Indiana lawmakers approved legislation this year rewriting portions of Ivy Tech Community College’s governing statute to strengthen its focus on workforce preparation and employer demand. Photo by Whitney Downard, Indiana Capital Chronicle.
By Casey Smith
Indiana Capital Chronicle
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana’s largest public postsecondary institution is getting a statutory overhaul thanks to a new law updating the mission and governance structure of Ivy Tech Community College.
Lawmakers and Ivy Tech leadership said the changes are meant to ensure the statewide community college system continues preparing Hoosiers with the skills needed for in-demand careers while staying aligned with Indiana’s broader education and workforce priorities. The updates come as state officials continue to scrutinize college degree offerings and push for high-value credentials, as early as high school.
The legislation, Senate Enrolled Act 254, passed unanimously during the 2026 session and was signed March 5 by Gov. Mike Braun. The measure takes effect July 1.
Authored by Sen. Greg Goode, R-Terre Haute, the law rewrites portions of the Indiana Code governing Ivy Tech’s mission, governance structure and campus oversight, while formally cementing the college’s role as the state’s “workforce engine.”
“This legislation is the intersection where we can craft public policy in a bipartisan way,” Goode said. “As an organization evolves, we want to make sure that our state statute that supports (Ivy Tech’s) mission continues to evolve.”
State leaders have increasingly pushed schools and colleges to demonstrate how programs lead to real job opportunities. In recent years, Hoosier education officials have ramped up efforts to connect high school coursework, college credentials and workforce training with employer needs.
“Higher education has taken a lot of hits over the last several years,” said Mary Jane Michalak, senior vice president of legal and public affairs for Ivy Tech. “Ivy Tech wants you to know that we are listening … and being responsive to the needs of the state of Indiana.”
Changes To Ivy Tech’s Mission, Governance
Senate Enrolled Act 254 updates Ivy Tech’s statutory mission to center workforce alignment and employer demand.
Under the law, the college is directed to serve as “the workforce engine for the state of Indiana by aligning postsecondary academic curriculum with employer needs and ensuring that all academic degree offerings provide a pathway to direct entry into the workforce.”
The statute recognizes Ivy Tech as an open-access institution serving high school students, adult learners and graduates, and adds dual credit and dual enrollment programs to the college’s mission.
“We’re tweaking some language … and replacing it with language that emphasizes alignment with workforce and employer demand,” Goode said.
The law preserves the college’s role in preparing students to transfer to four-year universities by ensuring programs maintain “four-year college transferability.”
The measure also modernizes the structure of Ivy Tech’s governing boards. The statewide board of trustees must now include members with experience in logistics, information technology and life sciences, in addition to manufacturing, agriculture, commerce and labor.
At the campus level, local advisory boards must include representatives with experience in those sectors and can include individuals who work in the service area even if they do not live there.
The legislation requires campus boards to analyze regional workforce needs and recommend academic programs aligned with employer demand. Boards must also review campus budgets and offer recommendations on operational efficiencies and program alignment with local economic needs.
Campus boards will also help nominate candidates when vacancies arise, with final appointments made by the statewide board of trustees.
Supporters, including the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, said the provisions are intended to strengthen connections between Ivy Tech campuses and employers.
Michalak noted Ivy Tech’s statute “hasn’t been touched” since 2016.
“Ivy Tech has been in existence for over 60 years, and we just want to make sure that our statutory responsibilities are streamlined,” she said. “This is emphasizing the importance of workforce alignment and employer alignment.”
“Ivy Tech remains one of the most affordable options for Hoosiers seeking higher education,” she added. “This is one case where low-cost also equals high-quality.”
Part Of A Broader Education-To-Workforce Push
State officials and business groups have applauded Ivy Tech for its role in the workforce pipeline.
Ivy Tech is Indiana’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system. Last year, the college served more than 204,000 Hoosiers across every county.
“Half of all the post-secondary credentials in Indiana … are because our community college,” Goode said, adding that 87% of graduates complete programs with no debt.
Michalak said demand for such credentials will continue to grow.
“To meet future needs, Indiana must up-skill or re-skill more than 82,000 Hoosiers each year through credentials and training aligned with employer demand,” she said.
A 2025 workforce report found that 69% of job openings in key sectors – including health care, advanced manufacturing, logistics and technology – will require education or training beyond high school.
“Senate Bill 254 aims to strengthen Indiana’s education and workforce system,” Michalak said. “We play a central role in this ecosystem.”
The law also directs the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to develop an “education to employment” research program by Tuesday, Dec. 1 to analyze and share workforce and education data.
Aligning Education With Workforce Demand
The Ivy Tech changes are part of a broader effort by Indiana leaders to connect education policy with workforce outcomes.
That includes Senate Enrolled Act 199, signed this month, requiring higher education officials to scrutinize and potentially eliminate degree programs whose graduates consistently earn low wages.
The measure builds on ongoing program reviews and could lead to the elimination of degrees that fail to produce strong economic outcomes.
At the K-12 level, state officials approved changes to high school diploma requirements, emphasizing career readiness, hands-on learning and industry credentials alongside traditional coursework.
Schools could begin offering the new diplomas as early as the 2025-26 academic year, with full implementation for the Class of 2029. A new accountability framework will track how schools follow through.
Ivy Tech leaders said the college system is already involved, particularly through dual credit partnerships with more than 400 high schools.
“This is all so important because Indiana is undergirding America’s national and economic security,” Goode said. “The United States of America needs the state of Indiana because we are leading in strategic and very important aspects where this competition is occurring.”
