Blueprint creates new path for IU's regional campuses

Since 2009, all six of IU’s regional campuses have seen record enrollment.

Combined, the campuses now represent almost one-third of the IU student body.

To address this growing importance, a new “Blueprint for Student Attainment” was presented to the IU Board of Trustees at the regular business meeting June 23.

“In order to prosper, the IU regional campuses must see themselves as part of a distinctive and collective enterprise, while maintaining individual identities and being responsive to state and regional needs,” IU President Michael McRobbie said in a press release. “The Blueprint for Student Attainment leads the way into this new era in the history of the regional campuses.”

Presented by John Applegate, IU executive vice president for University Regional Affairs, Planning and Policy, the blueprint focuses on three priorities to promote progress at the regional campuses.

The first priority, collaboration, includes cross-campus programming, partnerships with other campuses and the sharing of
information.

Engagement, the blueprint’s second priority, encourages faculty to actively engage students in learning, as well as campuses to engage with their communities and regions of the state.

The third priority, excellence, promotes distinction in faculty scholarship, student-focused education and improving efficiency.

Not only will it include initiatives and actions for the campuses to undertake to achieve the goals, the blueprint will also provide ways of tracking success, such as student progress rates, degrees awarded and measures of student engagement in learning.

Applegate will lead the plan’s implementation starting immediately, McRobbie said.

“Improvement in student success rates must receive priority both in implementation of the blueprint and in individual campus decisions,” McRobbie said. “Other key areas for implementation must include affordability and meeting state and regional needs in educational programming, research and engagement. I look forward to regular progress reports.”

— Jake New