Harrison College Name Change FAQs For Alumni

After more than 100 years, Indiana Business College realized it was time for a name change. Our students deserve a name that better reflects the school they’re attending – a school that offers relevant programs in five schools of study, not just business, and which has grown beyond its Indiana borders.

So now your alma mater is known as Harrison College – a name that represents a history of leadership in the state of Indiana, but also provides a foundation for the future as we work toward even greater things for our students in the years to come. If you’ve been thinking about furthering your education, we invite you to visit the new Harrison College website, which outlines the certificate, associate and bachelor degree programs we now offer in Indiana, Ohio and online.

So how does this affect you? Harrison College faculty and staff put together a few frequently asked questions that we think may help you during this transition.

FAQs

Why did you choose Harrison College? Why not name the college after the founder, Charles Cring, or the current college president, Ken Konesco?

We considered Charles Cring, the founder, as a basis for the name, but
 wanted something more recognizable in Indiana and the Midwest. The name 
Harrison represents a history, a heritage and leadership in Indiana, and 
it provides a foundation that we plan to build on for the future and 
achieve even greater things for the school and its students in the
 coming years. It is not necessarily named after any one person.

When I try to log in to the current Harrison website, I am getting a certificate error. Is it OK to ignore this error?

Yes, as we continue to switch all website addresses over to Harrison.edu, users may see a certificate authorization pop up. It is OK to bypass this certificate as the Harrison.edu website is safe.

Should I continue to make my student loan checks out to IBC or should I change it to Harrison College?

Please begin making all checks out to Harrison College as that is how we are now recognized by financial institutions.

Is Harrison the last name of a famous donor or alumni?

No. The name Harrison represents a history, a heritage and leadership in
 Indiana, and it provides a foundation that we plan to build on for the
 future and achieve even greater things for the school and its students
 in the years to come.

 While there have been many notable leaders in Indiana with the Harrison 
name, the College is not named for a specific individual, but rather for 
what the name represents.

I already have a degree from Indiana Business College. Will I be given a new degree with the Harrison College name on it?

No, any student graduating before July 1 will have an Indiana Business College degree.

Was the name Harrison chosen because of William or his grandson Benjamin Harrison?

Neither. The name Harrison represents a history, a heritage and leadership in
 Indiana, and it provides a foundation that we plan to build on for the
 future and achieve even greater things for the school and its students
 in the years to come.

 While there have been many notable leaders in Indiana with the Harrison 
name, the College is not named for a specific individual, but rather for 
what the name represents.

Will the transfer of credits to and from Harrison College still be as flexible as they were before?

Yes, transfer credits to Harrison College will still be accepted; however, transfer credits from Harrison to another higher education institution will depend on the receiving institution. Harrison College does not make that determination.

Does the name change of the school affect my loan with Sallie Mae? Do I need to notify them that my college name has changed?

The name change does not affect your loans, and you do not need to 
contact Sallie Mae.

 We have contacted Sallie Mae to let them know of the name change. They are working on updating all their records as we speak. It will take
 them approximately a week and a half before you will see the change on
 documents.

Will employee email addresses change to @harrison.edu? If so, when will that change happen and how long will the @ibcschools.edu email addresses still work?

Employee email addresses will change to reflect the new Harrison College name. This change will take place the week of May 4, 2009, but please do not send any emails to @harrison.edu addresses until you see your contacts update their signatures. Old @ibcschools.edu email addresses will continue to be valid for at least the next six months.

Will the College’s employer partners be made aware of the name change?
Yes, we currently are working with all our employer partners to inform them of the name change to ensure our communities are aware that our students are still receiving the same relevant, career-focused training they have for the past 107 years.

Should I change the name of my alma mater on my resume?
Yes, we suggest you alter your resume to read “Harrison College, formerly Indiana Business College.”

Why did IBC change the name of the College?
We wanted a name that more accurately describes what the College has become as we no longer are only business or only in Indiana. We offer more than 30 degree programs in five schools of study, and we’re opening a campus in Columbus, Ohio.

Why Harrison?
The name Harrison represents a history, a heritage and leadership in Indiana, and it provides a foundation that we plan to build on for the future and achieve even greater things for the school and its students in the years to come.

Is the College named after Benjamin Harrison?
While there have been many notable leaders in Indiana with the Harrison name, the College is not named for a specific individual, but rather for what the name represents.

Why Harrison College and not Harrison University?
Often people think of universities as being big places with sports teams and dorms and offering masters and doctorate degrees. However, our culture tends to be more like a college. Typically colleges feel smaller and have close-knit communities where the students relate well to the faculty and staff. A college is really who and what we are.

Was the name change because we’re expanding into Ohio?
Yes, that’s part of the reason. We anticipate even more growth in our online programs and expansion into other states, so a name that’s not location-specific more accurately reflects what our college has become.

Has another college bought out Indiana Business College?
No, another institution or company did not purchase Indiana Business College. The name change to Harrison College is to reflect our growth outside of Indiana and online.

How can I find a Harrison College t-shirt or other college items?
We now have a Harrison Store online where you can purchase items. However, you will notice your local campus may still have many IBC products in stock. Over the next few to several months, campuses will be re-stocking their in-campus stores with Harrison shirts, pens, bags, and much more.