Columbus Indiana Colleges

Scholarships are FREE monies awarded to students for tuition assistance. Many adult education program students think about scholarships but few actually pursue them. At the Harrison College Columbus Indiana college campus we encourage students to look at all types of ways to fund their education—from federal student loans to Indiana scholarships and grants that are based on income to merit-based scholarships.

One of my favorite scholarship sites is www.brokescholar.com. BrokeScholar is a free site that asks questions about you and your educational wants and needs. Based on your answers, BrokeScholar generates many scholarships you may qualify for.

 

Here are a few things to keep in mind if you are thinking of using a lead-generating web site to search for scholarships.
 

• Set up an email that is dedicated for your scholarship search. You will receive many emails with tons of scholarship leads fitting your criteria. Having a dedicated email makes your search more efficient.

• Think about who you are, what you want to do, and what type of college you want to attend when searching for a scholarship. There are scholarships based on ethnicity, career goals, gender, and even the color of your hair. So don’t leave any question unanswered when you are filling out scholarship questionnaires.

• Plan to work your scholarship search like a job. Devote set hours—maybe up to 30 per week—to review the scholarship leads you receive and determine which ones you want to follow through on. Some will require essays and others just an application.

• You should NEVER have to pay an application fee to apply for a scholarship.

• It is NEVER too early to start looking for scholarships.

• You do not have to be at the top of your class or “gifted” in any way to find a scholarship. Many students just like you receive scholarships every day.

So check out BrokeScholar to see what options are available for funding your future. Good luck and happy hunting!

Have you ever been a part of a Strategic Planning Session? You may say no now, but read on and your answer may change by the end of this blog.

This past Friday Harrison College employees from Lafayette and Evansville gathered at the Columbus Indiana college campus to discuss our three year strategic plan. It was a day full of visions for growth and reflection on how we, the Harrison College “family,” have remained successful for over 103 years. It was a good and exciting day. I do admit that when I had to participate in my first strategic planning session with the Columbus Indiana college campus I was a little intimidated by even just the name. What I soon found was that I had been holding my own person strategic planning sessions for years!  In fact, my choice to attend Harrison College (formerly known as Indiana Business College) was all part of a strategic plan I had to make myself more independent, more marketable and a stable provider for my family.

Here is a simple way to hold your own Strategic Planning Session…

Pinpoint the PURPOSE or the REASON—What is it that you want to accomplish? It may be enrolling in an adult education program, career advancement or a plan to improve your health. It doesn’t matter WHAT you want to accomplish—a strategic plan will work for anything!

Set aside some time to devote to creating PLAN—Really think about the purpose and the steps you can take to reach your desired outcome. Write your plan down on paper so you can track your progress along the way. Also, having something written down may aid in providing a feeling of self-accountability.

Set GOALS with outcomes that can be measured—The easier it is to measure your progress the easier it will be to tell if you are on track.

Track your PROGRESS—Your strategic plan is something that will change from time to time as circumstances change. Don’t be too hard on yourself if at times it seems like you are not moving fast enough or in the right direction. When you start to feel that way, simply take a moment to refocus to get back on track.

If obtaining an education is part of your personal strategic plan, contact a Harrison College campus near you or our distance learning college and speak with an admission representative. Our admissions team is trained in helping people pinpoint their career and educational goals.

Did you know that March 18th will be the 14th Annual Absolutely Incredible Kid Day! Absolutely Incredible Kid Day is a held across the nation and was started by the organization Campfire USA.  It is a simple campaign designed to recognize all the incredible children in the world. To participate adults are asked to write a letter of support, love and encouragement. It only takes a few minutes to jot a note that will be remembered and appreciated for a lifetime. The positive impact of these letters on kids is what it’s all about.

Positive reinforcement is important for people of all ages.  Just ask Kathy England. Kathy is the Director of Financial Aid at Harrison College. She runs the Columbus Indiana college financial aid department and ensures that our 200+ local students get the federal funding and Indiana scholarships they qualify to receive.  But this was not what Kathy always did.

Kathy worked for Greensburg Community High School for over six years. Not as a teacher in the classroom, but as a custodian. During that time Kathy always felt encouraged by Keith Hipskind, Dean of Students. With this encouragement, Kathy chose to enroll at Harrison College (formerly Indiana Business College) to pursue a degree in Business Administration. Mr. Hipskind believed in Kathy and would offer her words of praise every time he would find her working on her college homework assignments on her lunch break.  In 2001 Kathy graduated with her degree and began working for Harrison College in the financial aid department.

