FORT WAYNE — Situated in an office park off Interstate 69, a satellite campus of Trine University occupies a space more than double the nearly 5,000 square feet it would occupy in Logansport.

In addition to staff offices, the center houses seven classrooms and a computer lab for the campus’ 242 students.

As for programs, students have eight undergraduate degrees to choose from, plus two master’s programs, one of which begins this fall.

David Wood, dean of Trine’s school of professional studies, says the university would like to have similar offerings this August in Logansport. Interest from area residents poured in, he said, after news the school wanted to set up shop in Cass County.

City council members will vote Monday on a plan to spend $80,500 for renovations and utilities in exchange for a Trine University branch campus in the former Ivy Tech building at 2815 E. Market St.

Part of the appeal of the Eastgate Plaza facility is that there is room to grow, something officials from the city, Trine and local schools have already begun talking about. Initially, Trine needs only a third of the available space.

Over the past 16 years, the Fort Wayne branch has continued to expand, according to student support specialist Cherie Ditto. She says the college began with classrooms in a local high school and has since moved to its third and largest location. This fall, the college hopes to hit the 300 mark for enrollment.

The school’s success parallels that of Ivy Tech Community College, which has seen explosions in enrollment due in part to disappearing manufacturing jobs forcing adults to switch careers.

By offering scholarships to Ivy Tech graduates with a grade-point average of 3.0 or better, Trine University looks to grow right alongside the state’s largest college, which built a new campus in Logansport that opened in January.

Wood explained that Trine’s Accelerate “U” partnership with Ivy Tech was a program that allowed Ivy Tech students to continue their education beyond the associate degree level.

“This partnership helps both institutions achieve goals and objectives in addition to supporting the needs of local communities such as Logansport,” Wood said.

Part of Ditto’s job is visiting Ivy Tech classrooms to tell students about the scholarship that reduces tuition costs for a bachelor’s degree by about a third.

At Ivy Tech, a two-year degree costs around $6,000. For another two years of school at Trine University, an Ivy Tech student will spend another $16,000, Ditto said.

Trine University in Fort Wayne ends up with many of Ivy Tech’s best students, “which creates a really cool classroom environment here,” Ditto said.

Unlike the main campus in Angola, satellite campuses are geared toward non-traditional students — adults who have full-time jobs and/or a family. Each class takes place in the evening once a week and 16-week semesters are broken down into two, eight-week terms that allow for quicker graduation.

Ditto says a full-time student can complete two years of study in 18 months.

“What we found with the adults is they like that,” she said. “They want to get in. They want that bare-bones education. They want to move through the process as quickly as possible, and they want out because they have the mortgage, the kids and the job.”

Christina Delgado of Kimmell, a 50-minute drive from Fort Wayne, agrees.

The Trine University graduate had a full-time job and a 13-year-old child at home while attending school. She said classes fit her schedule and instructors, staff and small class sizes created a positive learning environment.

“I worked hard,” she said. “I had a positive experience here, and I think that helped for me to work harder.”

In May, Delgado earned a bachelor of science in criminal justice. She graduated summa cum laude and was named Trine University’s 2010 outstanding student.

Sgt. Caesar De Jesus of the Fort Wayne Police Department recently began his first semester at Trine. He’s going for a degree in applied management as a way to be competitive in seeking a promotion to captain on the police force. He chose Trine because it fits his schedule. He works third shift so from class he goes right to work.

“It’s perfect,” he said.

Logansport would be Trine’s southernmost satellite location. The college has maintained a stronghold in northern Indiana, with other branch campuses in Angola, Merrillville and South Bend/Mishawaka.

The new campus, if approved by the city council, would initially employ one full-time employee and numerous support personnel, such as admissions, business office activities and books, said Wood.

Instructors would all be adjuncts who typically work in their field of expertise during the day then teach in the evening, Ditto said. Each instructor must have a master’s degree to teach at Trine.

Wood explained that although most of their branch campuses are in cities much larger than Logansport, Tri-State University, which changed its name to Trine in August 2008, was founded as Tri in

1884 in the small town of Angola. He is excited about the warm welcome the school has received from Logansport’s leaders, educators and community members.

“We can’t wait to get started,” he said.

• Kevin Lilly is news editor of the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at 574-732-5117 or kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com.



Want to go?

What: City council meeting

When: 5 p.m. Monday

Where: City council chambers, third floor of City Building, 601 E. Broadway



Want to sign up?

Community members interested in taking classes or working towards a degree in Logansport can contact Trine University at 765-432-0014 or trinelogansport@trine.edu.