AgDiscovery Summer Program-2024

Interested in plant and animal science, biotechnology, veterinarian or wildlife biology? Check out the USDA AgDiscovery Summer program.

This FREE program covers tuition, room and board, meals, lab supplies and activity fees! To be eligible, check the "grades" for the 20 participating schools - including Purdue University. Eligibility applies to current academic grade level. Then, apply!

The program focuses on four areas: agribusiness, plant, animal and combination. Students must be able to attend the camp in its entirety and can apply for a different program the following year. This is an amazing opportunity! Applications are due by April 5, 2024 by midnight.

Take advantage of Student Wellness Centers!

Many parents and students are scheduling tours in the upcoming months to take advantage of spring break as well as other free days. These tours are excellent opportunities to see the campus and check out the culture. I'll have more on this in future posts...however, I want to focus on Student Wellness Centers (or clinics).

What about student wellness and health care options? When you are visiting a campus, be sure to inquire about student health and wellness opportunities. Smaller schools may not offer a student clinic, but will likely (or should) offer some counseling. Counseling is different than academic advising...while they may share the same office space, the focus is different.

Academic advisors are the course planners, the go-to's for information on scheduling courses and mapping an academic plan for graduation and/or transfer. Counselors offer mental health care which may include wellness workshops, meditation, relaxation, social events or any variety of things focused on the student's mental well-being. Both are important to student success!

What about health care services? Larger schools may provide walk-in services in a Student Wellness Center or even an on-site nurse, nurse practitioner or medical staff. For students not tied to a sport or in the athletic department, these clinics provide a variety of accessible services and most handle insurance payments, even if out of state. I highly encourage parents and students to learn more about the on-campus options in the event a medical need arises. These needs may be minor like a small cut, a sprain or need for over the counter medicine for pink-eye. In the interest of keeping the student body healthy, as well as staff, faculty and support personnel, these clinics are significant to academic success. AND....you pay for it with your tuition and fees!

During your college visit, ask for a breakdown of how fees are allocated on campus. Likely, there are athletic fees to attend sporting events or there may be tech fees to use computers on campus or special equipment in the library. There may be recycling, textbook, special course AND medical/clinic fees, among others. If there are medical/clinic fees, be sure to take advantage of all the offerings which may include massages during finals week, contraceptive access (most are free), band-aids, cough drops/masks, hand sanitizer...you get the idea. Be sure to investigate all of the "hidden benefits" on your college tours - it may save you additional money!

Why attend a community college?

Curious about the benefits of a community college? You are not alone...there are lots of benefits and 118,000 MORE students discovered those in 2023. In the fall of 2023, community colleges experienced a 2.6% increase according to the National Student Clearing House.

While all institutions of higher education some sort of increase, post COVID, the increase enrollment at community colleges is noteworthy. Full disclosure - I work at a community college as full-time faculty and I absolutely love my job, my colleagues and the students.

For some students, a community college provides lots of advantages to accomplish career goals. First, community colleges offer lower tuition and fees than most four year institutions. Most recently, many colleges are offering students within their district FREE tuition when they enroll and attend full-time. Some other restrictions may apply, but in-district high school graduates generally meet these. By attending a community college, students can save money (financial aid or self-pay) to put towards their coursework at a transfer institution. In most cases, the savings will also offset significant costs of graduate school. So, if you are considering a career in psychology or social work, both tracts require a Masters Degree, or similar credential, to practice in the field. Starting at a community college saves money that will pay for graduate work.

Second, most community colleges offer a transfer agreement or articulation agreement with four year institutions. These agreements guarantee that credits completed at the community college will transfer and some may even guarantee admission to the transfer school! While the agreements require a certain GPA and completion, they may not be enough for Ivy League or top-ranked schools which are competitive regardless of academic path. For education, many community colleges are offering transfer programs or 2+2 degrees where the student completes all general education requirements then transfers directly into the school of education to earn the appropriate degree and certification.

Third, perhaps my favorite: small class sizes and AMAZING faculty support. While I can only speak for my school, I know at other community colleges where I have worked, the student-to-faculty ratio is low and many faculty really enjoy helping students take the next step in their careers. Again, speaking for myself, I personally advise transfer students in political science and write letters of recommendation for internships, fellowships and more. My colleagues lead the Honors Program and Phi Theta Kappa where they directly impact student's academic success as well as mentor based on personal experience. We all assist students in getting accepted to their desired transfer school and have many who now attend the University of Michigan, DePaul University, Central Michigan, Grand Valley State and many more. In contrast, many students will not have direct faculty advisement or mentorship during the undergraduate years at a four-year institution - only when accepted into a program and upper-level courses will students have more access to tenured faculty.

Finally, campus life still exists and it may be more accessible to students. Many community colleges offer residence halls so freshmen still get the "college life" experience. The experience at a community college would mirror a smaller school with a residence hall. It's easier to meet people and yes, there are still athletic programs if students wish to play collegiate sports. There are likely MORE activities as well because it is easier to plan and advertise to the campus community where larger schools generally attract one dorm or one program. Clubs and organizations exist as well - Phi Theta Kappa is an honor society focused on transfer students, the National Society for Leadership and Success is a professional development program at many schools and there is also simulation opportunities like Model UN or state government. There is no shortage of student activities at a community college, don't be fooled!

If you are on the fence about a four-year, I would definitely recommend you check out a local community college in your area. While Ivy Tech does not offer any residence facilities in Indiana, these nearby schools do: Marian University - Ancilla College, Southwestern Michigan College and of course, my favorite, Lake Michigan College. Go Red Hawks!