On a recent visit back to Greensburg Community High School to promote the importance of completing the FAFSA; Kathy had the opportunity to catch up with Mr. Hipskind. Below is an excerpt from an email he sent out to all employees of Greensburg Community High School.

“Kathy continued to work and go to school and completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Management and just completed her Master’s Degree in Management and is currently working on her second Master’s Degree in Human Resources (HR) which she will complete in June of this year.  She also is now teaching college courses and working with students on Financial Aid.

Life is good!!  Keep on keepin’ on with our kids…You never know what you might say and do to inspire someone like Kathy.”

The point I guess I am trying to make is that all of us need positive reinforcement—Young and Old alike! So let someone know you support their efforts to continue to improve themselves by participating in the Absolutely Incredible Kid Day or by letting a student of an adult education program know that you admire their dedication to a better future.

• Twenty-first Century Scholars Program
• Harrison College
• Indiana Scholarships
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Drum roll please! We have made it to the last of the Five Fabulous Questions to Ask a College. And this one is a doozy! Yep, you probably guessed that it has to do with MONEY!

Fabulous Question 5: How do you award scholarships and financial aid?

If you have been reading along thus far, you may have an idea how I am going to answer this question. The answer is…INDIVIDUALLY!

What I mean by this is that EVERY student meets with and consults a Harrison College Financial Aid Analyst not just when they first enroll, but throughout their time as a student. It is important that students understand their funding.

As an Indiana accredited college, Harrison College participates in forms of college tuition assistance. Federal grants, student loans, Indiana scholarships and grants are the ones most people think of when they hear the words financial aid, but there are many types of financial aid. Harrison College also participates in the following scholarship programs:

• Imagine America
• Imagine America Military Award Program
• Charles Cring Adult Learner Award
• President’s Scholarship
• Bailey Family Foundation’s College Scholarship
• CNT Design Scholarship

Students attending a Columbus Indiana college who are seeking a degree in the medical field OR students who have completed their GED may also apply for the One Step at a Time Scholarship in memory of Harrison College faculty member, Carole Bonnell.

It is important to understand two things when it comes to financial aid:

1. There are so many ways to fund your future.
2. Every student is different, so meeting with a financial aid analyst one-on-one is a huge bonus for Harrison College students.

All this talk about financial aid has me thinking about Harrison College's Tuition Freeze program.  Check out more information about the Tuition Feeze Program on our website.

I guess this marks the half way point of our journey through the Five Fabulous Questions to Ask a College. And this one is a good one! I will admit that I hadn’t even thought of this question as a recommendation to students I talk with about finding a college that fits their needs. So here we go…

Fabulous Question 3: How many students transfer to another school during or after their first year?

I am going to answer this one based only on my observation of the Columbus Indiana college campus over the past several years. I don’t have statistics to reference, but I can say that this question comes down to STUDENT RETENTION.

Student retention can be affected by many circumstances. Some examples would include transportation, illness, relocation, persistent bad weather, loss of childcare, and employment changes just to name a few. Of course, Harrison College provides tools for students to help them overcome many of the obsticles that stand in the way of success. Want to know how? Check out this post by a Student Services Coordinator at Harrison College.

The Harrison College Columbus Indiana college campus has been recognized repeatedly over the past several years for maintaining exceptional student retention. We credit this to STUDENT SATISFACTION.

Harrison College conducts quarterly student surveys to ensure continued growth, improvement of service and student satisfaction. So, simply put, very few students leave Harrison College during or after their first quarter!

Want to know more? Contact an admissions representative or simply CLICK to CHAT with a Harrison College representative on the Harrison College website.
 
Don’t forget to check back tomorrow to see the answer to Fabulous Question #4—How would you describe students’ relationships with professors? By now, if you have been following this series, you probably already know, but come back anyway—you never know—I might surprise you!

Today I would like to continue my quest to answer the Five Fabulous Questions to Ask a College. Today I am answering Fabulous Question #2. I don’t know if I would say I have a favorite Fabulous Question, but if I did, it might be this one! Oddly this is the hardest one to put down in words—but I am sure going to try!

