Your First Day of Class at Ivy Tech Indianapolis Guide

Starting a new semester can be both exciting and a little overwhelming, but we're here to help you every step of the way. Whether you're a returning student or new to our campus, this first-day-of-class guide is designed to ensure you have all the information you need to hit the ground running. From navigating campus facilities to accessing essential resources, we have you covered. Let's make this semester a successful and memorable one together. 

Welcome to your journey at Ivy Tech Indianapolis, where your future begins!

🔑Preparation is Key🔑

Feeling first-day jitters? Nothing can ease those nerves and set you up for success better than being prepped!

Check your email before the first day of class!

• • • • Some professors send out the syllabus, what to bring on the first day, or a welcome message well before the first day of class. 
      • Ivy Tech is committed to ensuring you have everything you need to be successful. If you’re wondering how to do something, there is likely an email with instructions! Plus, we send a monthly newsletter called The Voice of the Bear to all students that aims to keep you informed about campus happenings, academic deadlines, upcoming events, success stories, resources, and more. 

Familiarize yourself with campus!

• • • • It’s a great idea to take some time to walk around the campus – whether that’s downtown Indianapolis, Lawrence, the Automotive Technology Center, or MADE@Plainfield – before your first day of in-person classes to make sure you know where you’re going. It’s easy to get lost in some of our buildings, and you don’t want to be late!
      • 💡Pro Tip: On Thursday, Aug. 15, there will be three campus tours specifically centered around helping you find your classes! They will begin in the lobby of IFC at 10 a.m., 3 p.m., and 6 p.m.

Get ready to take notes!

• • • • Whether you prefer a laptop, notebook, or both – make sure you have your preferred method of notetaking! It’s essential to get into this habit right from the start. 

Mark your calendar with important academic calendar dates!

• • • • Although you can find Ivy Tech’s academic calendar online at ivytech.edu and in MyIvy, it’s a great idea to go ahead and jot down these important dates in your personal calendar. Some important dates to note are drop dates (a predetermined date before students can withdraw without academic or financial repercussions), session end dates, campus closures, breaks, enrollment dates, and more. 

Learn how to navigate 8-week courses! 🧭

• • • • Traditional college semesters are 16 weeks long. Although we do have 16-week courses at Ivy Tech, most of our courses are offered in the eight-week format, which means you’re likely enrolled in an eight-week course. We encourage you to read our “How 8-Week Terms Work” page on our website, where we explain the approach, explain how studies prove it's one of the best semester lengths, and offer tips on completing 8-week terms successfully!

🏫Classes🏫

5 Class Types

At Ivy Tech, we have various class types to meet your needs and lifestyles. 

We have:

In-Person

• Traditional courses are standard, in-person courses in which the instructor and students meet face-to-face in an on-campus classroom at a scheduled time(s) every week. Courses with labs may meet for an extended amount of time.

Virtual

• In the “Virtual Instruction” format, the instructor and students meet face-to-face via a live video call (usually Zoom) at a scheduled time. Classes are synchronous, meaning they take place in real-time, with the instructor and students interacting simultaneously—they are just virtual instead of in-person.

Online

• In the “Online” class format, classes occur online, and no time in the traditional classroom is required. Most activities are asynchronous, meaning there is no scheduled class meeting time, although the course could involve scheduled activities such as online office hours, chats, or other “real-time” presentations. You can learn on your own schedule within a specific timeframe. All course assignments are assigned and completed through your IvyLearn.

Hybrid: Learn Anywhere

• In the “Learn Anywhere” format, courses are taught from an on-site classroom at a scheduled time, and students can attend live in person or via live webcast technology. Students have the choice of how they would like to attend week-to-week.

Hybrid: Blended

• In the “Blended” format, in-person and virtual classes are integral to the course. There is a scheduled class time, but you’ll spend some days in the classroom and some days in an online learning space. Blended courses are at least one-third in person, but the exact percentage will vary from course to course.

How to read your class schedule

Students tend to need clarification when reading their schedules for the first time. 🤔 Sometimes, the shorthand and verbiage can be a bit tricky. For example, take a look at this screenshot of a student’s schedule below: 

Take a look at MATH 123. “IZOOM” indicates that this student is taking a virtual instruction formatted class, which we defined above. “(MW)” means classes will meet virtually on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Now, take a look at PSYC 212 on the schedule. Notice the locator says “WWW.” This means that the student is taking this class in the online class format, meaning there is no scheduled class meeting time, and this student can learn the material, complete assignments, and take tests entirely online and on their own time (with deadlines, of course). 

💡Here are some other tips on how to effectively read your schedule:

• Understanding the short-hand for certain days of the week. 
• M = Monday
• T = Tuesday
• W = Wednesday
• R = Thursday
• F = Friday
• S = Saturday
• U = Sunday

• Understanding the short-hand for buildings on the downtown Indy campus:
• “CCCI” = Conference Center & Culinary Institute (you might hear it referred to by its former nickname, “C4”)
• “NMC” = North Meridian Center
• “IFC” = Illinois Fall Creek Center
• “LRC” = Learning Resource Center (AKA the library)
• “NIC” = North Illinois Center
• “TECH” = Glick Technology Center (you may hear it referred to as “Glick”) 
• Understanding the short-hand for buildings beyond the downtown Indy campus:

• "LAWFB" = Fairbanks Center for Health Professions – 9301 E. 59^th St., Indianapolis, IN 46216

• "LAWPS" = Public Safety Building – 9530 E. 59^th St., Indianapolis, IN 46216

• "AUTO" = Automotive Technology Center – 4751 Century Plaza Road, Indianapolis, IN 46254

• "PLAIN" = MADE @ Plainfield – 1610 Reeves Rd, Plainfield, IN 46168

• Download the “IvyMobile” app!
• You can have detailed maps of our campus and satellite locations at your fingertips and on the go! You’ll find building floor plans to identify exactly where your classroom is. 

