Learning centers in Noble, Clinton, Marion, and Daviess counties to offer online educational programs for Indiana's Hispanic community:

Statewide pilot project launched by IHETS and Purdue Extension

Released: February 16, 2006
Contact: communications@ihets.org

INDIANAPOLIS—From the increasing number of neighborhood panderías (bakeries) and mercados (markets) to churches offering misa en Espanol (mass in Spanish), evidence that the state’s Hispanic population is booming can be seen across Indiana.

Many of these immigrants are entrepreneurs and small business owners who could benefit from a college degree in business management, accounting, or finance in their native language. Others are looking for more basic education.

Nearly half of all Hispanic males and 42 percent of all Hispanic females come to Indiana without a high school diploma, according to recent research conducted by IUPUI’s Center for Urban Policy and the Environment and La Plaza, a nonprofit organization serving central Indiana’s Latino community.

A pilot project funded by a $167,000 grant from the Indiana Rural Development Council to develop educational programming targeting the Latino communities in Noble, Clinton, Marion, and Daviess counties, however, has been established to help them complete and continue their educations.

The grant was awarded to the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, who is partnering with the Indiana Higher Education Telecommunication System (IHETS) to distribute the programming using distance education technologies, the Mexican Consulate of Indianapolis, and the Institute Tecnológico de Monterrey.

“We hope this project will serve as a model for Indiana to provide educational opportunities for Hispanic individuals in our communities. As we’ve learned more about the Hispanic culture, it has become apparent that addressing their educational needs is crucial. The goal is to provide Indiana’s Hispanic population with a full spectrum of educational programs to help them become more personally empowered and integrated into our culture,” says Dave King, IHETS executive director.

To celebrate the project’s launch, a live videoconference with explanatory remarks by project partners will take place February 22.

What: Celebration of Pilot Project for Latino Community Learning Centers

Event to be broadcast via videoconference to each of the locations below. Remarks will be given by:

• Dave King, executive director, IHETS
• Sam Cordes, Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service (CES)
• Honorable Sergio Aguilar Betata, Consul of Mexico, Indianapolis
• Representative of the Institute Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico

When: Wednesday, February 22, 3:30 p.m. (EST)

Where:           

• Indiana Higher Education Telecommunication System (IHETS)
• Purdue University Lilly Hall, Room 3-113A
• The LEAP Center of Noble County/Purdue Extension-Noble County
• Learning Network of Clinton County/Purdue Extension-Clinton County
• Purdue Extension office of Daviess County
• Office of Minority Languages, Walker Career Center, Indianapolis

Project partners:

• Indiana Higher Education Telecommunication System (IHETS)
• Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service (CES)
• Mexican Consulate of Indianapolis
• Institute Tecnológico de Monterrey
• The LEAP Center of Noble County/Purdue Extension-Noble County
• Learning Network of Clinton County/Purdue Extension-Clinton County
• Purdue Extension office of Daviess County
• Office of Minority Languages, Walker Career Center, Indianapolis
• Indiana Rural Development Council (IRDC)

Course offerings and project description:
The Noble, Clinton, Davies, and Walker centers will offer a full spectrum of credit and non-credit distance education courses in Spanish. Students may be assessed on their existing academic skills and pursue programs that best meet their needs.

Primary and secondary courses and Spanish literacy offerings will be available. Students may also study in Spanish for the English-language GED or complete a bachillerato (high school diploma) for admission to a Mexican university. Once admitted, they may pursue university degrees.

The Institute Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico's premier technology university, and a complementary program called Plaza Comunitarias coordinated by the Mexican consulate, will provide the course content and materials—many at no charge—for each learning center. The material will include books, videotapes, and Web-based courses delivered via the Internet.

Other programming will include computer courses so students can develop a full range of proficiencies, from the fundamentals of computer usage to specific software applications.

Purdue University's Cooperative Extension Service has assisted a number of Indiana counties in opening local, community-supported centers and has a long history of offering lifelong learning programs for adults. IHETS will provide technical assistance and online tutors to support each of the learning centers. The learning centers and their courses will also become part of the Indiana College Network (ICN), a service provided by IHETS to students engaging in distance education across Indiana. 

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