Ivy Tech Community College Northeast has recently been recognized with two awards related to its Technology Division: The Automotive Technology program is the country’s 2016 Outstanding Technical Program, awarded by the American Technical Education Association, based out of Minnesota; and the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers, based in Ohio, has awarded The Steel Dynamics, Inc. Keith E. Busse Technology Center with the status Advanced Technology Center.

2016 Outstanding Technical Program
For this award, the American Technical Education Association looks to recognize a technical program that contributes to the nation’s workforce and provides current and cutting-edge education, says Bob Huffman, the College’s automotive technology program chair.

“Being recognized for what we do in the classroom is a great honor,” Huffman says. “It shows that our instructors are dedicated to providing their knowledge with their students, and it shows that our program has funding support from upper-level college administration.”

The American Technical Education Association identifies as the premier association for the postsecondary technical education, with emphasis on personal development.

Advanced Technology Center

Advanced Technology Centers are located across the United States, and the designation represents “a commitment of persons and resources in the effort to reach, enhance and add value to business,” according to its website. A center “is a conscious effort to bring together the resources of the college in business and industry outreach, and it can be an organizational model that encompasses many functions of the college. While there is no single definition, (a center) can be described as a locus of economic development with substantial and concerted business and industry outreach products and services.”

Currently, Ivy Tech Northeast is the only Indiana institution to be labeled an Advanced Technology Center, says Darrel Kesler, Technology Division dean.

“This award is an acknowledgement of the valuable education available to students at Ivy Tech,” he says. “The recognition demonstrates that our technology faculty want to pass along a high quality education to their classes.”

Learn more about the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers at ncatc.org. Learn more about the American Technical Education Association at ateaonline.org.

Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.