As I looked at all the regional campus plans, I noted common themes in each pillar.
Pillar 1: Student success
Strengthen retention and completion rates:
Developing holistic student support that includes finding ways to provide personalized support; giving students a map/pathway toward activities that promote belonginess; and developing technology that allows us to track and support students from admission to graduation.
Ensuring that DEI is at the heart of every student success initiative, including academic programming and curricula and cocurricular activities which includes successful implementation of the Groups Scholars Program, launching a 21st Century scholar support program, expanding multicultural centers on each campus, and incorporating inclusive pedagogy as the signature framework of teaching excellence throughout the curriculum.
Minimizing additional financial burdens to our students that includes increasing grant funding to enhance student success programs, increasing philanthropy to provide more student scholarships, identifying programs and courses where cross-campus collaboration may improve efficiencies and access, and improving DFW grades in lower division gateway courses.
Prioritizing the health and well-being of our students, including creating campus wellness centers.
Pillar 2: Transformative research and creative activity
Developing and Implementing Community Based Research Centers. Increasing Undergraduate Research Opportunities. Reviewing Promotion and Tenure criteria to expand faculty opportunities.
Pillar 3: Service to the state and beyond
Increasing the number of P-12 students in our service regions who engage in activities and programs with each campus (via dual credit, career exploration, College Goal Sunday, Tomorrow’s Teachers, etc.)
Engaging community partners to enhance economic development through the creation of community engagement centers.
Strengthening the talent pipeline to address the health care talent attraction and retention crisis.
Providing credentials that meet work force needs including micro-credentials, digital badges, certificates, and degree programs, both in-person and online.
Updates:
Promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion
On March 31, 2023, I spent a wonderful day meeting diverse faculty and staff from all five regional campuses at the Madame Walker Theater in Indianapolis. They gathered to network and learn more about mentoring. Dr. Shawnte’ Elbert, who is the associate vice president for health and wellbeing at the Ohio State University was the keynote speaker. Her address summarized research and proven practices on mentoring and mentorship, including strategies for establishing formal or informal mentoring programs for faculty and staff. Dr. Monica Johnson, who serves as the assistant vice president for diversity education and cross-cultural engagement at IU, led attendees through a workshop session on contemplating the importance and necessity of engaging in DEI work, and the goals and best potential outcomes of this work.
Teaching and Service Awards
I enjoyed attending the IU Celebration of Teaching and Service Award Ceremony where Dr. James Smith from IU South Bend won the Lieber Memorial Award for outstanding teaching. It is the oldest teaching award at IU, established in 1951. It recognizes outstanding ability and skill in teaching. Professor J.R. Pico from IU Kokomo won the George Pinnell Award for Outstanding Service. The award recognizes faculty members who have shown exceptional breadth of involvement and depth of commitment in service to the university, to their profession, or to the public.
New chancellors
I look forward to welcoming two new chancellors to the IU regional campus family. Dr. Dennis Rome will lead the IU East campus. He comes to us from Northeastern Illinois University.
Dr. Debbie Ford returns home to lead the IU Southeast campus after her fourteen-year tenure as the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin Parkside.
I want to thank Dr. Michelle Malott and Dr. Kelly Ryan for their willingness to serve as the Interim Chancellors this past year. Both will return to their positions as Executive Vice Chancellors of Academic Affairs at their institutions.
Regional campus promotion and tenure
Twenty faculty members were promoted and tenured and 23 faculty members were promoted to full professor. Congratulations to all!
Congratulations
Congratulations to IU Kokomo, IU South Bend, and IU East on being awarded the USDOE's Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration grant for $4.4 million dollars! The proposal, Addressing Regional School Psychologist Shortages through IU-School Partnerships, will provide a wonderful kickstart for the newly approved OCAP Ed.S. School Psychology program and will initially support the three school districts who were partners in the application: Kokomo School Corporation, Richmond Community Schools, and South Bend Community School Corporation.
New fee structure
As part of a continued commitment to access and affordability, Indiana University is improving its student fee structure to simplify and decrease the number of fees and provide clearer fee descriptions. Beginning with the 2023/24 academic year, most students will pay less in fees over the course of their degree program. Tuition rates are managed separately and will not be affected by the fee restructuring.
