Ivy Tech Partnership Wins Award
January 25, 2006
Bloomington, Indiana. A partnership between Ivy Tech Community College - Bloomington, the City of Bloomington, and the Internal Revenue Service to provide low-income tax preparation has won an Indiana Career and Technical Education Award for Excellence. The award will be presented at a ceremony in Indianapolis on February 14th.
The partnership takes its name after an Internal Revenue Service program called VITA - Volunteer Income Tax Assistance - and provides free tax preparation services to low income individuals. Ivy Tech's Accounting Program leveraged the VITA program to use it as a service learning opportunity for its students. Students gain practical experience by applying tax theory they have learned with actual practice under the direction of Ivy Tech Accounting faculty, while simultaneously benefiting the community. After taking part in this experiential learning activity, students reflect upon their experience in course work as part of the Accounting Program curriculum.
In 2005, VITA served 157 clients and generated a total of $248,303 in net federal and state tax refunds. In the program's first year (2004), VITA served 100 clients and generated $132,605 in total net refunds.
John Whikehart, Ivy Tech Community College- Bloomington Chancellor, believes the program is a sterling example of the region's mission to incorporate in each academic program a service-learning component for students in support of the region's civic engagement goal. "VITA is an example of students putting to practical use what they are learning in theory in the classroom while providing a service to our community partners. The program assists its clients, teaches students, and brings dollars that might otherwise go unclaimed into the Bloomington economy."
Tax preparation service is provided at Ivy Tech's campus as well as at locations throughout the city, including the Crestmont neighborhood. The City of Bloomington provides support and marketing for the program in order to try and get tax refunds into the hands of citizens in a cost-effective and timely manner. The Internal Revenue Service supplies tax software and training that enables volunteers to participate in the program.
Ivy Tech Accounting faculty, Steve Englert and Roy Elkes, initiated the partnership in 2004. For more information, please contact Ivy Tech at 812-332-1559.
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