Ivy Tech State College.

• Position: Second-largest institution of higher education in Indiana

If Ivy Tech State College actually is, as an observer noted, the untold success story of Indiana higher education, the implications for the state go far beyond the surface of the college's 40th anniversary celebration this year.

Not that the journey hasn't been a remarkable one. According to statistics, Ivy Tech is now the second-largest, fastest-growing institution of higher education in Indiana, with annual for-credit enrollment exceeding 100,000 students per year. From 1995 to 2002, enrollment increased an astonishing 75 percent. Demand is such that classes are scheduled all day, six days a week, well into the night.

No question that the current economic downturn is propelling Hoosiers into college classrooms. But their reasons for specifically choosing Ivy Tech remain constant. Other institutions offer research opportunities, graduate studies or traditional residential experiences--all vital educational options. But Ivy Tech fills a huge need that can't be addressed by its sister schools. Whether its graduates terminate their studies with two-year degrees or certifications or go on to pursue advanced degrees, Ivy Tech is their most viable port of entry to higher education--in keeping with the college's primary mission, which is to guarantee that the state offers its citizens accessible, affordable choices in education.

Ivy Tech's alliances with communities are strong and deep. In a reversal of the usual pattern, the 23 campuses, 20 Workforce Certification Centers and five Learning Centers exist because the communities demanded them. With the vast majority of students drawn from their local communities, it's no surprise that upwards of 95 percent of Ivy Tech graduates remain in Indiana. Almost all go on to better jobs, higher incomes and changed lives--and so, just as important, do the generations of their families following after.

With a relatively small investment in their education (Ivy Tech receives the least amount of state support of any...