IvyLearn

IvyLearn is the virtual classroom used in some way, shape, or form in every class type at Ivy Tech. Check out this comprehensive video to learn everything you need to know about IvyLearn and take down these tips from faculty: 

• Pay attention to the IvyLearn notifications that are sent to your email as they notify you of the following:
• Course announcements, 
• reminders, 
• changes in deadlines, and 
• upcoming events. 
• Utilize the calendar feature, as that is where all of your assignments and their deadlines will show.
• Your grades and instructor feedback will come through IvyLearn. This is how you can keep track of how you're performing in the class in real-time. 

First Day of Class Tips

• 🏃Make the most of your first day, and remember that first impressions matter. Maybe don’t wear pajamas and try to arrive about 10 minutes early. This will help make a positive first impression on your professors and ensure you can find a seat where you’ll be the most comfortable learning efficiently. 
• 🙂Sit by someone you don’t know! Meeting new classmates means having someone to help with notes and assignments. Plus, if you miss a day, you have someone to message for a recap of class! And, who knows, maybe you’ll make a new friend out of the class.  

📚Books & Bookstore 📚

Beginning this fall, Ivy Tech is transitioning to eCampus as our new textbook provider and campus store operator. 

eCampus offers reduced textbook fees, a refreshed campus store in IFC with extended hours, an online bookstore with Indy-specific pages, and refreshed Ivy Tech apparel and merchandise!

Another way to access books and study material is at the Ivy Tech Library. 

The library on the downtown Indy campus is open:

•  Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., 
• Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
• Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

The library at our Lawrence site is open:

• Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Tutoring in the Writing Center and Math & Science Resource Center begins an hour after the library opens, so:

• Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 
• Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Our library also has an extensive website on which you can access even more research assistance, such as journals, sources, guides, and librarian assistance.

❤️Resources & Support Services Available ❤️

Resources

We want you to be set up for success, and as such, we have a wide array of resources available for you. From tutoring and career coaching to disability support services and counseling, there is always a place to reach out for help at Ivy Tech Indianapolis. Review the list below, and don’t hesitate to stop in or reach out today!

Advising

If you can’t find the answer, your academic advisor can help! The Ivy Tech Indianapolis Office of Academic Advising enables you to set and achieve your academic goals while supporting your educational journey. Take advantage of this fantastic resource, and learn more about setting up a meeting with your advisor here. 

The Center for Student Success

Our campus Success Coaches help you improve your self-understanding, clarify areas for growth or improvement, provide beneficial information and resources, and offer support. 

Here are just some of the topics the Center for Student Success works with students on and often offers workshops on:

• Developing better time management skills
• Setting achievable goals
• Improving study and note-taking skills
• Learning test-taking strategies and managing test anxiety
• Understanding emotional intelligence
• Dealing with Zoom burnout
• Working through procrastination
• Making time for self-care

If you’re enrolled in eight-week classes, check out the Center for Student Success’ first event of the school year on Tuesday, Aug. 20, for how to succeed in an eight-week class, where they will give you tips on hitting the ground running. 

🎉Campus Life & Ways to Get Involved 🎉

There are plenty of ways to find community at Ivy Tech Indianapolis!

Attending one of the many events Student Life hosts on campus is a great place to start. Beginning on the first day of the semester through October, Student Life already has a wide variety of events planned.  Try to make it to one, say hello, and take advantage of the opportunity to meet a new friend. 🙂 Check out all that’s in store on IvyLife!

We have over 30 student-run and operated organizations. Look at this list, see if one calls out to you, and reach out today to get involved with them this year! You can also check out all of the student organizations in person at the Fall Student Involvement Fair in IFC -Bowen Commons from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 26, and Thursday, Aug. 29. 

Another great resource to keep your eye on is the Library Events page. They often share events that enhance your education journey and wellness, such as ESOL’s English Conversation Circles, PAWS, and workshops.

💪Remember: You Belong Here💪

As you step into Ivy Tech Indianapolis, know this: you belong here. Whether it's your first day or you're returning after a break, this community is yours just as much as it is anyone else's. Every student here has a unique story, a different path, and that's what makes our campus so vibrant and diverse.

Feeling nervous or unsure is entirely normal, but remember, you have the strength and ability to succeed. 

Your presence here means you have already taken a significant step toward achieving your goals. Surround yourself with support, seek out resources, and know that every challenge you face is an opportunity to grow.

Believe in yourself, stay committed, and embrace the journey. You are not alone; we are all here to learn, support, and inspire one another. 

Welcome to Ivy Tech Indianapolis – your success story starts now!

For even more first-day-of-class guidance, please refer to your New Student Orientation booklet.