INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The State of Indiana and ĢƵios today announced a new partnership that will offer state employees an affordable education with no upfront tuition costs.
“This is an investment in our state employees that provide them with more flexibility to pursue education opportunities that ultimately contribute to a stronger workforce,” said Governor Eric J. Holcomb. “We are grateful for this partnership with ĢƵios that will ease the up-front financial burden for our employees to enroll in courses.”
The state will join ĢƵios’s Achieve Your Degree (AYD) program. Rather than paying for tuition expenses at the time of enrollment – which can be a barrier for some employees seeking to earn degrees and certificates – the state will pay ĢƵios directly upon an employee’s successful completion of a course. State employees already have education reimbursement of up to $5,250 per year. ĢƵios’s full-time annual tuition is less than $4,500, and the agreement with ĢƵios means that employees won’t have to be reimbursed, but rather can enroll and begin taking classes with no upfront costs. Additionally, the College will provide the state with a rebate of up to 5% of the net tuition paid, which means the state will benefit from an even lower education cost.
All ĢƵios campuses across the state are participating in the program.
“The State of Indiana is once again leading by example, this time by providing tuition assistance to employees, making it easier for individuals to pay for higher education,” ĢƵios President Sue Ellspermann said. “ĢƵios like Achieve Your Degree can help businesses build their own talent pipeline through recruitment of individuals without a degree and helping those individuals learn the skills necessary to advance.”
Partnering with ĢƵios offers state employees access to more than 70 academic programs, as well as opportunities to receive associate degrees, short-term certificates and workforce certifications in various fields. Additionally, ĢƵios’s Ivy+ Tuition and Textbooks model provides students with free textbooks for required courses through the spring 2023 and a flat rate tuition cost students who enroll in more than 12 credits.
On-site application assistance and academic advising are provided by ĢƵios faculty and staff to accommodate state employees’ busy work schedules and to ensure appropriate course schedules. ĢƵios will also provide individualized advising, financial aid and tutoring to foster employee success.
Through partnerships such as the Achieve Your Degree program at ĢƵios, the State of Indiana can skill-up its current workforce and encourage employees to earn free credentials through on-campus and online coursework.
Tuition reimbursement and assistance is available up to $5,250, to all State of Indiana employees of executive branch agencies who:
- have been employed full-time continuously with the state for at least 12 months prior to submitting their Education Reimbursement program application;
- have not received a disciplinary action in the 12 months prior to the end of the course; and
- have completed the course with a satisfactory grade of at least a “C” or above (or an equivalent “pass” grade).
As part of its , the State of Indiana will continue to pursue partnerships, policies and programs that continue to make the State of Indiana a competitive, engaged and flexible workplace.
About ĢƵios
ĢƵios is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. ĢƵios has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.