Ivy Tech Community College

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Ivy Tech Community College and Veryable: Empowering Indiana’s Workforce Through Flexible On-Demand Manufacturing Opportunities

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“The goal isn’t graduation day. It’s a better every day after.” - Ivy Tech

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Serving 19 campuses across Indiana, Ivy Tech Community College is the country’s largest singly accredited community college, educating roughly 6,000 students across multiple counties including South Bend, Elkhart, St. Joe, and Marshall. Ivy Tech is deeply committed to setting students up for success not only in their academic journey but long after graduation.

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In a groundbreaking partnership with Veryable, a platform that connects flexible, on-demand operators with manufacturing businesses, Ivy Tech students and graduates now have a direct path to gain valuable hands-on experience, earn certifications, and be recognized as highly skilled operators. This collaboration is transforming workforce development in Indiana by bridging the gap between education and employment — particularly in advanced manufacturing automation and robotics.

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The Need for Real-World Experience and Flexibility

Ivy Tech recognizes that hands-on, on-the-job training is essential to complement classroom learning, especially in technical fields such as advanced manufacturing and robotics. For many students, especially non-traditional learners balancing school with family and work responsibilities, flexibility in both education and employment is critical.

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Matt Presley, Executive Director of Ivy + Career Link at Ivy Tech, explains:

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“There are barriers to employment for many of our students. They want to skill up and advance their careers, but they also have families and jobs they cannot easily leave. Veryable’s platform offers the flexibility to gain real-world experience at times and places that work for them, which is hugely important and attractive.”

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This flexibility aligns perfectly with Ivy Tech’s own philosophy of providing diverse learning opportunities, including online degrees and certifications, enabling students to tailor their education to their lives.

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Ivy Tech’s Unique Position in Indiana Manufacturing

Elkhart, Indiana, known as the RV capital of the world, hosts some of the largest manufacturers in the industry. Ivy Tech students using Veryable gain exposure to a variety of manufacturing roles across these major employers, whether their goal is to find full-time employment or to explore different career paths by “testing the waters.”

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The platform allows students to move seamlessly between jobs, industries, and skill levels — accelerating their upskilling and increasing their employability.

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Recognizing and Highlighting Quality

One of the powerful elements of the partnership is the creation of an Ivy Tech badge within the Veryable platform. This badge identifies operators who are Ivy Tech students or graduates, signaling to employers the high level of technical and employability skills they bring.

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Presley notes:

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“I think it means something in our community to be an Ivy Tech student. Employers recognize that our students have the technical and employability skills they need. The Ivy Tech badge helps our employers intentionally pursue and hire these individuals.”

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Employers across Indiana have long sought Ivy Tech graduates for their reputation of quality education and readiness to work. This digital identification furthers that connection by making it easier for employers to find and hire these skilled operators.

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Training and Upskilling Through Veryable

Beyond job matching, Veryable’s platform provides opportunities for operators to earn certifications, such as the Certified Production Technician credential, accessible through the platform statewide. This initiative supports Ivy Tech’s mission to continually upskill Indiana’s workforce beyond the classroom.

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Presley explains:

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“Offering training through Veryable is another way we’re scaling up our workforce across the state. We’re delivering the type of training our employers need, and this benefits our students, our employers, and strengthens our community overall.”

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Connecting Students and Employers Like Never Before

The partnership opens doors for students to work in various manufacturing settings, gaining broad exposure and valuable experience. For employers, it offers a new and effective way to engage with the talent pipeline and fulfill workforce needs with vetted, skilled operators.

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Presley emphasizes:

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“It’s focused on skills. When we make those connections through the platform, everyone benefits — our students, our employers, and the community.”

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Conclusion

The Ivy Tech and Veryable partnership exemplifies how innovative collaborations can address workforce challenges by integrating education, training, and flexible employment opportunities. It empowers students to build their careers on their terms while providing employers with a reliable source of highly skilled, adaptable talent.

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As this partnership grows, it continues to strengthen Indiana’s manufacturing sector and create a model of workforce development that can be emulated across other industries and regions.