Investing in the 'heart and future' of IU
Last week, Indiana University President Pamela Whitten announced a bold initiative to recruit 100 new tenure-track faculty to the IU Bloomington campus. This latest investment in increasing the number of IU teaching and research faculty comes on the heels of the university-wide Presidential Diversity Hiring Initiative that Whitten unveiled last year and that has led to IU welcoming a record number -- 54 accepted offers -- of new faculty members from historically underrepresented groups this year.
Demand for an IU Bloomington education has never been stronger as evidenced by year-over-year enrollment growth. This fall, the campus boasts a record 47,000 students pursuing an IU degree on the Bloomington campus. IU Bloomington, which continued its placement among the top 30 public universities in the country in U.S. News and World Report's annual Best Colleges rankings, unveiled earlier this week, is home to many highly ranked academic programs and award-winning faculty.
As Whitten marks her second year in office, the IU Bloomington Faculty 100 initiative comes at a time of nearly 12% enrollment growth for the campus since 2012. This vital initiative will expand the number of tenure-track faculty, increasing research impact and strengthening the student experience on campus.
"Now is the time to invest directly in the very heart and future of our great university -- in faculty who are essential to student success, to cutting-edge research, and to our university's ability to contribute to the success of our communities and our state," Whitten said.
President Whitten lists the success of the Presidential Diversity Hiring Initiative as well as the new vision IU recently announced for IUPUI as among her biggest accomplishments and remaining opportunities in a recent Q&A, published today. In the Q&A, Whitten reflects on her first year as IU president and her top priorities for the coming months.
Read more about the Faculty 100 hiring initiative
Read the Q&A on President Whitten's first year in office
Economic Engagement Update
Hoosier counties see increases in average wage growth
The Indiana Business Research Center at IU’s Kelley School of Business continues to monitor Indiana's average wage growth and keep economic developers and policymakers informed on this issue, which is especially important as the state's economy continues to adapt to a period of high inflation.
According to a recent detailed analysis by the IBRC, Indiana's average annual wage per job rose to $54,960 in 2021. After adjusting for inflation, this figure represents a 1% increase over 2020 and a 6.3% increase over 2019. Change in average wage per job for Indiana counties ranged from 5.8% to 19.8%. Elkhart and LaGrange counties led the state on this measure, each exceeding 15% growth. In all, 34 counties surpassed the state average increase.
Read more on the IBRC analysis
IU Business Sustainability and Innovation Lab saves manufactures millions
Since 2019, researchers with the IU Kelley School of Business have helped manufacturing companies in Indiana and around the world save millions of dollars and increase energy efficiency using smart meters. Now, they are expanding that work by helping companies digitize entire factories and warehouses – a move they say will ultimately make companies more competitive in the global marketplace.
A team led by Amrou Awaysheh, an associate professor of operations and supply chain management and executive director of the IU Business Sustainability and Innovation Lab, has worked with over 450 facilities globally over the last few years, with companies investing $24 million to date on projects. In that time, Awaysheh’s team has helped those companies save over $91 million, in the form of higher machine up-time, better employee productivity, lower resource consumption and higher quality products going out the door.
Read the full story
Serving Indiana's innovation economy by connecting venture founders and funders
IU Ventures, IU’s early-stage venture and angel investment arm, is continuing its mission of actively connecting new venture founders and funders from around Indiana and beyond. It recently did so during one of the busiest weeks of innovation in the Hoosier state.
IU Ventures joined several partner firms at back-to-back-to-back major events in Indianapolis, held on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, designed to serve Indiana's goals to support and advance new business innovation and further the development of the state's entrepreneurial ecosystem. The series of events, collectively called "(Ind)Venture," included a venture capital summit, an innovation showcase and pitch contest, and a networking event for founders and investors.
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Federal Update
CHIPS Act to provide major boost to IU innovation, STEM-related initiatives
The IU Federal Relations team was excited to join the University of Notre Dame and The Science Coalition this month to present Sen. Todd Young with the Champions of Science Award for his leadership on the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, signed into law in August...
Federal Update • Sep 16, 2022
Upcoming Events
Idea to Startup Pitch Competition 2022
IU Research and the IU Innovation and Commercialization Office, in partnership with The Mill in Bloomington, will host the inaugural IU Idea to Startup Pitch Competition on Oct. 13. The competition will be an opportunity for IU faculty, staff and students to pitch their startup ideas to the IU community and receive real-world insights from a panel of industry experts and judges during Innovation Week at The Mill.
Learn more about this event
IU Founders and Funders Network Fireside Chat with Rod Johnson
IU alumnus Jarrhod ‘Rod' Johnson is the co-founder and chief values officer of BLK & Bold, the specialty coffee and tea company that prioritizes domestic social impact. Through its "5% For Our Youth Program," the brand donates to youth in need – both locally and nationally.
Register now
IU News
Regional campuses reduce costs, barriers to encourage more Hoosiers to attend college
Indiana University is working with students and high schools across the state to make the transition to college more seamless while lowering common barriers to post-secondary education. With five regional campuses, IU is taking steps to help high school students access college-level classes while also reducing common fees.
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$2.4M grant will fund housing equity initiative to reduce infant mortality rate in Indianapolis
The Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI has received a five-year, $2.4 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to launch a housing equity initiative to reduce Indianapolis' infant mortality rate.
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Free mental health services expanded in rural communities through state, IU partnership
Free and confidential support for stress, depression or anxiety, as well as resources for food, clothing, housing and health care, will be available via telehealth well-being services in several rural Indiana counties this fall.The Indiana University School of Social Work and Center for Rural Engagement have launched these services with a grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. More than 76 percent of rural Indiana counties reported mental health care as a top community need, according to a 2020 briefing of community needs assessments.
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3 research universities to collaborate with industry, government to develop quantum technologies
Quantum science and engineering can save energy, speed up computation, enhance national security and defense, and innovate health care. With a grant from the National Science Foundation, researchers from Indiana University (both Bloomington and IUPUI campuses), Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame will develop industry- and government-relevant quantum technologies as part of the Center for Quantum Technologies.
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