BizVoice -- March / April 2018

64 BizVoice/Indiana Chamber – March/April 2018 Colleges Offer Unique Study Options HIDDEN GEMS By Charlee Beasor Indiana’s excellence in higher education among its major institutions is well documented. But not everyone yearns for a large university experience. The state also boasts numerous small and private schools with unique opportunities for students. BizVoice ® asked leaders from four such institutions from around the state to identify one program, class or offering that stands out and is individual to that school. At a glance, here are the colleges and the highlighted initiatives: Ancilla College: Autism Program College can be a difficult time for students. For those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it can be more than just challenging. The Autism Program at Ancilla College (APAC) is designed to make the higher education experience a more attainable one for students with the disorder. The two-year liberal arts college in Plymouth (about 30 miles southwest of South Bend) is the first institution of higher education in the state to provide a program specifically for students with ASD. “We identified the need, not only locally and regionally, but nationally and internationally. It is an incredible situation. One in 68 births today are impacted by autism,” says Ancilla President Ken Zirkle. Zirkle’s daughter works for a program in another state and she mentioned to her father that Ancilla would be an ideal place for a similar initiative. The college is situated in a quiet, rural area of the state, with between 500 and 600 students on average. “We want to be a leader at the two-year level in a program for students that are on the spectrum. The students we’re dealing with are high functioning, very bright and they have to pass all the exams you’d normally pass to go to college. (They) will be in the traditional classroom and dining hall and interacting with other students,” he adds. The small size and intimate feel of the campus is one reason Zirkle expects APAC to flourish. “We believe because of our size and personal attention, we can work out some amazing things with these students,” he says. “It’s always fun to do the right thing for the right reasons. It fits so well with the background (of the college) and with the Sisters (the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ founded the college in 1937).” The first cohort began in the fall of 2017 with six students; the goal is to have another 15 join for the 2018-19 school year. There is an optional dormitory available exclusively for students in the program with a dedicated person responsible for living with and assisting the students. “We’ll be working with a lot of the four-year schools. These students will be able to transfer there; our job is to get them ready. This has nothing to do with intelligence, but with social skills and to be able to interact with others that will set them apart. We can see it in just one semester; we see a big difference in these young people, a difference in how they’re operating,” Zirkle expresses. Indiana Vision 2025: Outstanding Talent RESOURCE: Ancilla College at www.ancilla.edu Ancilla College Plymouth autism program Oakland City University Oakland City drug and alcohol abuse awareness Indiana Tech Fort Wayne online cybersecurity degree Saint Mary-of-the- Woods College Terre Haute equine studies Students in the Autism Program at Ancilla College are supported with optional housing and assistance, but take the same classes and must pass the same exams as other students.