Academic Preparation

Once you are clear about the goals you want to achieve, you may take advantage of many options that will help you get there, step-by-step. Some options include individual classes, a series of classes or even a comprehensive program. This benefit is available only to Indiana University Health employees.

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College at Work Program

College at Work Program

The College at Work (CAW) program provides Ivy Tech prerequisites for nursing and other health sciences careers. Most courses are offered on-site, but some lab courses must be taken at Ivy Tech. CAW prepares you to work on a college degree or enroll in a post-secondary certificate training program. Participants in CAW have many advantages including a coach, career exploration assessments, and access to other sources of support. Once you complete the CAW courses, you may continue your college education at Ivy Tech or another college or university. IU Health educators will continue to help as you transition from taking courses at IU Health to taking courses on a college campus such as Ivy Tech .

CAW offers IVY 101, a 15-hour "preparation for college" course that covers goal setting, study skills and time management, among other topics. Required by Ivy Tech, IVY 101 helps the adult learner prepare for college life while working full-time and taking care of family responsibilities.

In addition, you could be eligible to take:

• English
• Psychology
• Communication
• Math
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Sociolgy
• Introduction to Computers
• Others

Participants must also attend CAW Orientation and Pathways Seminars (classes to help you prepare for, and plan, your college education and career goals.)

With final grades of "C" or better, your Ivy Tech credits will transfer to IUPUI and other colleges/universities, should you choose to complete your college studies somewhere other than Ivy Tech. Your Ivy Tech transfer credits will ordinarily count towards your total college credits at another college/university, but you may be required to take additional courses to satisfy that college or university’s degree requirements.

CAW is not a complete college degree program. Degree-specific courses are not offered through CAW.

You may be required to purchase text books, calculators or other supplies for your courses. However, CAW supplies these whenever possible. Tuition is paid by CAW.

The courses usually take place on weekday evenings. Classes meet on IU Health campuses, typically in Wile Hall. Ivy 101 is 15 hours, usually three and one-half hours over a four-week period. The other courses have been compressed. (The pace is more intense, but it finishes quicker.) Math and Science courses last 16 weeks, a regular college semester.

You attend courses on your own time. One month advance notice is given for the schedule of upcoming classes so you may plan ahead.

In order to have your Ivy Tech tuition paid by IU Health, you must meet eligibility requirements for IU Health's tuition reimbursement benefit. This includes full-time or part-time employment with benefits by an IU Health Indianapolis hospital. You do not have out-of-pocket expenses for tuition if you are accepted into the CAW program as long as you earn a grade of "C" or better and meet other tuition reimbursement qualifications. You will, however, be responsible for textbooks and other supplies.

Because this program requires an application process, please make an appointment with Estela Martinez at emartine@iuhealth.org.

In order to have your Ivy Tech tuition paid by IU Health, you must apply and be accepted into the CAW program. In order to apply, you must meet several eligibility requirements, including:

• Meeting the requirement for IU Health's tuition reimbursement benefit
• Assess at program-level on the COMPASS in reading and writing, and qualify for Math 035 in math
• Be in good standing in your current position
• Have a development plan for a mission critical position

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