James Woolf
Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service—Tipton County
P.O. Box 70
Tipton, IN 46072
(765) 675-2694, (765) 675-3594 fax

A vision became reality when Tipton County, Indiana was awarded a Lilly Foundation C.A.P.E. (Community Alliance to Promote Education) grant. The Tipton County Cooperative Extension Service played a significant role and was a catalyst in the grant writing process. Due to these efforts, the Education Center of Tipton County, in partnership with Purdue University CES opened its doors on July 1, 2002.

The mission of the Education Center is as stated:
The Education Center of Tipton County will provide educational opportunities for individuals to increase knowledge, understanding, and skills for personal enrichment, upward economic mobility, and career advancement.

The vision:
Empower individuals with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to be successful life long learners in our dynamically changing world. High-quality educational programs will be provided in a safe, caring, state-of-the-art, and community-based learning environment.

The Center is governed by a local Board of Directors responsible for the strategic, policy and oversight of the Education Center. Purdue University Extension Service assists the Board in developing and carrying out programs, as well as providing technical and educational support.

The establishment of The Education Center (facility and organization) has provided residents of this rural Central Indiana County and surrounding counties with state of the art technology and the resource to coordinate, manage, administer and conduct educational activities. The Education Center is a “bee-hive” of activity throughout the day with a variety of activities including class registration, committee meetings, instructional preparation and design, tutoring of all ages and dissemination of educational information. The Education Center has become the location for learners to begin the process of GED and/or adult literacy, youth and adult tutoring as well as distant education. Over 1600 undergraduate and graduate level college courses are offered through the Indiana College Network (www.icn.org).

Since opening (25 months ago):

• Over 256 non credit continuing education courses have been offered consisting of more than 1640 hours of direct instructor/learner contact.
• In addition to personal tutoring, 18 educational activities have been offered to youth to expand and enhance their knowledge and skills in various subject areas.
• The SAT Preparation course has been offered 5 times to 52 high school youth. This consists of an intensive eighteen hour instructor led course preceding the SAT.
• Adult Literacy and GED Preparation continue to expand as learners become more comfortable with the facility and direct instructor contact.
  • GED student enrollment is on the increase
    • 2003-04 60
    • 2002-03 47
    • 2001-02 34 Prior to CAPE Grant
    • 2000-01 27 Prior to CAPE Grant
  • Thirty-six adult learners have received their GED
• Tutoring hours have expanded from a total of 184 hours(10.2 direct student/tutor hours per month) in the first 1 ½ years to 559 hours in the past six months (93.1 direct student/tutor hours per month).

Since opening, the Center has served over 1,000 individuals through classes, in-services, workshops, two-way video conferencing, GED instruction, and individualized tutoring for youth and adults. The Education Center of Tipton County is a state of the art facility with opportunities that enhance an individual’s educational level which in turn boosts the economic development/effect of the county. The long-term impact of The Education Center’s educational program offerings will help prepare community residents for current and future technological, economic and societal changes thus enhancing their overall quality of life.

PowerPoint Presentation (PDF format, 929 kb)