Engaging, Serving, and Leading in Research

During times of high volatility, our values can anchor us, and our mission can unite us. As we affirm on our website:

For more than 50 years, our campus has differentiated itself as an institution at the forefront of innovation and discovery. We're also a dedicated servant to our community, educating generations of leaders, promoting economic growth, and creating new jobs—in the capital city and throughout Indiana.

Our commitment to the learning community, along with innovation and discovery, led to our recent Research 1 (R1) ranking. At IU Indianapolis, research and learning go beyond the textbook and outside the classroom. Faculty and staff support our students through experiential learning opportunities offered through the Institute for Engaged Learning (IEL). Not only does the work at IEL create a rich learning experience, but these experiences also bring students and experts from different disciplines together to work on real-world problems that are best solved using an interdisciplinary lens.

Most importantly, this work serves our citizens and our communities in all parts of Indiana. Some examples of such learning are described below:

Ensuring access to health care in all 92 counties of our state, especially in small rural communities, is a challenge that IU Indy students in the School of Nursing are working to address. Learn about the impact they are making in communities like French Lick, Indiana, with a population of less than 2,000, and Mitchell, Indiana, where the population is under 4,000. It is about serving the citizens who live in rural areas.

Do you know if the beautiful flowering plant in your backyard is toxic? Our students at IU Indy can help you. It’s about biology, but it’s also about communicating the lessons in a way that is easy to understand and straightforward to implement.

How many undergrads can go into law school knowing what 801(d)2(E) is? Bridget Janney asks this question. Her internship at the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office helped her gain a real understanding of felony and murder cases while also serving the public. This experience solidified her desire to pursue a career in law. Find out more about Bridget and her work serving our citizens.

Are you a football fanatic and a data analytics enthusiast? IU Indy is the right place for you! Check out what our students worked on that helped them combine their love for football with data analytics at the NFL Big Data Bowl that happened before this year’s Super Bowl. In a sports town like ours, simplifying sports analytics is a service to every citizen!

The experiential learning and work of our students mentored by faculty and staff make a real difference in the lives of the people we serve and the communities we support. And our students who choose their courses will tell you they are by far the most fun, the most engaging, and the most fulfilling. The work of our student learners reminds us that, above all, at IU Indy, we engage, we serve, and most of all, we care. Please know that we are committed to serving our learners and to all who care for our learners.

Go Jags!

Latha Ramchand
Chancellor