indiana doesn't offer and associate degree, but they do offer a bachelor and Master degree. If I were to start over today, I wouldn't bother with Ivy Tech. I'd just go straight to WGU Indiana because these days an AS doesn't hold much water so you pretty much HAVE to go for more than that and you may as well start out on the right foot with people who use the tools they have to help you along the way.