Academic Plan - Excellence in Teaching and Learning
Given its comprehensive range and central location, IUPUI has a vast array of educational programs. At this time, IUPUI offers over 70 graduate degrees in whole or in part to students interested in pursuing a Ph.D., a professional degree, or a master's degree. Graduate education is critical to the campus mission, with more graduate and professional students completing their degrees at IUPUI than at any other Indiana campus. In terms of undergraduate education, IUPUI has been a national leader in the design of a process-oriented curriculum based on six principles of learning. In addition, the assessment of student learning – often with the support of cutting-edge technology – has shaped curricular revisions and enhanced faculty teaching. Faculty leaders have developed creative solutions to help beginning students to succeed through Learning Communities and Summer Bridge Programs, and have implemented service learning initiatives that have had global impact. Yet, as far as undergraduate student retention and graduation rates are concerned, IUPUI continues to lag behind its peer institutions. Aggressive planning is necessary in order to attract and support a better prepared, more diverse student body and to further enhance undergraduate learning and success. Once admitted, students must be retained and supported as they progress toward timely graduation. Student learning must be enhanced by inspiring faculty practicing innovative pedagogies – and these faculty must be appropriately rewarded for their efforts.
Major Initiative: Enrollment Shaping
The Enrollment Shaping Initiative will play a central role in enhancing student learning and achievement at IUPUI. Enrollment increases coupled with better retention will ensure higher rates of graduation among undergraduates. Shaping enrollment requires aggressive recruitment in conjunction with attention to ethnic diversity, students’ intended majors, the proportions of in-state, out-of-state, and international students, and the academic preparedness and financial needs of admitted students. Planning aligned with this initiative reflects Indiana University’s commitment to provide access and opportunity for the broadest range of learners. We must meet the needs of at-risk students as well as improve retention and graduation rates. Toward this end, $2.1 million has been dedicated to further support Pell Grant recipients and 21st Century Scholars. These funds represent the largest commitment of IUPUI financial resources for need-based aid in the history of the campus, and will help to ensure that qualified students succeed and graduate from IUPUI.
The principal elements of the Enrollment Shaping Initiative include the following:
- Implementation of action team recommendations on transforming the Honors Program into the IUPUI Honors College and the launch of the Honors Professional Admissions Program
- Aggressive, planned recruiting of out-of-state and international students in order to increase academic diversity and to give Indiana students a broader perspective
- Offering of free summer courses (mandatory in introductory mathematics and optional in writing) for newly admitted at-risk students
- Substantial expansion of the successful Summer Bridge Programs and Themed Learning Communities
- Continued experimentation with shorter course formats
- Provision of early feedback to students enrolled in all first-year courses, stressing high expectations and the benefits of timely graduation
- Increased funding for additional advisors, tutors, and mentors to help students succeed.
The Enrollment Shaping Initiative will enhance tuition revenue and thereby increase the stability of the campus budget. Enrollment shaping will inevitably have a positive impact on national rankings such as those published in the U.S. News and World Report, as scores should improve in several key areas that drive these rankings (e.g., graduation and retention, selectivity, graduation rate performance).
Additional Area of Focus: Enrich campus diversity
IUPUI must attract and support a more diverse student population, as well as aggressively recruit faculty from underrepresented groups. A national search is in progress to hire a Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to oversee the development of a Multicultural Center and to provide leadership for initiatives related to increasing the diversity of students and faculty. The Multicultural Center will support the entire student population by promoting the value of diversity, broadening multicultural awareness and sensitivity, and advancing and supporting cultural competence and civic responsibility among all members of the IUPUI community. It also will function as a safe haven for students from underrepresented groups, and as a clearinghouse for materials, visual media, and publications that speak to the experiences of diverse groups in higher education. The campus is committed to expanding the offering of diversity scholarships aligned with successful programs, such as the Norman Brown Diversity Scholars Program.
Additional Area of Focus: Increase and strengthen international, undergraduate research, and service learning experiences
Every undergraduate student will be challenged have at least two learning experiences that augment the typical curriculum and that fall within four areas of excellence that are consistent with IUPUI’s mission:
- study abroad experiences that enhance students’ learning and understanding of the world;
- undergraduate research experiences that augment students’ understanding of research, scholarship, and creative activities;
- service learning courses that increase students’ commitment to civic engagement, and
- credit-bearing experiential learning opportunities, such as internships, practica, or fieldwork.
Students will be introduced to these experiences through Summer Orientation programs, student-oriented publications, academic advisors, and Learning Communities. A strong infrastructure to support increased participation in such experiences exists through the Center for Research and Learning (particularly the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program), the Office of International Affairs, the Career Center, and the Center for Service and Learning. However, funds will be needed to support additional staff and to provide scholarships or financial assistance to deserving students. Innovative partnerships, such as those supporting International Service experiences, are particularly commendable and their reach should be broadened to include more students participating in a wider variety of field sites around the globe. International study is evolving into an essential component of a world-class education, and developments in this area fit well with the international imperative of Indiana University.
