COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Community Education Coalition (CEC) has been awarded a grant of $492,304 from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE). This grant is part of the Career Coaching Grant initiative, designed to provide Hoosier students with essential resources to make informed decisions about their college and career paths. In total, the ICHE handed out $28 million to 25 organizations.
President/CEO of the Community Education Coalition Kathy Oren said, “This Career Coaching Grant will allow us to expand our career coaching initiatives, ensuring consistent, high-quality guidance for students in Bartholomew County and the AirPark Campus region, preparing them for in-demand careers.”
The Career Coaching Grant, established by the Indiana General Assembly in 2023, aims to align the state’s career coaching and navigation system. This initiative underscores the importance of providing consistent, individualized support to Indiana’s students to prepare them for high-demand careers.
Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation superintendent Dr. Chad Phillips emphasized the grant’s significance: “The Indiana Commission for Higher Education support will greatly enhance our ability to provide personalized career guidance to students. Our school counselors strive to meet the needs of every student and this collaboration with CEC will strengthen our individualized approach to helping students achieve their educational and career goals, preparing them for a bright future.”
Cindy Frey, President of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the broader community impact: “The Career Coaching Grant will benefit not only our students but also our local economy. By preparing our youth for high-demand careers, we ensure a robust talent pipeline that meets the needs of our regional employers.”
Jim Schacht, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at Cummins Inc., remarked: “Cummins is proud to support the Community Education Coalition in this endeavor. The grant from ICHE will amplify CEC’s efforts to provide essential career coaching, directly contributing to developing a skilled workforce critical for our industry and the broader community.”
Key Highlights of the Community Education Coalition’s Career Coaching Initiative:
- College and Career Coaching: Providing culturally sensitive, personalized career coaching to students in Bartholomew County high schools to facilitate well-informed postsecondary and career decisions
- Integration of Comprehensive Coaching and Navigation Framework: Using the Stakeholder Engagement Process, identify and address gaps in career coaching services by aligning with the framework through the implementation of best practices.
- Focused Employer Connections: Improve financial support or postsecondary education by connecting students with employers offering tuition reimbursement programs
“Building on the success of existing collaborative initiatives like the TuFuturo Latino Education and Outreach work, the Black and Black-Biracial Youth Initiatives, The Bridge at the AirPark Campus, and Ivy Tech’s iGrad high school success program, we will work together with K-12, postsecondary education, and employer partners to address gaps and barriers through career coaching, ensuring students have the resources needed to succeed,” added Oren.
