INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ Ivy Tech Community College has taken another cost-cutting step by merging its Bloomington and Southwest regions in its fourth such consolidation in 10 months.

The statewide vocational college says the latest merger was made possible by the retirement of former Bloomington Chancellor John Whikehart earlier this year and the retirement at the end of this month of Chancellor Daniel Schenk from the Southwest region, which includes sites in Evansville and Tell City.

The merger reduces the number of regional chancellors to 10, down from 14 a year ago.

The Ivy Tech board last month announced the consolidation of its Columbus and Southeast regions and that of its East Central and Richmond regions. It merged two northern Indiana regions last year as part of efforts to reduce a $68 million deficit.