First Day of Class Guide
2025-26
Campus Updates
NMC Locations
Since November 2023, the Ivy Tech Indianapolis downtown campus has undergone major renovations and reconstruction as part of the Ivy Tech Indy: Reimagined for the Future capital project. The Illinois Fall Creek Center (IFC) and the Julia M. Carson Learning Resource Center (LRC) have been closed for renovations and will remain closed through 2025. As a result, Library & Tutoring Services, previously located in the LRC, has relocated to the fourth floor of the North Meridian Center (NMC) building (📽️ Watch this video), along with a few other student-serving departments. Refer to the list below to learn where these departments are currently placed for the 2025-26 academic year.
- Bursar Office: NMC 222
- Career Link: NMC 219/248
- Disability Support Services: NMC 410
- Enrollment Center: NMC 428
- Financial Aid: NMC 428
- Registrar Office: NMC 219/428
- Veterans Affairs Lounge: NMC 537
- Career Coaching: NMC 217
- Achieve Your Degree: NMC 428
It’s a good practice to stay informed about Ivy Tech’s ongoing reconstruction project as it continues to make improvements to the campus by visiting ivytechindyreimagined.com.
Prep for Success
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! Additionally, newsletters curated by your student success team will be sent out monthly, featuring details about campus gatherings, academic deadlines, success stories, resources, and other information relevant to the Ivy Tech Indy community.
Familiarize yourself with campus
Before your first day of in-person classes, take some time to explore the downtown campus and its locations in Lawrence, the Automotive Technology Center, and MADE@Plainfield. This will help ensure you know where you’re going. Some of our buildings can be confusing to navigate, and ongoing reconstruction might temporarily disrupt wayfinding—so it’s best to familiarize yourself early and avoid being late! Consider exploring this map page or schedule a campus tour.
For online students, although you are not physically on campus, it is still a good idea to explore your online environments as well. IvyLearn holds most of the supplies you will use for online courses, including e-textbooks, assignment calendars, an inbox to directly communicate with your classmates and instructor, plus more helpful resources. Your classes are divided into separate workspaces, allowing you to switch between multiple courses and stay organized easily. The format of your course may change with different instructors, so it’s essential to know how to operate IvyLearn independently.
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 8-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!
Class Types & Schedule Guide
At Ivy Tech, we offer a variety of class types to meet your needs and lifestyle.
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 period of time.
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.
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.
Hybrid
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
Sometimes, the shorthand and verbiage used on your class schedule can be a bit tricky to understand when you're reading it for the first time. Please take a look at this screenshot of a student’s schedule below, and let's decipher it together.
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 format, which means there is no scheduled class meeting time. The student can learn the material, complete assignments, and take tests entirely online and at their own pace (with deadlines, of course).
Understanding the shorthand for certain days of the week:
- M = Monday
- T = Tuesday
- W = Wednesday
- R = Thursday
- F = Friday
- S = Saturday
- U = Sunday
Understanding the shorthand 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
- “NIC” = North Illinois Center
- “TECH” = Glick Technology Center (you may hear it referred to as “Glick”)
Understanding the shorthand for buildings beyond the downtown Indy campus:
- "LAWFB" = Fairbanks Center for Health Professions – 9301 E. 59th St., Indianapolis, IN 46216
- "LAWPS" = Public Safety Building – 9530 E. 59th St., Indianapolis, IN 46216
- "AUTO" = Automotive Technology Center – 4751 Century Plaza Road, Indianapolis, IN 46254
- "PLAIN" = MADE @ Plainfield – 1610 Reeves Rd, Plainfield, IN 46168
- “EMC2” = EMC2 at 16 Tech – 1250 Indiana Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Download the “IvyMobile” app!
You can have detailed maps of our campus and satellite locations at your fingertips, wherever you go! You’ll find building floor plans to help you identify exactly where your classroom is located.
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
🖋️ Upcoming Events
Faculty advise that you utilize the calendar feature, as it is where all your assignments and their deadlines will be displayed. Your grades and instructor feedback will also come through IvyLearn. This is how you can track your performance in the class in real-time.
💡Quick Additional 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 most comfortable and learn efficiently (this applies to all class styles, not just online).
- 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.
Books
eCampus is our textbook provider and campus store operator.
Since the Indy campus bookstore (located in IFC) is temporarily closed due to renovations, students can visit the Lawrence location’s bookstore for Ivy Tech apparel and merchandise! In addition, eCampus offers reduced textbook fees and an online bookstore with Indy-specific pages.
Another way to access books is at Library & Tutoring Services. At the library, you have access to computers and laptops for studying, printers for academic documents, and a quiet space to relax in between classes as well.
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 and Math & Science Centers 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, where you can access additional research assistance, including journals, sources, guides, and librarian assistance.
Resources & Support Services
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 reach out!
- Academic Advising: indy-advising@ivytech.edu
- Center for Student Success: indy-studentsuccess@ivytech.edu
- Counseling & Wellness: indianapolis-counseling@ivytech.edu
- Disability Support Services: indianapolis-dss@ivytech.edu
- IvyCares: indianapolis-ivycares@ivytech.edu
- Student Advocacy: indianapolis-advocacy@ivytech.edu
- Student Life: indianapolis-studentlife@ivytech.edu
- Career Link: indianapolis-careerlink@ivytech.edu
Advising
If you can’t find the answer, your academic advisor can help! The Ivy Tech Indianapolis Office of Academic Advising helps you set and achieve your academic goals, 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 enhance your self-awareness, identify areas for growth or improvement, provide valuable 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 Friday, Aug. 22, 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!
Kickstart your Ivy Tech experience by diving into campus life! Student Life hosts a variety of events—starting even before classes begin—to help you connect, have fun, and meet new friends. Check out what’s happening on IvyLife, and don’t be shy—stop by an event, say hello, and maybe even leave with a new study buddy! 😊
Join a Student Organization
With 30+ student-run clubs and organizations, there’s something for everyone. Browse the list, find one that sparks your interest, and reach out to get involved this year! Don’t miss the Fall Student Involvement & Resource Fair on Tuesday, Sep. 2, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in NMC 438 and Wednesday, Sept. 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Lawrence's F166 & F168—your perfect chance to explore clubs, meet leaders, and find your niche.
Library Events: More Than Just Books
The Library Events page is a hidden gem, offering everything from ESOL Conversation Circles to therapy dog stress relief sessions and even yoga. These events support both your academic success and personal wellness—so take advantage!
Hear from Fellow Students
Read Student Voices on Ivy Tech News, where real students share their journeys, challenges, and triumphs. Who knows? Your story could be next!
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 additional guidance, please refer to your New Student Orientation booklet.
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