Commission approves School of Philanthropy

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education recently approved IU’s proposal for a new School of Philanthropy, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the world.
The new school will build upon the University’s Center on Philanthropy, which has been operating programs out of both IU-Bloomington and IU-Purdue University Indianapolis for the past 25 years.

The School of Philanthropy will be located on the IUPUI campus, said Gene Tempel, former Center on Philanthropy Executive Director , although no plans currently exist for the construction of a separate building.

The plan, he said, is to utilize space in pre-existing buildings on IUPUI’s campus and look into longer-term solutions in the future.

Tempel, who currently serves as president of IU Foundation, will serve as the new school’s senior fellow in philanthropy, effective Oct. 1. In this role, Tempel will spearhead the School of Philanthropy’s planning efforts.

The Center is considered a leading institution in the field of philanthropic education and studies, IU President Michael McRobbie said in a press release.

“The transformation of the Center to a new School of Philanthropy will allow us to take full advantage of other University resources in related areas and provide unparalleled education and research opportunities in this area for our students,” he said.

Tempel said despite the center’s success, the new school will be able to provide a permanent home for faculty currently working within the University better than the center could on its own. He also said it will attract other leading scholars and professors in the field.

“We’ll be able to offer degrees that now have to be offered through other schools,” he said.

At present, IU offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in philanthropic studies, but these are often administered through the School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI. Similar degrees are offered through the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IU-Bloomington.

Although the school will be located in Indianapolis, Tempel said students in Bloomington will reap benefits of the new institution. Plans have already been made for the school to form a close relationship with SPEA, he said.

“I think these connections will allow students who are interested get connected with resources in the School of Philanthropy,” he said.

Tempel said he also anticipates the new school will allow the University to expand its selection of courses within the field.

“IUPUI and the Center on Philanthropy have long been in the vanguard of philanthropy education,” IUPUI Chancellor Charles Bantz said in a press release. “Creating the School of Philanthropy will expand and enhance our ability to provide students with a top-quality education in a growing field.”

— Kirsten Clark