IU's 'Brain Drain' solution

The Lilly Endowment announced a $40 million solution to Indiana's "Brain Drain" problem June 24. The foundation is seeking proposals from Indiana's universities and will choose recipients for a portion of the $40 million based on these proposals. The money will help fund future programs that will seek to keep Indiana residents in the state after graduation.\nWhether IU receives the grant in full will depend on their proposal to the Lilly Endowment. Enhanced internships and placement opportunities are some of the expected proposals, but other educational program proposals will be accepted as well. \n"$5.5 million is allotted to Indiana University based on student population," Lilly Endowment Communications Director Gretchen Wolfram said. "IU's proposal may not be for that much, so it's safe to say that up to $5.5 million is allotted for IU."\nIU spokeswoman Jane Jankowski said IU officials have plans in the works to receive some of the endowment.\n"Indiana University does not currently have any ideas for a proposal because the announcement was only made Tuesday, but we are planning to apply," Jankowski said.\nShe said IU will work on programs to help businesses and universities get better acquainted earlier.\nThe Lilly Endowment is theorizing this early relationship will help students seek employment through businesses located within the state. This will strengthen the reputation of the business, which will draw students from other states to Indiana businesses. \nIndiana has lost more jobs than any other state from 2000 to 2002, according to the Indiana Manufacturing Association. This is what sparked interest within the Lilly Endowment to encourage efforts among state educational facilities to creatively set up organizations that will promote and actively pursue ways of keeping graduates in the state. \nThe programs also are expected to help soften the transition from a manufacturing economy to a more knowledge-based one, a transition that Indiana currently is experiencing, said Ed Roberts, vice president of Governmental Institutions for the Indiana Manufacturing Association.\nBased on their student enrollment and proposals, all universities located within the state of Indiana have a chance at receiving a part of the $40 million. The process is not competitive, and the only proposals that will be refused are those that do not show promise.\nIt will take state-wide cooperation from universities to secure Indiana's economic future. Although economic change through the Lilly Endowment grant is not expected to take place immediately, the organizations the grant will fund are "one part of the puzzle," Jankowski said.