IUSB Elkhart Center

Elkhart civic leaders and administrators from IU South Bend are working on plans for a downtown location of the IUSB – Elkhart Center.

A group led by Art Decio and Bob Deputy and including Glenn Banks, Jack Cittadine, John Dille, Tom Dusthimer, Frank Martin, Alice and Rex Martin, and Jeff Wells have been engaged in a private fundraising drive for the facility. This group, along with leaders at IU South Bend, will continue to visit local companies and individuals to solicit the remaining necessary financial support.

On Tuesday, the Elkhart Redevelopment Commission is expected to approve donating the city-owned, one acre parcel of property at 127 E. Franklin St. to Indiana University to be the site of the facility.

The $2.5 million, 16,000-square-foot facility will include eight classrooms, a bookstore, a student lounge and offices for faculty and staff.

Tax deductible donations for the Elkhart Center will be made to the Elkhart County Community Foundation and may be paid over a three-year period. The fundraising goal is to build the university center and then present the completed building as a gift to Indiana University.

Committee member Jack Cittadine worked closely with The Borger Group LLC, Fanning/Howey Associates, Inc., J.A. Wagner Construction, and the Indiana University Architects Office to design a building that would not only serve the educational needs of the university but would also be an aesthetic asset in an important downtown location.

The Elkhart Center is expected to open its doors in 2007. Until then IUSB will continue to offer classes at its current location at State Road 19 and Nappanee Street. More than 1,500 students were enrolled in classes at the Elkhart Center last year.

“Once again, the Elkhart community has come through to support a worthy project,” said Decio. “We need a university presence in Elkhart to help educate and train residents now and for generations to come.”

“Indiana University has been committed to Elkhart County for over 40 years,” Deputy said. “I remember classes being taught downtown at Elkhart Central High School when it was the location for IUSB. Finally, IU will have a permanent new home in downtown Elkhart.”

“The support from the Elkhart community has been outstanding,” said IU South Bend Chancellor Una Mae Reck. “We have served Elkhart since 1977 but we never had a permanent home. This new facility will add to the beauty of downtown Elkhart and serve as a magnet to potential area students. It is great to be a downtown neighbor.”

“Chancellor Reck and I held focus groups with students and business leaders in Elkhart over the past year,” said Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs and University Advancement Ilene Sheffer. “Over and over again, the support for higher education classes in Elkhart was emphasized. As the need grows for credit and noncredit classes, we know that a new downtown presence will attract more students who desire a college degree and extended learning options.”

Elkhart Mayor David Miller was an early and avid supporter of the project. “Last year, we were voted one of America’s Most Livable Communities,” said Miller. “Having the Indiana University Center in downtown Elkhart is a golden opportunity for our citizens. We are delighted.”

The Elkhart Center currently offers approximately 50 day and evening courses, including Saturday morning classes. Placement exams, admissions, advising, state-of-the-art computer labs, registration, and bookstore services are all available to students in Elkhart.