UIndy Unveils $50 Million Plan
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe University of Indianapolis is detailing a five-year, $50 million capital investment plan. The school says its key project will be a four-story health sciences center, which will house classroom space and clinical facilities for students and faculty. It also includes renovations to Krannert Memorial Library and the addition of Division II men's and women's lacrosse teams. President Rob Manuel says the effort is the result of 18 months of strategic planning involving students, faculty, staff and community leaders. February 20, 2014
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The University of Indianapolis Board of Trustees has approved a five-year plan of capital projects and educational enhancements that comprise a $50 million investment in the university and the neighboring community.
“This action arises from a strategic planning process that involved students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners over the past 18 months,” UIndy President Robert Manuel said. “We took that input and identified priorities that position the university to be strong and relevant, and that benefit the community through economic development. The plan will enable us to focus on the kind of education that we believe is vital to our students and the world they live in – an education in which they are engaged in their learning experiences, interact directly with faculty and learn to think critically, communicate well and contribute to their communities.”
The five-year plan will build a foundation for the university to seek support for programs, scholarships, research and endowed positions that will further enhance UIndy’s market strength and reputation.
One key project is a four-story, 134,000-square-foot health sciences center, a unique space for students from UIndy's highly-ranked health sciences programs and for clinical facilities that will serve both the campus community and the local neighborhood. The center will provide clinical experiences for students in relevant fields and afford opportunities for collaboration on a variety of public health issues, which will inform discussion on a national and international level.
The building will house UIndy's programs in nursing, psychology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, kinesiology and athletic training, with classroom and laboratory space that will allow the university to expand its undergraduate and graduate programs in health-related disciplines, including a new Master of Public Health degree program. The facility will create jobs and generate economic activity to spur further development in the area.
Over the next two years, the university will:
-Renovate Krannert Memorial Library to create technology-rich group collaboration areas and social spaces, making it more inviting and useful to the campus community and the general public.
-Replace the 160-student-capacity Campus Apartments on Shelby Street to create new housing options for students and enhance visual appeal along that key corridor west of campus.
-Expand and upgrade biology, chemistry and physics labs.
-Make significant personnel investments that will include faculty positions for new and growing academic programs.
-Add Division II men's and women's lacrosse teams to its roster of 21 men's and women's sports.
Accompanying the physical improvements are new initiatives in curriculum, programming and co-curricular opportunities intended to sharpen the university's competitive edge in attracting, retaining and graduating successful students.
Already this year, UIndy has restructured its student advising offices into a centralized program, the Center for Advising and Student Achievement. Also new is the Professional Edge Center, a fresh approach to career services that links students directly to alumni and other working professionals in their fields of interest for internship, networking and job opportunities.
Robert Wingerter, chair of UIndy's Board of Trustees, expressed enthusiasm about the direction the university is heading under Manuel’s leadership.
“The trustees hired Rob because we knew he would not be satisfied with just maintaining the good reputation of UIndy, but would be very proactive in keeping us as at the forefront among our peer institutions,” said Wingerter, now retired as a partner at Ernst & Young. “His vision for what UIndy could become is inspirational to the entire campus community, and the Board of Trustees was unanimous in support of this transformational development program.”
Source: University of Indianapolis