Status of Additional Action Items Related to Enhancement of the Resource Base:
Attract and Support a Better Prepared and More Diverse Student Population
Action Items:
- Honors Professional Admissions (HPA) Program
Recommendations:- Implement HPA Program in Fall 2008 with each professional program (Law, Dentistry, Business, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Nursing, Medicine) determining admission criteria
- Admit students directly to IUPUI Honors Program
- Identify additional sources of funding for student support
Full Report [PDF]
- Bachelor’s Degree Students
Recommendations:- Improve coordination of recruitment initiatives among IUPUI Schools, University College, and the Office of Admissions
- Help students to transition between schools and programs as expediently as possible
Full Report [PDF]
- High School Contacts
Recommendations:- Expand practices that coordinate contacts with high school teachers and prospective students
Full Report [PDF]
- Student Ambassadors
Recommendations:- Create a centrally coordinated program that trains students to host on-campus recruitment events, correspond with newly-admitted students, and serve as panelists in high school outreach events
Full Report [PDF]
- Honors College
Recommendations:- Draft a Vision Paper to guide strategic planning and share paper with broader campus community in Spring 08 to refine plan and take steps toward expanding honors course offerings
- Conduct external review of Honors Program in Spring 08; feedback will inform planning process
- Implement Honors College by AY 09-10
Full Report [PDF]
- Cooperative Education
Recommendations:- Focus on enhancing internship and campus employment opportunities rather than undertaking a formal cooperative education program at this time
Full Report [PDF]
- Student Employment
Recommendations:- Create a centralized network of student work programs
- Promote student employment as a valuable resource for both students and employers, and enhance student employment opportunities on campus
Emphasize and Reward Effective Teaching
Action Items:
- Increase Number of Faculty in the Health Disciplines by Increasing Flexibility of Faculty Appointments
Recommendations:- Publicize policies more effectively for part-time appointments and semester leaves
- Support part-time employees in health fields with clinical practices by offering benefits proportional to their percent FTE (Flexible Faculty Roles Task Force work in progress; focus is on part-time benefits for faculty and staff in all units)
Full Report [PDF]
Enhance Undergraduate Student Learning and Success
Action Items:
- Sampler Course
Recommendations:- Pilot a ‘Health Sciences Career Options’ course in Spring, 2008 to introduce students to trends, research, and career opportunities in the health sciences
- Consider adding a Liberal Arts Sampler Course
- Build the ‘Sampler Course concept’ into existing Learning Communities
- Assist faculty and staff in order to provide better career advising to students
- Alternative Course Formats
Recommendations:- Make non-standard format courses available in each semester and advertise directly to students who drop classes late
- Develop 3-term, 12-week alternative format degree and certificate programs.
Full Report [PDF]
- Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Recommendations:- Raise awareness of CRL activities to increase participation in undergraduate research and use research as a tool for recruiting students into graduate and professional schools
- Recognize and reward faculty research mentors and assist faculty in obtaining funding through collaborative proposals
- Improve and/or create new outcome assessment tools to measure the benefits of undergraduate research on campus, and use outcomes to leverage support for the expansion of the CRL
- Summer Programs
Recommendations:- Review IUPUI summer offerings to determine whether demands are being met and to guide their expansion
- Coordinate summer program offerings through an individual or office and advertise through an information clearinghouse
Full Report [PDF]
Improve Retention and Graduation Rates
Action Items:
- Stress Benefits of Timely Graduation
Recommendations:- Share information with students and parents on the economic benefits of timely graduation
- Roll out ‘Bring Your Dreams to Life at IUPUI’ marketing campaign through External Affairs
- Increase financial literacy of students and family members
- Faculty Development
Recommendations:- Help faculty to develop skills in responding to the needs of underserved, underrepresented, and under-prepared students. (Support will be provided through interactions among the Consortium on Learning and Scholarship, the Center for Teaching and Learning, the Office for Multicultural Professional Development, the Office of International Affairs, and the Community of Practice on Understanding Society and Culture)
Full Report [PDF]
- Retention Issues
Recommendations:- Undertake a campus-wide effort to address retention issues in a systematic, sustained fashion by prioritizing initiatives, coordinating efforts, and providing ongoing assessment tied to attainable goals
- Link improvements in retention and graduation to the institutional reward structure
- Streamline readmission and transfer policies, and support students through specialized advising and financial planning services
Full Report [PDF]
- Senior Year Experience
Recommendations:- Gather assessment data in 2008 to inform the development of an ‘exit strategy’ plan to support more expedient graduation of seniors in Liberal Arts and Science.
Full Report [PDF]
- Aggressive Advising
Recommendations:- Establish a campus-wide Advising Council to shape a campus-wide philosophy and to define learning outcomes for advising
- Hire staff in schools to conduct intrusive advising with targeted student populations deemed important to that school (e.g., transfer students, seniors, students on probation)
Full Report [PDF]
- Learning Communities
Recommendations:- Continue to grow Learning Communities and Themed Learning Communities with support of Schools, and develop specialized TLCs aligned with life science initiatives and to support new transfer students
- Better publicize the successful outcomes of LCs and TLCs across campus and beyond
Full Report [PDF]
- Fitness Center
Recommendations:- Begin preliminary planning for a campus Wellness Center to incorporate intramural and recreational sports, sports clubs, student health service and counseling and psychological services
- Designate on the IUPUI master plan the area immediately south of the Campus Center as the proposed site for a wellness center
Full Report [PDF]
Provide Effective Professional and Graduate Programs
Action Items:
- Professional Science Masters (PSM) Degrees
Recommendations:- Continue to offer an array of PSM degrees (through new and existing masters programs with non-thesis options) and graduate certificates that emphasize training in science or math along with professional skill development (Market needs are currently being met through existing PSM programs)
