Letter from the Provost

The first time I saw IU, I marveled, “This is what a college campus should look like.” I have never lost my appreciation of the beauty of the campus, and I am absolutely delighted to be able to share it with you.  But the physical beauty of the campus is only the start of its treasures.

This guide will open windows throughout the campus and community. It will give you a taste of the history, traditions, people, and places that shape IU and Bloomington, our home.

I invite you to wander the paths of our campus and discover IU’s famous limestone landmarks—from quaint Beck Chapel to the grand and sprawling Indiana Memorial Union; from the historic buildings on the Old Crescent to I.M. Pei’s modernist IU Art Museum. As you walk, take advantage of the many tempting places for a brief respite: Showalter Fountain, the Rose Well House, and the IU Arboretum. If you have time, take a moment to sit by the statue of IU’s legendary president Herman B Wells and read about his remarkable legacy in Source.

Source also showcases several of our world-renowned campus gems—some decades old and some quite new. The IU Cinema, one of our newer gems, is a gorgeous place to see a contemporary or classic film. The cinema combines the glory of the movie-houses of old with state-of-the-art technologies to create one of the best film-viewing experiences in the country.

Artistic creativity and diversity abound at IU and in Bloomington.  While you are here, I hope you will be able to take in a world-class concert performed by our superbly talented Jacobs School of Music students and faculty; enjoy a production at one of the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center’s venues; see a national touring show at the IU Auditorium; or watch a student dance performance at the downtown Buskirk-Chumley Theatre.

Less tangible on your visit, but fundamentally vital to the nature of our community are our nationally ranked and internationally acclaimed academic programs. Source will give you a glimpse of a few of those. We would be delighted to share more information about our outstanding academic programs, and we encourage you to ask us about any that interest you. 

If your visit allows, we hope you will take time to explore the town. Take a bike ride down the B-line trail. Stroll through the Bloomington Farmers’ Market on Saturday morning. Enjoy a meal at one of our wonderful restaurants along Fourth Street or Kirkwood Avenue. As you do, you will be surrounded by our remarkably distinguished faculty and the highly promising students who come to IU from all over Indiana, the nation, and the globe. That may help you understand the allure of Bloomington: it combines the charm of a small Midwestern town with talent, brilliance, and energy that compete with the best in the world.

Whether you have come to Bloomington to visit, to study or to make it your home, we
welcome you wholeheartedly and hope that you enjoy the wealth of treasures that make Indiana University Bloomington “what a campus should be.”

Sincerely,
Lauren Robel, Provost and Executive Vice President