Herbert: Raise admit standards

It may be tougher to be accepted to IU in the future, as IU President Adam Herbert said Tuesday raising academic admissions standards are a top priority of the University.\nHerbert said IU hoped to raise the academic prestige of the school by increasing admission standards, particularly as they pertain to the Core 40 curriculum that Indiana high schools use as a recommendation for all high school students. He said such moves would "increase the academic profile of our student body," particularly in Bloomington.\n"We are laying a stronger and broader foundation for enhancing the University and moving it even higher among America's most distinguished universities," he said in his speech to the Rotary Club of Bloomington. "Simultaneously the board has challenged us to serve the state more extensively and build a more knowledge based economy."\nCiting four main priorities for IU's future, Herbert announced a focus to improve the organizational structure of the University, attract and retain new faculty members, strengthen the infrastructure of the school's information technology and give more attention to prioritizing academic goals. \n"If you're going to raise the quality of an institution it is absolutely essential to have priority areas in which you are making strategic investments so that the institution continues to elevate again in the context of the standards of distinction in which we aspire," Herbert said.\nDeclaring that life sciences is the University's highest academic priority, Herbert went on to include information technology, arts and humanities, the Kelley School of Business and the School of Education as the other academic areas in which he hopes to focus on the most. \nAnother key goal objective that Herbert stated was the search for a new chancellor to replace Interim Chancellor Ken Gros Louis. He said he hoped to appoint someone to that post before Thanksgiving, then "twist arms to get that person to come as soon as possible after that selection."\nHerbert's speech followed a wave of recent criticism claiming that he has kept too low of a profile during his tenure in office and has not made enough public appearances. \n"Like everyone I was very sensitive to the recent criticism and I wanted to hear from him directly," said Rotary member Judge Randy Bridges. "He presented himself very well and the more opportunities he has to speak the better off IU is." \nHerbert was introduced by IU trustee Sue Talbot, who expressed confidence and pride in the 17th IU president.\n"We felt and we do feel that we did secure the best person," Talbot said. "He hit the ground running with the leading of the chancellor search, hiring a new athletics director, football coach, many deans positions and helped us to form one of the most success continuative fund raising for Indiana University"