Fabulous Question 2: How is this school distinctive?

I think I can best answer is with a bulleted list of what sets Harrison College apart from other Columbus Indiana colleges.

• Service—What? Did you say service? That is usually the response I get when I talk about the positive approach to providing service to each and ever student at our campuses. Many students don’t really believe this until they experience it for themselves. Our commitment to service is evident from the ONE-ON-ONE Financial Aid appointments to the FREE Tutoring offered to all students.

• Familiarity—We know our students—BY NAME! We don’t just care about their successes—we care about their struggles too. For many students this is the difference they were looking for when they enrolled. We understand the obstacles that often get in the way of completing an adult education program and look for tools to assist students through these struggles so they can more easily experience real career and educational success. Read more about Student Resource Services at Harrison College.

• Review of Previously Earned College Credits—Harrison College doesn’t just agree to review your previously earned college credits—we do so HAPPILY! This is a huge deal to many of our students! Knowing that you will not have to fight to get someone to review your credits brings a great deal of peace of mind to many students.

• Educating the INDIVIDUAL—We know that no two students are the same. So why would we expect that every student would be successful with the same educational experience? Our faculty and staff work hard to create an atmosphere that encourages learning and success for EVERY Harrison College student.

I could go on and on about what makes Harrison College stand apart from the rest. BUT, I would rather invite you to visit a Harrison College campus near you to see for yourself.

Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for the answer to Fabulous Question #3-- How many students transfer to another school during or after their first year?

I like to do random Google searches just to see what comes up. The other day I was looking to see what came up when I searched for ways to find the right college. Many days I don’t find info that strikes me as interesting, but on this day I came across an article Five Fabulous Questions to Ask a College. I liked it enough to read it all the way through AND am going to answer those questions in regards to Harrison College in a series of five blogs.

Fabulous Question 1: How would you describe the student body’s personality?

I would say DIVERSE. Since Harrison College has campuses from Elkhart to Evansville in Indiana and our newest campus in Columbus, Ohio, we are fortunate enough to work with many types of student.

However, if I were to have to describe the motivations and attitudes of the students at the Columbus Indiana college campus I would say DETERMINED. Many of the students say they chose Harrison College because we fit their career goals. I also often hear that our approach of recognizing each student as an individual is of great value to them.

I would also add that many of our students were looking for a college for working adults too. Being able to take classes during the day, evening, online, or a combination of all of these options is a HUGE benefit.

I know I am a little bias, but I feel our student body has a FABULOUS personality that allows everyone to feel comfortable. Feeling comfortable allows them to learn faster and easier. Learning faster and easier gets them graduated and employed faster. So many I could have just simplified this answer to the word SUCCESSFUL!

Would you like to experience success? Check out the Harrison College campus nearest you by clicking here. Not near a Harrison College? Find out what Harrison Online has to offer for those students wanting service AND education by contacting our distance learning college campus.

Don’t forget to check back tomorrow for the answer to Fabulous Question #2—How is this school distinctive? Trust me, you will want to read this one for sure!
 

If you, your child, or someone you care about is a Twenty-first Century Scholar, you MUST read this blog!

As a soon-to-be high school graduate it is time to complete your first ever FAFSA! The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is the first step to receiving a wide variety of financial assistance for education—including the Twenty-first Century Scholars program money!

The Twenty-first Century Scholars program is an Indiana scholarship—and for that reason you MUST complete your FAFSA by the March 10th deadline every year. Yes, I said EVERY YEAR until you complete your degree.

One of the biggest mistakes many recently graduated Twenty-first Century Scholars make is missing that deadline.

What if you are a Twenty-first Century Scholar who isn’t heading off to college right now? Well, go ahead and file that FAFSA—and keep doing it every February until you activate your scholarship within two years of high school graduation. What that means is that you have two years to start using your scholarship monies and many adult education programs are participants in the Twenty-first Century Scholars program.

Filing a FAFSA is FREE, so all it will cost you to file is a few minutes of your time.

If you are not sure how to file or if you are confused by some of the questions on the FAFSA, visit the Harrison College Columbus Indiana college campus on Sunday, February 28th from 2-4PM for one-on-one assistance from one of our financial aid professionals. The Columbus campus is located off Central Avenue near the Columbus Municipal Airport on 2222 Poshard Drive. Click here for more info on the Harrison College Columbus campus.

