Fort Wayne schools introduce degree pathway

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Purdue University Fort Wayne and Ivy Tech Fort Wayne have worked together to establish the Titan to Mastodon Connection, a new dual-enrollment program. The collaboration allows students who may be denied full-time admission to Purdue Fort Wayne based on high school academic achievement.

The new program allows high school graduates with a GPA of 2.0 to 2.299 to take general education classes at both schools to achieve an associate degree. Earned credits would also be fully transferable to be applied to a bachelor’s degree at Purdue Fort Wayne. Students applying for the first time for fall 2020 semester classes will be eligible for the program, with the students being directly referred to Ivy Tech, and upon completion of the program, would be guaranteed admittance to Purdue Fort Wayne.

“Some students who greatly desire a Purdue degree and the high level of achievement it represents need our help finding a more appropriate pathway to success than what has traditionally been available,” said Ronald L. Elsenbaumer, chancellor of Purdue Fort Wayne. “This innovative collaboration between Purdue Fort Wayne and Ivy Tech Fort Wayne leverages the strength and quality of each institution to support students who will benefit from a more effective introduction to higher education.”

Over 125 students who have applied for fall classes at Purdue Fort Wayne would qualify in the new program, which administrators feel will increase. 

“Our goal for this program is to provide an opportunity for students to take advantage of the academic support services of both universities while providing a more economical entry point to postsecondary education,” said Carl N. Drummond, vice chancellor for academic affairs and enrollment management at Purdue Fort Wayne.