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Ivy Tech offers free tuition to volunteer firefighters

INDIANAPOLIS (Inside INdiana Business) – Volunteer first responders across Indiana can now earn a tuition-free, two-year associates degree. Ivy Tech has committed to providing $250,000 over two years to pay for tuition and fees for volunteer first responders to attend academic programs, with the exception of Flight Aviation and General Studies.

The Indiana Volunteer Firefighters Association and Ivy Tech are partnering to provide the opportunity to degree-seeking individuals in good standing with the volunteer fire department. 

The program aims to help recruit and retain volunteer firefighters to address the shortage of first responders, especially in Indiana’s rural areas. 

“It’s just the right thing to do,” said Ivy Tech Community College President, Sue Ellspermann. “We hope that piloting the scholarship program will give other potential funders the information and inspiration to continue to fund a statewide program beyond these next two years.”