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Ivy Tech and Indiana National Guard propose enlistment-and-service pathway tied to new diploma
Summary
Ivy Tech Sellersburg and the Indiana National Guard pitched a pilot enlistment-and-service pathway — a one-credit collegiate course and experiential training — intended to support the state’s new high school diploma enlistment/service seal and expose more students to public-service careers.
Ivy Tech and the Indiana National Guard told the Indiana State Board of Education on Feb. 6 that they are launching a pilot program to link community-college coursework with an enlistment-and-service pathway for high school students.
Dr. Travis, chancellor of Ivy Tech Sellersburg, described a proposed one-credit introductory course (approximately 16 contact hours across multiple sessions) that would introduce students to military and public-service career pathways and provide dual-credit options. He said Ivy Tech plans a summer launch of the first course and will pilot program elements on the Sellersburg and Columbus campuses before expanding statewide.
The program is intended to complement the state’s enlistment/service seal under the high school diploma redesign. Dr. Travis told the board the model seeks to reach students in rural and under-resourced high schools that lack JROTC and to provide experiential learning at military sites such as Fort Knox.
Colonel Sha Ean, representing the Indiana National Guard, emphasized mentorship and the Guard’s capacity to support teaching and scale the program. "We have units and leaders across the state who can do a lot of good in this space," he said, noting the Guard’s interest in expanding exposure to service-related career paths and in helping recruit and retain service members.
Board members asked about instruction and scaling. Ivy Tech said adjunct instructors (including veterans and Guard members) could teach the course on college campuses or, with coordination, bring dual-credit offerings into high schools or provide asynchronous options. Dr. Travis said Ivy Tech is exploring prior learning credit and competency-based approaches to recognize veterans’ experience as part of credentialing and instruction.
The proposal includes pilot logistics (Sellersburg and Columbus pilot campuses, an initial summer offering, and an eight-week term structure for subsequent offerings). Board members expressed support and asked staff to continue coordination; no formal board action was taken at the meeting beyond routine approvals and adjournment.
