McRobbie Unveils First Bicentennial Programs
Indiana University President Michael McRobbie unveiled the first of what will be many programs related to the university’s bicentennial. During his State of the University address Wednesday at IUPUI, McRobbie said the programs will work toward the "preservation, enhancement and recognition of IU’s heritage."
Among the initiatives is the launch of two grant programs that "encourage faculty, staff, student organizations and IU affiliates to develop and propose bicentennial projects and to develop or revise courses that encompass bicentennial goals." The university is also developing a Historical Marker Program to document items of historical significance to IU.
The university has also established the IU Bicentennial Oral History Project, which will feature interviews with alumni and current and former faculty and staff to document IU’s history. A public art restoration fund has also been created. It will support the maintenance and restoration of public art on all of IU’s campuses.
"A key goal for all IU campuses as we approach the bicentennial is to build on and enhance the character and ethos of the campuses to make them magnets for the best and most deserving students, and environments that will help foster excellence in education, research, scholarship and creative activity," said McRobbie.
You can learn more about the bicentennial projects by clicking here. IU will celebrate its bicentennial during the 2019-2020 academic year.
McRobbie also touted many of the records the university set over the past year. Among them was the conferral of more than 21,000 four-year and graduate degrees, the most in university history. He also highlighted the university’s work to secure nearly $1 billion in external funding for research and private philanthropy.
You can read McRobbie’s entire State of the University address here.