Learn more about the 21st Century Scholars Program by clicking here.

Developing the habit of being a lifelong learner should be a topic on the minds of all students today.  The world is changing more rapidly now than it ever has before. The desire and ability to learn continuously is an attractive quality to many employers.

More often than not, students are not sure what is involved or even how to develop themselves into lifelong learners.

Harrison College, a Columbus Indiana college, has taken a step toward introducing our students to the concepts of professional development.  Each quarter students are given the opportunity to attend a series of professional development seminars. These seminars are designed to provide an additional resource for career development assistance and both educational and career advancement opportunities in the future.

In February 2010, Columbus Indiana college students will have the opportunity to attend the following seminars:

Using INSPIRE—Tyler Munn from the Bartholomew County Public Library will teach students how to use the INSPIRE database for research projects.

Overcoming Test Taking Anxiety—Melissa Barnett, Director of Career Services will present proven techniques to overcome text anxiety and improve your overall grade and sense of well being when testing.

Presenting Yourself to Employers—Susanne Riehle, local business owner and leader of the Toastmasters in Columbus, provides tips and tricks for anyone preparing to interview.

Networking for Newcomers—Tim Cooney, an active member of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce and a successful business owner, introduces students to the concepts of networking and provides helpful hints for those new to the idea of networking.

Resume Writing—Students learn how to identify soft skills as well as transferable skills they can use to promote themselves when creating a professional resume for the first time.  This session will be led by me, Jeanni Urbahns, and students preparing for an upcoming internship/externship are encouraged to attend.
 

Did you know that February is Financial Aid Awareness Month? Kathy England, Director of Financial Aid at the Columbus Indiana college campus shares more about this important month for all current or soon-to-be college students.

The purpose of Financial Aid Awareness Month is to inform and educate individuals

• that college is attainable,
• that there are numerous sources of financial aid options available,
• and to recognize the important role of financial-aid professionals.

As the Director of Financial Aid for Harrison College, a Columbus Indiana college, I want to remind all high school seniors, current college students and any adult considering going back to school to file the FAFSA by the Indiana March 10th deadline! The FAFSA must be received by the federal processor by March 10th in order to be eligible for many Indiana scholarships, state grants or financial awards for the upcoming school year. Missing this date could mean missing out on money you qualify to receive for education.

Completing or renewing the FAFSA will become an annual event for you while you are enrolled.  Every year, your financial aid office must re-determine your financial aid eligibility, and the submission of your FAFSA is what begins the process.

Remember, if you have questions or need assistance completing FAFSA please do not hesitate to ask the Financial Aid Advisors at the school you plan to attend.

To complete your FAFSA online, click here.

Want one-on-one assistance from a financial aid professional? Plan to attend College Goal Sunday. To find the date, time and location nearest you, click here.

If you have not heard, February is Financial Aid Awareness Month. Exciting, right? Well, I think so. After all, it is the availability of grants, lower interest loans and Indiana scholarships that allow many students the means to afford a college education.

The first step in receiving money for college is completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid—otherwise known as the FAFSA. Although the FAFSA isn’t impossible to fill out on your own, many people find some of the questions difficult to know how to answer. Add to the general confusion the stress of knowing that one wrong answer could impact the money you, your spouse, or your child will receive for education. Now that’s a lot of stress! 

Never fear, help is here in the form of COLLEGE GOAL SUNDAY. If you have never heard of College Goal Sunday, let me share a little about this wonderful opportunity. All across Indiana, financial aid professionals will gather to provide their wisdom and knowledge to ANYONE wishing to fill out a FAFSA.  Yes, professionals providing FREE one-on-one help!

Here are some answers to the most common questions asked about College Goal Sunday:

When and where do I go to fill out my FAFSA?  Check here to find the nearest location to you.

Who should fill out a FAFSA? Anyone who even THINKS they might be interested in attending college during 2010 or 2011 should complete a FAFSA.

Why is it important to fill out my FAFSA now? It is true that the FAFSA can be completed any time throughout the year; however, some financial aid is only awarded to those people who meet the March 10th deadline. Some Indiana financial aid programs, like the 21st Century Scholars program, the Frank O’Bannon grant, Core 40, and Academic Honors, and countless other Indiana scholarships require that this deadline be met in order to qualify for the money you are eligible to receive.

