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As anniversaries go, the first rarely gets much attention. We tend to celebrate the history of universities in decades or centuries of impact—not single years.
But early actions lay the foundation. And foundation-setting is exactly what we’re doing as we celebrate our first full year as Indiana University Indianapolis.
We’re guided by one goal: to propel Indianapolis forward and create opportunity for every student who steps onto our campus. Everything we do is about putting our city’s and state’s needs first—the needs of families who want a better future for their children, of entrepreneurs ready to bring the next big thing to market, of civic leaders looking to build on the remarkable strides Indy is making.
That means powering new careers. Creating the talent Indy’s businesses need to thrive. Conducting research to discover the next life-saving cure. And setting the stage for a new generation of entrepreneurs.
That work looks like a seamless admissions program that is creating a surge in college enrollment, partnering with 57 schools statewide with more on the way. Our academic programs are evolving to meet the needs of students, Hoosier businesses and growing industries. We’ve introduced new degree programs in the business of biotechnology, biomedical engineering, biochemistry, biomedical sciences and computer science.
Our commitment to our city and students also demands that we offer learning experiences that go beyond the classroom. Through programs like our co-ops with Eli Lilly and Co. and White Lodging, students are earning credit while gaining hands-on training at top employers, preparing them for the workplace while meeting our city’s talent needs.
We’re boosting Indianapolis’ future by investing in research that will bring world-changing innovations into people’s everyday lives. This year, IU Indianapolis joined the ranks of the nation’s leading research universities with an R1 Carnegie classification. This puts our campus in good company as just the fourth R1 institution in the state and among a handful of universities nationally that boast two stand-alone R1 campuses.
To achieve R1 status, a university must attract at least $50 million a year in funded research and development. Yet what truly matters is the impact we deliver. Every dollar we invest in research at IU Indianapolis helps improve lives in the Hoosier state and beyond—through innovations like a less invasive screening for prostate cancer, new treatments for complications from traumatic brain injuries and a new type of admissible evidence that’s being used in Indiana courtrooms.
We’re also shaping the physical evolution of downtown. Between the James T. Morris Arena (The Jim), the IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences (IU LAB), our new Medical Education and Research Building, and the STEM LAB Building, we’re adding more than 650,000 square feet to IU’s footprint in Indy by 2027.
While these spaces will serve our students, they will also make the city a hub for innovation—in biosciences and other key fields—while adding a new dimension to the city’s sports strategy.
A university should offer a ladder to better opportunities for families. It should generate the innovations and knowledge that keep a local economy vibrant, solve big problems and change lives.
Through strategic investments and expanded partnerships over just 12 short months, IU Indianapolis is proving to be that engine for Indianapolis and central Indiana. Our aspirations for our campus and city are endless, and we’re just getting started.•
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Whitten is president of Indiana University. Ramchand is inaugural chancellor of IU Indianapolis and executive vice president of Indiana University.
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