WARSAW ─ Ivy Tech Community College and Lake City Bank recently signed an agreement to offer employees at the Warsaw-based bank an opportunity to earn college credit through the college’s Achieve Your Degree program.

Achieve Your Degree is a statewide collaboration between Ivy Tech campuses and its community businesses and organizations that offers free or low-cost tuition to employees and members through tuition reimbursement or financial support from business and industry. This marks the first AYD partnership for Ivy Tech’s Warsaw campus.

“We’re extremely pleased to partner with Lake City Bank on the Achieve Your Degree program,” Warsaw campus president Dr. Allyn Decker said. “We see this collaboration as a natural extension of LCB’s outstanding commitment to employee development.  We also look forward to hosting LCB students.”

The Lake City AYD program will be offered via the bank’s Lake City University, through which the bank develops employees at all stages of their career growth. Employees participating in AYD will have access to all Ivy Tech courses, with the opportunity to earn an associate degree in business as well as in other academic disciplines.

“Continuing education and training is in our DNA at Lake City Bank,” said David M. Findlay, President and CEO. “Partnering with Ivy Tech and the Achieve Your Degree Program is a natural step for us and will be a significant benefit for our employees.”

The program will be available to Lake City employees starting this fall.

A highlight of AYD is its concierge-style services, which includes on-site or dedicated information and registration sessions; help with the application process, advising, financial aid and admissions; and cohorts of courses specifically for AYD students, which enhance communication and services centered on their needs.