What should I bring? 2009 taxes and W2 forms for the household, Social Security Number, driver’s license, proof of citizenship or noncitizen eligibility, records of any untaxed income (social security income, TANF, welfare, veterans benefits) and documentation of current business, farm, stock, bond or other investment records.

What if my (or my parent’s) taxes have not been done by then?  That’s okay. Don’t let this stop you from completing a FASFA by the March 10th deadline. Just bring as much of the documentation listed above and an estimate can be made and later corrected by the financial aid department at the school you choose to attend.

What if I cannot make it to the College Goal Sunday event? Well, you can always attend the FAFSA Frenzy at the Harrison College Columbus Indiana college campus on Sunday, February 28th between 2 and 4 p.m. or visit www.fafsa.ed.gov to complete the FAFSA electronically.

Even if college is just a small thought in the back of your mind right now, please join us at either event to complete your FAFSA. After all, 2010 could be the year you change your life through education.

It is not unusual that Harrison College Columbus Indiana college campus students are the best allies we could have. Each quarter we have many students who hear about us and enroll based on the experience of a friend or family member already enrolled in a Harrison College adult education program.
 

To show that our students really do have a high opinion of the college and the education we provide, I am sharing an essay written by Kayla Brewer. Kayla is a Columbus, Indiana college student pursuing her Medical Assistant degree. She is looking forward to a medical assisting career where she can experience career advancement while helping others.

Thanks for Choosing Harrison College

By Kayla Brewer
 

“We change lives, one student at a time.”  That is Harrison College’s motto and they stick to that statement.  Harrison is a small college, and it is becoming more and more popular.  Harrison College is a great college to attend because of the small class sizes, the help that is available if needed, and the benefits of choosing Harrison.
 
First, a good reason for choosing Harrison College is because of the small class sizes.  Small class sizes give the students a more personal atmosphere and more one-on-one time with the instructor.  The instructors are always available if needed.  Because of the small class, the students get to know each other on a more personal note and soon become friends.  Everyone at this college is so nice and if someone ever needed something, all that is needed is to ask someone and soon it is there.
 
Another reason for choosing Harrison is the help that is available anytime.  Whether it is tutoring or financial help, someone is always here if and when needed.  On every door in the building there is a piece of paper that lists all the instructors and the times they are available for tutoring.  If that time in particular does not fit one’s schedule, contact the instructor and he/she will find a time that will work for both parties involved.  Another kind of help available is financial aid.  Kathy and Megan are the local financial aid analysts and are always there if needed.  They are always encouraging students to apply for scholarships and grants to help pay for tuition.  The students can make an appointment any time if they need to see Kathy or Megan about their financial issues. 
 
Finally, the third reason for choosing Harrison College is the benefits.  One benefit of choosing Harrison is the flexible class schedules.  If the student is working during the day and is unable to take day classes, night classes are available.  Online classes are also available if the student has a job, children, and other things to do and cannot handle the pressure of also going to class.  Another benefit of Harrison is that they offer many types of degrees.  Here at the local Columbus campus not as many degrees are offered as the main college in Indianapolis, but there are still quite a lot to choose from.  Degrees offered in Columbus range from business degrees to medical degrees.  Some of the business degrees offered are accounting, business finance, business management, and human resources.  The medical degrees offered are medical assisting and medical reimbursement technology.
 
There are many reasons to choose Harrison College, but the small class sizes, the help that is available, and the benefits of Harrison are just a few.  So when starting at Harrison, remember, if anything is needed, help is always available from anybody.
 

Recently, the Harrison College Columbus Indiana college campus submitted the following nominations for the Indiana INTERNnet IMPACT Award. The IMPACT Award is given in recognition of the hard work career services professionals, students and intern sits do to prepare students for successful careers after graduation. Below are the nomination we have submitted. The first nomination is for a student, Brenda Cox, and the second, for our Medical Program Coordinator, Kim Bricker-Brown.

 

Outstanding Intern Nomination--Submitted by Kim Bricker-Brown

Brenda Cox, a current Medical Assistant student completing her education at Harrison College and a 160-hour internship at Sandcrest Family Medicine has continually demonstrated superior leadership skills and professionalism.

