IUPUI installs Bantz as chancellor

Charles R. Bantz, a former provost at Wayne State University, was officially installed as chancellor of IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis at a ceremony Thursday.\nBantz said IUPUI would focus its efforts in key areas to better serve Indianapolis and the state, including doubling the number of students completing bachelor's degrees.\nBantz outlined his plan to increase IUPUI's contribution to Indiana's economic future during the ceremony at the University Place Conference Center Auditorium.\nIU President Adam Herbert and Purdue University President Martin Jischke both presided over the ceremony, which was attended by faculty members, students, trustees and alumni.\n"It's an historical event," said Mary Fisher, president of the IUPUI Faculty Council in a statement. "It was an opportunity to hear Bantz's vision for the future, to hear exactly where he wants to take us. IUPUI evolved into a modern urban research university under the leadership of Gerald Bepko. Bantz is going to take us to the next level."\nSelected in January 2002, Bantz began serving IUPUI June 1, replacing Gerald Bepko, who retired after 16 years as chancellor.\nBantz said he wanted to increase IUPUI's impact on Indianapolis.\n"We have an obligation to contribute to the city and the state in every way a research university can contribute," he said.\nBantz said Indiana ranks near the bottom of states in the percentage of those 25 years of age and older with bachelor's degrees, and that 2,490 IUPUI students completed their bachelor's degrees last year. He said his goal is to graduate 5,000 undergraduates by 2010.\n"This is an audacious goal -- but one worthy of the IUPUI family," he said.