IU to strengthen, expand presence as national leader through new Washington, DC, location
Indiana University is boosting its national presence, expanding opportunities for students and accelerating the impact of its groundbreaking researchers with a newly acquired eight-story facility in Washington, D.C., that will put the university’s faculty and students at the heart of national and international affairs.
“This building represents a major step forward in our vision for IU as a national and global leader,” said Pamela Whitten, president of Indiana University. “It will open new doors for our students by making new and potentially life-changing experiences available. It will create new opportunities for us to highlight IU innovation for national and international policymakers, extending the impact of that research. Students and faculty across disciplines and interest areas will benefit from this important investment, just as the country and the world will benefit from IU’s prominent leadership.”
Read more about IU's new DC location
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State Update
The IU State Relations team has reviewed every bill that has been introduced at the Statehouse and determined if and how the bill could impact the university. This Statehouse Update provides a summary of bills the team is tracking that have had activity up to this point during the eleventh week of session.
Read the State Update
Federal Update
Last Friday, March 14, the Senate passed a continuing resolution funding the federal government through the end of fiscal year 2025 (September 30). President Trump signed the bill later that evening, averting a government shutdown.
The House and Senate were both in recess this week. Both chambers will return on Monday, March 24. The federal update newsletter will return next week.
Economic Engagement Update
From emergency permit to licensed teacher thanks to IU pathway program
As teacher vacancies persist in Indiana, paraprofessionals like instructional assistants are often asked to fill in, obtaining emergency permits to teach in classrooms. The Indiana Department of Education issued 5,671 emergency permits during the 2023-24 school year.
To ensure paraprofessionals are equipped with the knowledge, skills and support they need, Indiana University School of Education in Indianapolis launched the District-Based Alternative Certification program to help bachelor’s-degree-holding school district employees become licensed teachers within 12 to 18 months. Since its founding in 2017, 250 participants have gone through the program.
Paula Magee, School of Education clinical professor in science education, was instrumental in launching the program, with the goal of reducing barriers to obtaining licensure and helping school districts grow their own talent. She coordinates student teaching for the graduate initial licensure programs, making connections with a variety of administrators and staff across districts in the state. As a result, she sees the impact of the teacher vacancies up close.
“Most participants have emergency permits,” Magee said. “However, even though a paraprofessional may become a teacher of record in the classroom, they still need to earn an initial teaching license. They also need additional training and support to build their confidence in classroom management and pedagogy.”
Magee brainstormed with district partners to find a way for students to receive a high-quality teaching education, meet state requirements and maintain their employment. The biggest challenge centered on student teaching. Magee helped the districts individualize employees’ schedules, so student teaching could occur during the workday. Additionally, many classes were held after school in a central location selected by the school district.
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Kelley Indianapolis Business Plus connects students to real-world experiences starting freshman year
A month into the second semester of her freshman year, Victoria Delgado is already playing an active role in improving international talent recruitment strategies at one of the world’s largest producers of animal medicine.
She and five other students — the program’s first cohort —are serving internships at Elancothrough Kelley Indianapolis Business Plus, a recently established program that offers undergraduate students the chance to gain hands-on experience in real-life professional environments while pursuing their education.
Business Plus is structured as an intensive, undergraduate career development experience. Once students are accepted, they meet with partner business representatives, and both groups identify their top choices to match them up. The students are then paired with employers for immersion and internship experiences, progressing into full co-op opportunities, typically in the senior year.
In addition to forging connections with employers across the state, the Business Plus program offers other support in advance of students’ placements. These include resume workshops, interview skills practice with a professional career coach, and professional development events focused on topics such as workplace norms.
Read about Business Plus
IU in the News
Darian DeVries Named 31st Head Coach of IU Men’s Basketball Program
IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson has hired former West Virginia and Drake Coach Darian DeVries as the new head coach of the IU Men's Basketball program.
The 49-year-old DeVries comes to Bloomington with 24 years of Division I coaching experience, including the last seven as a highly-successful head coach at Drake (2019-24) and West Virginia (2025). His Drake and West Virginia teams went a combined 169-68 (71.3%) overall and 89-43 (67.4%) in conference play, and won three conference championships (one regular season, two postseason) along the way.
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Innovative infection prevention curriculum uses virtual reality to train students
A new initiative at the Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health at IU Indianapolis is integrating cutting-edge training tools, including virtual reality simulations, to prepare the next generation of public health professionals to tackle infection prevention and control challenges.
Led by faculty members Shandy Dearth and Tom Duszynski, the project enhances existing public health coursework with targeted content on infection prevention, antibiotic resistance and health-care-acquired infections. The curriculum is designed to be adaptable to students in various hospital settings, including rural, urban and suburban communities.
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Kelley investment management students win prestigious Balyasny Asset Management stock pick competition
A team of three students from theIndiana University Kelley School of Businessfinished in first place in the prestigiousBalyasny Asset Management Winter Stock Pitch Competition, which attracts top talent from business schools across the country and provides them with invaluable experience they will use in the future.
The three sophomores — Sayer Birch, Bao Nguyen and Jack Buchenberger – traveled to New York City to make their pitches before a panel of judges on Feb. 28 at Balyasny Asset Management’sNew York officeson the 35th floor of the General Motors Building. Birch, Nguyen and Buchenberger emerged as the winners, along with a team from the University of Alabama, besting teams from Duke University, New York University and the University of Tennessee. Each first-place team shared a $3,000 prize.
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Research Impact: Tourism researcher aims to boost industry’s sustainability and resilience
From a global pandemic to natural disasters, the tourism and hospitality industry has faced considerable challenges in recent years. Indiana University’s Becky Liu-Lastres is helping industry professionals better prepare for such disruptions to their business, while ensuring the health and well-being of their employees and visiting tourists.
Liu-Lastres is an associate professor in the Department of Tourism, Event and Sport Management in the IU School of Health and Human Sciences in Indianapolis. Her research operates at the intersection of crisis communications management, workforce development, and resilience and sustainable development.
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