Last Updated: 7/31/00
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Appendix C
 
 IUSB’s Response
to
The Challenge to Expand Educational Opportunities
in North Central Indiana
 

March 17, 2000

The proposal advanced by the state of Indiana to begin a Community College System is of direct concern to the faculty, students, and the community served by Indiana University South Bend, the comprehensive public institution established to meet the post-secondary educational needs of the citizens of North Central Indiana. Questions have arisen during public discussions about the high costs and duplicative nature of the proposal to create a new collegiate system in a region already well-served by IUSB and IVY Tech State College. While the IUSB faculty has thus voiced opposition to the current Community College initiative, it also remains committed to IUSB's founding mission to meet "the challenge to expand educational opportunities in North Central Indiana." In this spirit, we have drafted the following response to the proposed initiative, which we feel will realize our mutual goal to provide high quality, accessible, educational opportunities to the citizens of this region. 

The state's proposal also comes at an important time in IUSB history, and bears some relevance to our current campus directions. Four years ago, in order to more fully realize our educational mission, we involved the leaders of the South Bend-Elkhart community in a long range planning process, identifying four priorities for IUSB's future, which are also central to our founding mission. We believe that by addressing these priorities we will enhance the quality of and access to education for the citizens of our area, keeping faith with our mission as an Indiana public institution. Thus, we pledge ourselves to:

  • Enhance the Student-Centered Focus of Indiana University South Bend;
  • Develop and Support Excellence in Programming;
  • Develop and Expand Partnerships with the Community;
  • Enhance the Image of Indiana University South Bend in the Community.

We believe these priorities will also further the gubernatorial and legislative effort to increase the number of college graduates in Indiana prepared for the full obligations of citizenship and the new demands of the work place in the next millennium. To implement these priorities IUSB proposes to take the following steps.

  • To enhance both the student centeredness and the quality of programming, we propose that over the next five years we will evaluate and expand on freshmen programming so that it is a more successful and engaging educational experience. Toward that end we commit ourselves to:
    • enhance the orientation and assessment of incoming students, including students transferring to IUSB from other institutions;
    • give particular attention to the advising of all students but particularly incoming first-year students;
    • focus on developing student ties with peers, faculty, and the institution during the freshmen year;
    • expand tutoring to those needing academic assistance;
    • focus on the delivery of student services including accelerating and easing the processing of Financial Aid Applications;
  • To develop and expand partnerships with the community we propose to partner with IVY Tech State College to improve the delivery of a general education to all students of this region and to improve the articulation of the associates and bachelors degree programs. Toward that end we commit ourselves to work with IVY Tech State College to:
    • develop a cooperative advising and admission process;
    • offer the general education portion of their degrees where possible;
    • cooperate in joint training and faculty development programs;
    • assist in identifying competencies and skills that must be mastered for successful transfer to a bachelors degree program;
    • share relevant expertise.
  • With appropriate state assistance, we also propose to forge financial partnerships with the state to oversee and provide educational opportunities for state residents outside our immediate community. To maximize the educational opportunities available while minimizing additional costs to the state and to facilitate a seamless transfer to bachelors degree programs IUSB proposes to:
    • in those parts of our geographical region that are presently less well served, support establishing community colleges;
    • provide assistance in hiring personnel in administrative, teaching and support services for community colleges in our region;
    • provide equal access to IUSB's excellent library facilities to all the community colleges within the region including IVY Tech State College;
    • provide equal access to IUSB's athletic facilities and performances at extracurricular events to all of the community colleges in the region including IVY Tech State College.
  • We pledge to continue our partnership with the citizens of our community in meeting their educational needs. We also pledge to cooperate with the state and the university to offer those specialized programs for which we are well suited that may serve those beyond our regions. Toward that end we propose to:
    • be sensitive to the needs in our community and state for additional graduate degrees and to work with community leaders to secure resources to meet those expanding needs;
    • seek the construction of residence facilities that allow students to come here for specialized programs as well as provide appropriate environments for collegiate study; 
    • work with community primary and secondary schools to enhance preparation for post secondary education, including sessions with counselors and parents emphasizing how to achieve collegiate success;
    • work with the community to provide continuing education and life-long learning opportunities for the region's citizens. 
  • To enhance access to post-secondary educational opportunities, in addition to the initiatives outlined above, we also pledge to make the residents of our region more aware of and informed about IUSB's broad spectrum of academic programs. As part of IUSB's expanded community outreach, we urge that IUSB develop:
    • a three to five year marketing plan for the presentation of the campus to the community, that emphasizes the value and desirability of post-secondary education for today's citizen, the range and accessibility of educational options, and the availability of student advising and support services; 
    • a complete and unified set of high quality promotional materials including a CD ROM for all programs of the campus and an accessible and inviting interactive web site;
    • a targeted student advising, informational, assessment and recruitment strategy to ensure that those seeking higher education are prepared and assisted in entering IUSB.

The timeline for and success of many of the initiatives outlined above will depend to some extent upon the funding made available for higher education by the state in the future. However, we in North Central Indiana are also blessed by the variety and range of post-secondary institutions, some private, but others public (Indiana University, Purdue University, IVY Tech State College), which already offer a full spectrum of educational opportunities in the region, and which are a source of community strength as well as pride. As the lead public institution in the region, IUSB is well positioned to build upon this community advantage in the future. Moreover, we believe that by encouraging further collaboration among the existing post-secondary institutions in the South Bend-Elkhart area, the state can maximize scarce resources while ensuring the continuation of comprehensive, high quality, accessible higher education for the citizens of North Central Indiana.