Published: June 25, 2008 10:35 am      

Gov. Daniels visits Ivy Tech in Sellersburg

Says he will ask budget committee to approve $16M expansion

SELLERSBURG — Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels will ask his budget committee to approve the proposed $16 million expansion project at Ivy Tech Community College in Sellersburg.

He made that announcement during a stop at the college Tuesday morning. Daniels told a crowd of Ivy Tech students, staff and supporters — who filled the student lounge area — that Indiana lags behind other states in the number of students who attend community college and use it as the first step in pursuing a post-secondary education.

Daniels said in spite of that, Ivy Tech seems to be “bursting at the seams,” since it has seen nearly a 200 percent increase in its student population since its last campus capital project here in 1989.

The governor said in view of Indiana’s fiscal health — which he said is right on track and will remain in the black — and the Sellersburg campus’ growth, he is supporting the building project.

“The economic growth happening right now ... really necessitates that we have for every single person, young or not so young, who want to better themselves — learn something new, enter a new career, develop a new skill — we’ve got to have a place for every such person,” Daniels said.

Ivy Tech Sellersburg Chancellor Rita Hudson Shourds said this building project has been years in the making.

“I was elated,” she said of hearing Daniels make his announcement. “We’ve waited a long time and been patient, but this shows it’s paid off.”

The project includes adding an 80,000-square-foot classroom building and renovating the existing main campus building.

Hudson Shourds said the project — which was originally projected to cost $20 million — was able to be cut back due to keeping the laboratory classrooms where they are, instead of building all new ones.

She added that Tuesday was a “very historic day” for the Sellersburg campus. She said it took many people, such as staff members and community supporters, to make this a success.

If the committee votes to pass Daniels’ recommendation and it passes the General Assembly, Hudson Shourds hopes to break ground on the project around the first of next year. She said construction is expected to take 12 to 18 months.

Students in attendance at the announcement said they are excited about the college’s future. Leah Lowery, 44, who goes to Ivy Tech for nursing, as does her daughter, said, “We’ll be gone by then (completion), but that’s OK. I have grandchildren coming up,” Lowery said. “I can’t wait to see the expansion.”

Leslie Williams, 38, also will have graduated by the time the project is completed. However, she believes she will see its impact in other ways.

“It affects future students and it will have an impact on the economy,” she said, mentioning that since many students are residents of the area, graduates with degrees will help make the local economy grow.

“I think it’s a very good opportunity for everybody in the state,” Williams said.