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Friday, March 29
The Indiana Daily Student

Around the campus

IMU Late Night only on Fridays\nBeginning this week, IU Late Night, sponsored by the Indiana Memorial Union Board, will take place exclusively on Friday nights instead of Friday and Saturday nights.\nThe IU Late Night program has been in effect for nearly two semesters, and junior Vaughn Allen, Union Board public relations director, said survey and analysis of the program found that most people were attending no more than one night per weekend.\n"Knowing this, we've decided the best way to enhance the program is to pack what used to be two full nights of programming into one 'blowout' weekend, " Allen said in a press release. "Ultimately, we hope to draw the guests in on Friday night, and give them an evening with twice as much programming as they're used to -- twice the options."\nSchool of Education to work with state schools, communitites\nIn an effort to enhance quality education statewide, the School of Education introduced an initiative to increase collaboration with schools and communities through a cohesive outreach program.\nIU faculty members are already involved in the pre-K-through-12 school systems statewide, Dean Gerardo Gonzalez said, but the effort will soon be coordinated through the Office of School Partnerships and Outreach. \nRepresentatives from the newly formed office will meet with Indiana's educational leaders Tuesday in Indianapolis to discuss statewide school needs and interests. Subsequent focus groups will be formed to gather information from teachers and administrators to help determine ways in which the University can best collaborate with Indiana's school districts and communities.\nGonzalez said it is a collaborative effort by all parties with benefits to everyone involved. Faculty and staff from the School of Education will offer their expertise and, in turn, benefit from meaningful partnerships with schools and communities. \nRoger Thornton, executive director of the Indiana School Superintendents Association said the proposed program "will provide Indiana school districts with some assistance, but it will offer to Indiana University the opportunity to make certain that its preparation programs are connected to the reality of public education in today's public schools."\nThese understandings, Gonzalez said, will enable faculty to ask better research questions, as well as to improve educational opportunities including classroom instruction and field experiences.\n"Through this collaboration we will be able to better prepare our teachers," he said. "Our faculty has a lot to offer as experts in our various fields, but we also have a lot to learn from our school colleagues."\nJohnson Center wins award\nThe Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, part of the Kelley School of Business, recognized Indiana's fastest-growing and most progressive companies Wednesday at its seventh annual Growth 100 dinner and awards banquet at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis.\nThe Growth 100 award honors Indiana's rapid-growth, high-potential entrepreneurial companies with annual sales of at least $1 million. This year, 80 privately owned companies were selected from 165 nominations across the state.\nGrowth 100 companies are identified through an analytical process based upon the High Performance Organization model developed by the Johnson Center. The screening process might include interviews with a company's CEO and key management team members and often includes a site visit.\n"This year's Growth 100 awardees have an average annual sales of $8.8 million, with a growth rate averaging 58 percent," said Elizabeth J. Gatewood, director of the Johnson Center, in a press release. "These entrepreneurial companies have a strong impact on the state, not only economically but also through employment and community development."\nOne award winner, Don Garrity of Garrity Tool Co. Inc. in Indianapolis, said, "Receiving the award definitely puts your company in a special category in the business world. It says that your company is a cut above the competition."\nCompanies receiving the award are invited to join the Growth 100 Winners Circle, a membership organization offering services such as educational programs and seminars, and networking with peers.\nPast members said they found the network to be beneficial. Sally Byrn, owner and chief executive officer of SSCI Inc. of West Lafayette and a third-year Growth 100 awardee, said in a press release, "My attendance at Growth 100 meetings has not only been instructional, but has enabled me to meet other entrepreneurs who have similar experiences and problems."\nContact the Johnson Center at 855-4248 to nominate a company for next year's Growth 100.

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