In an effort to improve engagement in higher learning, one of Ivy Tech Community College’s local campuses is partnering with a Gary charter school to teach a class for parents, introducing them to the benefits a college education offers.

Ivy Tech Lake County, which has locations in Crown Point, East Chicago and Gary, and Charter School of the Dunes, 7300 Melton Road, are offering an eight-week Student Success course for parents of CSD middle schoolers, covering such topics as organization, dealing with distractions and how skills learned in college translate into a high-paying career. Those completing the course will earn one credit at Ivy Tech.

CSD encompasses kindergarten through eighth grade.

“We want to get that postsecondary dialogue happening within families sooner rather than later, as well as motivate parents to return to or attend college themselves,” said Jená Bellezza, a member of the Ivy Tech Lake County Board of Trustees. “It is difficult to encourage something which you’ve had little to no experience with, and we are asking the parents of future first-generation postsecondary students to advocate for something they have no real connection to, or even a full understanding of.

“Providing a college experience for these parents permits an opportunity to get them excited about this prospect not just for their kids, but even for themselves, making this type of experience a great outreach tool for these families. We are excited by its prospects.”

“We believe in lifelong learning for better opportunities, improving the quality of life for generations,” Cheryl Smith, parent-community liaison at CSD, who had approached Ivy Tech with the idea for the program, said.

The course, which begins March 23, will be a combination of virtual and in-person sessions, according to Iris Sanchez, Student Life director at Ivy Tech Lake County and instructor for part of the course.

“I’m excited to be involved in such a great project and look forward to our partnership with CSD,” Sanchez said.

The program will culminate in a final session on May 13 at the college’s East Chicago location. On this day, parents enrolled in the course will travel with their students to Ivy Tech for a celebration and tour of the experiential learning classrooms.

“I believe this program will provide parents some insight on what it means to be a student,” Louie Gonzalez, chancellor of Ivy Tech Lake County, said. “By saying yes to this invitation, a parent is saying yes to all the responsibilities of being a student. By enrolling in this course, a parent is displaying one’s love, dedication and commitment to their child or children. And remember, we are all students. None of us ever stop learning.”

“I so love what Charter School of the Dunes is doing by offering this program,” said Namambo Johnson, mother of a CSD student.

Donna Kiesling is the Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications at Ivy Tech Community College’s Lake County Campus.