As regional campus faculty and staff, you know very well the hard work and dedication you put in to serving your students and your regions every single day. We thought it would be a good idea to highlight some of that work, and the work of your colleagues on all of the regional campuses, together in one place on a monthly basis. This Regional Campus Update will be emailed to you monthly (during the academic year) so you can have the opportunity to see some of the great work happening across the regional campuses, and also what is being done centrally to help all of our regional campus students, faculty, and staff.
It is hard to believe that we are already well in to October! As I write this, you are all busy with what you do best, serving your students and your regions in the very embodiment of the regional campus mission. The work you do is of the utmost importance, and I thank you all. I also thank you for the support you have given to me as I embark in this new leadership role, designed to serve and to elevate the profile of all of the IU Regional Campuses!
Your leadership and vision is what makes our campuses such vital resources for our constituents across Indiana. That leadership and vision was fully on display when we convened teams from all five campuses on June 22 on the IU Kokomo campus for a day-long Leadership retreat. From those discussions emerged a framework that is guiding our work during this academic year:
• Leveraging K-12 Relationships
• Building Online Capacity
• Promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Rebuilding Community
• Encouraging Academic Collaboration
• Strengthening Recruitment and Retention
• Supporting Student Success
• Reengaging Students
Faculty, staff, and administrative leaders from all five of your campuses are working diligently in these areas. This leadership will also serve us well as we embark on a new phase of strategic planning with the recent announcement of the IU 2030 template. For more information on any of the focus areas, please contact Bill McKinney.
Our IU East and Southeast campuses are in the midst of the important process of searching for new chancellors. I had the unique and enlightening opportunity earlier this Fall to participate in the campus listening sessions, and that information is being used to inform and guide the search processes. For more information on these searches, please consult either the IU East Chancellor Search or IU Southeast Chancellor Search web sites.
Finally, please never forget the importance of the work that you do. Our regional campuses are a part of a higher education sector that produces more baccalaureate degrees across the country than any other. As a result, public comprehensive universities like our regional campuses are engines of economic opportunity and educational access for an increasingly diverse student population that will become tomorrow’s leaders because of your good work today.
Thank you for all you do!
Dr. Susan Sciame-Giesecke
Vice President for Regional Campuses and Online Education
From Sue's Desk
News from the Office of the Vice President for Regional Campuses and Online Education
The Regional Campus Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Task Force is continuing its diligent work, focusing this year on developing a collection of affinity groups, as well as a mentorship program, for Black, Indigenous and people of color faculty and staff. The Task Force is comprised of:
Felix Burgos, IUE
Seuth Chaleunphonh, IUS (co-chair)
Sau Hou Chang, IUS (co-chair)
Rosalyn Davis, IUK (co-chair)
Amy Diaz, IUN (co-chair)
April Evans, IUK
Andrea Griffin, IUN
Michael Harley, IUSB
Nichole Mann, IUE
Chloe Robinson, IUSB
In August, we announced the reduction or elimination of some fees for students, faculty, and staff on the Regional Campuses. All IU regional campuses have eliminated the application fee, student parking fees, and the per-credit-hour fee for Advance College Project courses for Indiana high school residents. U.S. residents (both in-state and out-of-state) applying to one of IU’s regional campuses through Apply IU can now do so for free, with the $35 application fee being eliminated. By simply applying, students are automatically considered for some scholarships, which can further reduce the cost of attending school. Additionally, faculty and staff parking fees were reduced by 50%. Please click here for more information.
Work continues to strengthen and expand K-12 engagement through dual credit opportunities and career pathways including the following:
• Developing a framework for the Pathways PLUS, degree and career-focused pathways for high school students, the integrate dual credit coursework, career exploration, work-based learning, pre-college advising, and on-campus engagement.
• Launched a survey of K-12 schools across the state to learn about their interest and needs related to career pathways, the ICC credential, and college readiness experiences.
• Jointly created a proposed NLPS Education Professions pathway called Tomorrow’s Teachers program across all IU campuses.
• Convened a team from each regional campus to discuss high school engagement, dual credit programs, and career pathways.
• Presented at the IU Northwest School Counselors Forum.
• Working with the Indiana Business Research Center to study regional labor market projections in relationship to the degrees offered by IU campuses.
• Continued with efforts to hire staff to serve as Career Pathway Specialists providing advising services to high school students enrolled in dual credit courses and Pathways PLUS.
The Regional Faculty Caucus (RFC) has had an already busy year as it discusses the feasibility of a Common Academic Calendar for the regional campuses. Their leadership is critical as we look to continually improve our service to students. This year’s RFC leadership includes:
Andrea Quenette (IUE)
Gin Morgan (IUK)
Mark Baer (IUN)
Joe Wert (IUS)
Carolyn Schult (IUSB)
Around the regional campuses
• IU East’s new outdoor exhibit puts sculptures in new light.
• IU Kokomo Fiesta celebrates Hispanic culture, provides campus welcome.
• IU Northwest receives $3 million grant to increase retention and graduation rates and foster sense of community. In the last two years, the campus has received $8 million in funding due to its Hispanic Serving Institution designation.
• IU South Bend receives $2 million to increase retention and graduation rates for low income and at-risk students.
• IU Southeast ranked in top 20% for economic mobility outcomes.