Ivy Tech Community College Fort Wayne is excited to announce a new partnership with the Three Rivers Ambulance Authority (TRAA) as part of the College’s Achieve Your Degree (AYD) program.
Aspiring Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) can interview and get hired with TRAA, and the company will pay for their new hire’s paramedic science education at Ivy Tech. Individuals must apply and be accepted to the College in order to be eligible. When students pass their courses and certification exams, they will work in the field with TRAA as a provider on one of their ambulances for at least two years.
“Fort Wayne has a significant need for EMT’s,” says Joel Benz, executive director of TRAA. “This partnership with Ivy Tech allows TRAA to focus on our mission of saving lives while Ivy Tech focuses on what they are proficient at, which is educating the next generation.”
This new partnership hopes to address concerns about dwindling numbers of EMTs in northeast Indiana. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the overall employment of EMTs and paramedics is projected to grow 6% by 2033.
“The relationship between Ivy Tech Paramedic Program and TRAA has always been a good one,” says Jen Cole, program chair of paramedic science at Ivy Tech Fort Wayne. “Choosing us to do the education of their civilians to EMT, is a wonderful example of this. We love partnering with employers to train people up, building a stronger community together. We look forward to similar agreements with other organizations for their EMTs and Paramedics.”
Ivy Tech’s AYD program is a statewide partnership between the College and nearly local 300 employers. When employers partner with Ivy Tech, employees can earn an associate degree or certificate in an employer-approved field of study at minimal or zero up-front cost.
Those interested in learning more about AYD opportunities can contact Ivy Tech Fort Wayne’s Director of Community Engagement Kenan Habibic at khabibic@ivytech.edu.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.
