Welcome to Indiana University Bloomington!
You may be a new or returning student, faculty, or staff member. Perhaps you are here for an athletics event, a performance, or a conference, or are in town to visit family and friends. Whatever brought you here—and whether you are a first-time visitor or frequent guest to our city—I hope you will take the time to explore our grounds, which USA Today named one of the Top 10 Best Beautiful College Campuses.
Our campus architecture highlights the natural beauty of southern Indiana and prominently features buildings made of limestone from quarries right here in Bloomington. You will find plenty of open walking paths, lush florals, and green spaces, such as the IU Arboretum next to the historic Herman B Wells Library and Dunn’s Woods, just through the iconic Sample Gates.
If you’re interested in public art, the walking path that begins at the Sample Gates and continues through the center of campus to the IU Cinema features bronze sculptures of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ernie Pyle, IU President Herman B Wells, and Bloomington-born singer-songwriter Hoagy Carmichael. Also look for the10,000-pound limestone brain sculpture in front of our Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences on 10th Street and the iconic sculpture of Venus in Showalter Fountain in the arts plaza outside IU Auditorium, which annually brings in world-famous performers and Broadway productions.
On the First Thursday of each month during the academic year, the arts plaza comes alive with a festival of performances, readings, film, poetry, crafts, food carts, and more. Each year, the IU Cinema attracts filmmakers and actors such as Meryl Streep, Ava DuVernay, and Kevin Kline for public lectures and screenings. The world-class Jacobs School of Music and the Department of Theatre, Drama and Contemporary Dance present student and faculty performances year-round, including the collaborative Hammer & Nail concert each spring. Mathers Museum of World Cultures is one of the world’s leading anthropological museums, while the Lilly Library contains rare books including correspondence from Indiana author Kurt Vonnegut, a Gutenberg bible, and a collection with more than 30,000 puzzles.
Through the development of our new Center for Rural Engagement IU, students, faculty, and staff are working with organizations and communities across Indiana on community-identified projects initiatives to improve health, resilience, and quality of life. Additionally, through the IU Corps network, student volunteers are making a difference throughout the state, the nation, and the world.
We are so proud of our beautiful campus and of our place in the vibrant, diverse Bloomington community. For nearly 200 years, Indiana University has called Bloomington home, and we hope you feel at home during your time here.
Lauren Robel,
Provost and Executive Vice President
