The Indiana House of Representatives passed legislation authored by Rep. Edward Clere, R-New Albany, that helps Indiana students gain more work experience; bring some aid to businesses, particularly small businesses; and helps Indiana’s “brain drain” or exporting of talent to other states.
Programs such as these are valuable, but Indiana is also dealing with bigger problems among higher education students.
In a 96-1 vote, state representatives approved the employment aid readiness network (EARN) Indiana program, an initiative that will change the Indiana college work-study program.
If passed by the Indiana Senate, EARN’s key changes include extending eligibility beyond non-profits and universities to for-profit companies and allow year-round participation of all eligible entities. It will also give more options and incentives to work-study students.
“About $1.7 million was appropriated for work-study and only about half of that money has been used. For the 2011-2012 academic year, there were 86,000 Hoosier students eligible for this program and only 539 participated. I saw this as an opportunity for the state to make better use of work-study,” said Clere.
Employers benefit from these changes in that they have access to potential future employees and are also reimbursed by the state for 50 percent of the students’ wages. For students, they are able to have a paid internship and gain meaningful work experience.
“I had been a single working mom putting myself through school. I was also a work-study student,” said Rep. Christina Hale, D-Indianapolis, who coauthored the bill. “When I had work-study, it was a pretty menial job – it wasn’t a resume builder. It’s nice to have that bit of extra money, but oftentimes you’re doing something unrelated to your major or a very low-entry job. During that time, I also learned the value of internships and how it can create that critical path to your first job.”
Through the EARN Indiana program, students won’t be getting coffee. Students will be dispatched to jobs that fit their area of study and will be able to build relationships with people in their desired field. They will be paid the federal minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour. EARN Indiana is only for students who qualify for work-study.
HB 1312 is currently in the Senate. Sen. Pete Miller, R-Avon, is the bill’s Senate sponsor and Sens. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn, Jim Banks, R-Columbia City and Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, are co-sponsors. If passed, the Commission for Higher Education and other entities such as Indiana INTERN.net will head this initiative. There is also projected to be a major marketing campaign to get both students and employers on board.
This bill is said to help Indiana college students gain quality workplace experience and aid businesses, however some wonder, how can this program be truly beneficial if students aren’t even able to afford to go to college?
Rep. Robert Behning, R-Indianapolis, who is also the chair of the House Education Committee said compared to many states, Indiana has plenty of resources for students to be able to attend and afford college.
“We have one of the most aggressive scholarship programs in the country called 21st Century Scholars. You just make the commitment at grade 8 to remain drug free and have a certain grade point average. The state of Indiana will then fund your educational expenses to help you get a degree,” said Behning. “This is a significant part of our higher education budget.”
Another state-funded program is the Frank O’Bannon Grant Program. This program, is targeted to tuition and regularly assessed fees, are “need-based” and do not require repayment.
Behning states that while there are means that allow kids to attend college, many are not successful at college life beyond the classroom and the rigors of a college course load.
“Oftentimes many of these kids are the first in their family to go to college. A significant number of these are minorities. They’re going into an environment they’re not accustomed to,” said Behning. “There are programs that work directly with those kids to make sure they’re mentored and feel like they belong to the higher ed system.”
Other assistance given to unprepared students is remediation at the high school level.
Behning and his colleagues are also trying to address Indiana’s low completion rate at both four-year and two-year institutions. For various reasons, many drop out of college before they can even take advantage of programs like EARN. To amend the issue, the state has added stipends to students who graduate early or on time and other incentives.
Reps. Clere and Hale are hopeful the EARN Indiana Program bill will pass, recognize these serious issues and state they are working with their colleagues to help rectify the situation.
People should also note that many students are graduating high school and going to community colleges instead of entering into four-year schools.
Many are flocking specifically to Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana primarily because of low tuition rates, open admissions, and the ability for people of various ages to attend college while working or caring for a family – characteristics many traditional colleges don’t have.
“You can get a certificate or a two year degree for very little money or free if you’re eligible for PELL funds,” said Dr. Kathleen Lee, chancellor of Ivy Tech Central Indiana. “If kids had free or reduced lunch in high school then they probably will qualify for PELL money. As long as they maintain their grades they can come out of it with little to no debt attached to it.”
She added that Ivy Tech also allows students to obtain certain employer-pleasing skill sets oftentimes not available at four-year institutions.
“Whether they start and finish with us or just use us as a way to transfer to IUPUI or Ball State, we think we’ve served Indiana well,” said Lee.
House Education Committee chair Behning said there are also resources that help students who attend community college or certificate programs.
No matter what path a person chooses to take, available jobs are needed for these students. The state Legislature is aware of this problem and numerous committees and bills currently are up for debate. One example is a workforce readiness council that may be created with goals of gathering data that will track resources for preschool and kindergarten kids to make sure they are prepared by the time they are ready to attend college or acquire a certification.
Another initiative addresses college degree majors. There are many job fields that are underserved and legislators are trying to encourage students into those fields.
“Last year, Indiana graduated zero students that would go on to become a physics teacher. There are a significant number of high needs areas that aren’t being met,” said Behning.
