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Ivy Tech Community College will eliminate more than 200 positions at its locations across the state as school leaders grapple with significant state budget cuts, employees learned Friday.
Ivy Tech President Sue Ellspermann wrote in an email to staff Friday morning that recent actions by the Indiana General Assembly—including a 5% cut for all higher education institutions—have had “an immediate effect” on the community college’s planning as it approaches the beginning of its 2026 fiscal year, which begins July 1.
Between the across-the-board cut and the State Budget Agency withholding an additional 5% of its allocation, Ivy Tech would lose more than $54 million over the next two years, she wrote. On top of this, Gov. Mike Braun and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education have recommended a tuition freeze for all state educational institutions, and tuition, fees and state appropriations represent the bulk of the university’s revenue.
“Staffing reductions are always difficult decisions that we do not make lightly,” she wrote. “Every individual impacted has made meaningful contributions to our students, our campuses, and our mission. These changes do not reflect the value of their work, but rather the harsh financial reality we currently face.”
Emily Sandberg, assistant vice president of communications and public affairs, told IBJ in an email that 202 employees are affected statewide, including 21 at the Indianapolis campus and two in Hamilton County. In Indianapolis and Hamilton County, the majority of the cuts are staff, with seven faculty members laid off.
Most of the affected faculty and staff across the college system were notified on Friday, according to Ellspermann’s letter, but notifications will linger into next week.
“This is a challenging moment for our College, but I know Ivy Tech is strong,” Ellspermann wrote. “Together, we will navigate this period with compassion, integrity, and a continued focus on our educational mission.”
The Indiana Capital Chronicle reports lawmakers appropriated about $243 million and $245 million for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years, respectively. In the biennial budget approved by lawmakers earlier this year, that drops to around $236 million for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
Ivy Tech is the third-largest college in Indiana, with more than 6,500 employees at 45 locations across the state.
It is not the only Indiana higher education institution making similar decisions.
Purdue University Fort Wayne announced last week that decreased state and federal support factored into its decision to eliminate 45 positions, Fort Wayne-based WPTA Channel 21 reported. As part of its budget reduction efforts, the university also announced it would discontinue its baseball and softball programs.
At the University of Southern Indiana, administrators are weighing a tuition hike to offset the drop in revenue, university President Steve Bridges told Inside INdiana Business. More than 90% of the school’s operating budget comes from tuition and state appropriations, he said.
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Bruan’s race to bottom in full effect.
So we’re approaching a full steam ahead self induced US recession (at best) and the state wants to both cut taxes AND reduce already paltry public services to literally everything with artificial austerity….. coupling it with no investments to our future with education, infrastructure,or ANY sort of clear goal aside from slowly deteriorate further? What metrics DOES Indiana exceed nationally? Why would an employer WANT to move here or anyone in general? What do we do well at this point???? There are plenty of low cost states with BETTER educated populations weather and amenities to offer and Indiana has…….what? I’m genuinely curious about their master plan or goals aside from a Diet Kansas or Temu Texas. From where I stand out one party rule experiment is failing…… quickly. I know I’m not alone in this observation.
I can feel those low taxes trickling down now….
Are we winning yet?
It is so easy to spend other people’s money. Good for Indiana to reign in the bloated government spending from time to time. When you have limited assets your priorities match your values as to what is most important. DOGE highlighted this very clearly with the federal government’s funding of hundreds/thousands of BS projects/programs costing hundreds of BILLIONS. And here in Indiana the whole annual budget for Ivy Tech is only $250 million.
And as a past ITCC employee I can confirm that a lot was being spent on garbage. Glad they are trimming fat.