Jubilee Year Historical Information

Three Anniversaries Make for a Jubilee Year

Chancellor Terry L. Allison has declared 2017 a Jubilee Year at IU South Bend. The special designation is to celebrate the convergence of three important anniversaries: 100 years of classes being offered by Indiana University in South Bend, 50 years of diplomas being conferred at IU South Bend, and the celebration of 25 years of providing academic programs through a unified School of the Arts.

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1916

Indiana University offered its first class in South Bend in the spring of 1916. An organized extension program began in 1933 and consisted almost entirely of evening courses at Central High School in downtown South Bend.

1990

The Division of the Arts was created in 1990 and officially became the School of the Arts in 2000. Two years later it was named the Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts in recognition of a gift from local benefactor Ernestine Raclin.

This year’s Alumni week kicks off with a BFA Student Exhibition you won’t want to miss. Check out the rest of the Alumni Week Events to plan your week.

Alumni Week Events

Conception through completion

Click through the slideshow to see how IU South Bend has grown.
IU South Bend Pedestrian Bridge, concept rendering
The IU South Bend Pedestrian Bridge, completed August 2006, connects River Crossing student housing to the main campus via a short walk across the bridge and the Saint Joseph River. The bridge with its large letters spelling out "INDIANA UNIVERSITY SOUTH BEND" has become the most recognizable and frequently photographed symbol for the campus.
River Crossing Student Housing, concept rendering
Student Housing at River Crossing opened in time for the fall semester 2008. In addition to the eight apartment-style buildings that provided housing for 400 students, there is also a community center.
Student Activities Center, concept rendering
Opened in 2002, the Student Activities Center provides space for student activities and athletics, including two basketball courts, varsity and practice volleyball courts, racquet ball courts, a training room, office and metting rooms, a running track, and extensive exercise facilitites and locker rooms.
Hammes Information Commons, concept rendering
The Hammes Information Commons, opened fall 2007, and continues to be a collaborative workspace that allows students a one-stop place to work in groups or individually on research and multimedia projects, and to receive assistance from reference librarians, technology assistants, and multimedia specialists.
Elkhart Concept, concept rendering
The IU South Bend Elkhart Center located in downtown Elkhart was completed in 2007 and provides a permanent base and presence in Elkhart. It is 25,000 square feet and contains 13 classrooms including a student lounge, technology center, and science lab.
Education and Arts Building, concept rendering 
The Education and Arts Building was originally home of the Associates Insurance Corporation. Owned by IU since 1975, it was rented by the Associates Insurance Corporation for more than thirty years and both Associates and IU shared space in the building until 2012. IU remodeled the building in 2013 with ample space for the School of Education, much of the Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts, and the Dental Hygiene Program.
Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences' community clinic, concept rendering. IU South Bend’s original fourth building, Riverside Hall, was built in 1969 to provide office, laboratory, as well as clinical facilities for new programs in dental assisting and dental hygiene. Located across Northside Boulevard from the rest of the campus, its location was sometimes considered rather isolated by students and faculty. Renovation began in 2016 to repurpose the space to become the future home of the Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences and community clinic.

Indiana University South Bend

1700 Mishawaka Ave
South Bend, IN 46615
Phone: 574-520-4872