After completing just 4 weeks of the externship experience she secured a position with the practice. Her employer noted that Brenda is always willing to learn new tasks and displays  an overall enthusiasm for both the externship experience and her new position.

In the classroom, Brenda is an extraordinary leader and mentor to her fellow students. She comes to class ready to learn, participates actively in discussions and assignments, and is always willing to lend a hand. She has always been willing to participate in volunteer opportunities such as a recent Health and Wellness Clinic at Rock Tenn Company in Columbus.

Having completing a recent course at another Harrison College campus, her instructor made a point to inform us that she was one of the best students she had ever had the pleasure to have in class. This comes to no surprise to one of her instructors at the Columbus Campus who remembers that Brenda would often go the extra mile to excel in her coursework and strives for perfection.

Most recently, Brenda had the opportunity to demonstrate her skills and capabilities as a medical professional when a classmate was involved in a car accident. She sprung into action to assist the driver of the vehicle, securing both the vehicle and the victim until emergency response personnel arrived on the scene. Brenda maintained both poise and confidence as she calmed the victim. She communicated effectively with emergency personnel both on the scene and when she took it upon herself to follow up with her classmate in the ER.

Outstanding Career Services Professional Nomination-Submitted by Jeanni Urbahns

I have nominated Kim Bricker-Brown, the Medical Program Coordinator (MPC) at the Harrison College, formerly Indiana Business College (IBC), campus in Columbus, Indiana, . 

Kim Bricker-Brown is the head of our Medical Assistant (MA) externship program. Every MA student is required to complete a 160 hour externship in a physician’s office. Every quarter Kim is busy making contacts and building relationships in the medical community in order to secure and support the MA externship program. Here are just a few examples of the effort she puts into the internship program.

• Kim provides every medical assistant student with information about the required externship from the moment they begin classes.
• Focus on the end career goal is maintained throughout the two-year, Associate of Applied Science degree program.
• Students are held accountable for their educational and professional progress.
• Students are given many opportunities to plan and prepare for their externship experiences. Many students live outside of the Columbus area; they are given additional support when seeking externships closer to their homes.
• If a proposed intern site has not had prior experience with the Harrison College MA externship programs, Kim will make an appointment to sit down with them face-to-face to explain all aspects.
• Kim makes quarterly site visits to check on the progress of each extern.
• Kim uses site feedback to strengthen the MA program and to assist externs on an individual basis.

In the end, the comments of our extern site managers lead me to feel that Kim would be an excellent candidate for the INTERNnet IMPACT Award for Outstanding Career Services Professional.


Chris Armuth, Office Manager, Nashville Family Medicine, Nashville, Indiana

“I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know how pleased we are that we participated in you MA externship program. In 2008, we decided for the first time, to take on a Medical Assistant extern. She turned out to be an excellent student, who was willing to learn anything we were willing to teach. She ended up being someone that we hired with a great attitude and work skills. We couldn’t be happier with our new employee. Thank you for sending her our way and we look forward to working with you in the future.”

Trish Huffman, RN, Internal Medicine Associates, Columbus, Indiana

“Internal Medicine Associates has had the opportunity within the past year to have had three students from Indiana Business College (IBC). We also had a student extern from another college.

With having students from two different colleges, I have to say I am more impressed with the students from IBC. Students from IBC seemed more prepared and eager to do tasks at hand of a Medical Assistant. I would often have to remind myself that they were not on the payroll!
I can say that we have hired 2 out of the 3 students from IBC this past year. I would recommend this program to anyone.”

Meet April Henderson. April is a Harrison College Columbus Indiana college campus student participating in the Workforce Acceleration Grant (WAG). April lost her job when the factory she had worked at went out of business over a year ago. April knew she needed a college degree to be competitive in the workforce, so with encouragement from her boyfriend, she came to Harrison College and met with Rich Bostic.

April chose to attend Harrison College because she was looking for a local college offering career orientated adult education programs. She was initially drawn to the atmosphere and personal attention every Harrison College student receives.

April learned of the WAG program through a Harrison College newsletter just days before she was scheduled to begin classes. If you would like to know more about the WAG program, visit Indiana's Deparment of Workforce Delveopment website.  Then stop by Harrison College to see if it's the right fit for your goals of career and college success. Walk-ins are always welcome!

Here's just a run-down of what the Workforce Acceleration Grant:

The Workforce Acceleration Grant is designed to help Hoosiers pay for education and training to prepare for 21st Century jobs. The program provides eligible Hoosiers with up to $3,000 per academic year to help cover tuition, fees and book costs for an associate’s degree or a vocational certification at more than 50 colleges and universities across the state.

Eligibility:

Cost Covered by the Grant: Up to $3,000 per year of your families expected contribution, tuition costs, books and fees.

Programs of Study Covered by the Workforce Acceleration Grant:Participants in the Workforce Acceleration Grants can pursue areas of study that provide specific career/vocational training leading toward an Associates Degree or certificate program. General Studies and Liberal Arts programs are not covered. The staff at your WorkOne Center can provide more information about approved areas of training.

• Workers at least 18 years old, who have the legal right to work in the U.S., and are pursuing an Associate Degree or post-secondary certificate that leads to a high wage or high-demand occupation. In addition, workers must fall into one of the two groups:
  • Low-Income participant: • Family receives federal, state, or local public assistance (TANF, SNAP, etc); or
  • Total family income at or below federal poverty level ($23,239 for family of four); or
  • 70% of lower living-standard income level (based upon previous six months income)
• Unemployed Worker:
  • Unlikely to return to previous occupation/career field; AND
  • Falls into ONE of the following categories
    • Unemployed through no fault of their own
    • Received notice of impending layoff;
    • Spouse of dislocated worker (earning less than 50% of family income);
    • Self-employed, but business closed as a result of economic conditions.

Enrollment:

• Visit your local WorkOne Center to pick up an application, please bring the following information:
  • Valid Identification – State ID card, Drivers License, etc.
  • Social Security Card or Birth certificate
  • Proof of Income – Pay stubs, Family or Business Financial Records, Public Assistance Records, Unemployment Insurance Documents, etc.
• Take application to college financial aid office
• Return completed application to WorkOne Center

There is no deadline to enroll in this program, however funding is limited and participants will be accepted on a first-come/first-served basis.

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Angela Rentmeesters, Executive Director of the Harrison College Columbus Indiana college campus, to discuss the 2009 September quarter.

How does this fall’s enrollment compare to last fall’s?

AR-We had expected a 30% increase after final numbers, however, we ended our September recruitment phase with an increase of 36%. 



What trends are you seeing (popularity of certain programs, interest in financial aid, etc.?

AR-Many students are excited about our Tuition Freeze Program and the fact that we schedule a one-on-one session for each student to discuss their financial aid options.  Our qualified FA team works very hard to find the best financial plan for every student.  It’s been great to see that prospective students are learning that an adult education program offering a college degree is affordable; even in this economy.  We are also getting more students eligible for TAA benefits and other benefits from state agencies.  Those students are displaced workers.

What’s different this fall over last fall with respect to the questions that prospective students are asking during admissions?


AR-Students are questioning the job market this year more so than last year because of the slow economy.  Amazingly enough, our grads are finding jobs in their field.  Our overall career placement rate for the 2008/2009 reporting year was 96% for the Columbus Indiana college campus with some of our majors reporting 100% placement.  Students’ fears are calmed when they find that we offer lifetime employment assistant to our graduates.

Are there any other comments you are hearing from students as they enroll at Harrison College?

AR-Students are happy to see that we give great customer service AND surprised that we take the time to review previously earned credits. Often the look of relief we see on their faces when we actually suggest they provide us with their past college transcripts seems to say it all. It is always nice to see the look when some students realize that they are closer to a degree than they thought.  Too often students just assume that a college doesn’t need to provide customer service. Here, service is just the way we operate.

Is there anything else new or different with respect to enrollment and programs?

AR-The Medical Assisting, Accounting and Business Management programs are really hot right now.  The job market for Medical Assistant’s is great--and only expected to grow.  Our students are finding jobs in their chosen professional field even before they graduate.  Our Accounting program is very popular with a mixture of students looking to start their own business and those looking to work in the accounting field.  As a matter of fact, we currently can report a 100% placement rate for graduates of the Accounting program. 

Bottom line is that our students are finding jobs in this economy with a degree from a career college.


Wish you had started classes in September? If so, it's not too late to get enrolled and started on a degree in three months. Many Harrison College degree programs enroll year round with classes starting every three months. Don't put your future off any longer. Contact your nearest Harrison College campus to find out how to get started on a better life.