ISU President: More Diversity is a Must

Bradley says

The president of Indiana State University says a key to future success involves boosting diversity among students and teachers. The Terre Haute school is crafting its next five-year strategic plan and Dan Bradley says ISU must focus on casting a wider geographic net for future students. He anticipates money will be "tight" over the next decade as state funding levels remain steady.

Bradley says future attraction efforts should focus on targeting more adult learners by increasing its online learning presence.

He says university leaders will be working on goal statements over the next two months and he expects to detail the 2016-2021 strategic plan during his annual Fall Address in September. He says four or five "quantitative benchmarks" will be created by a steering committee by May.

During an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Bradley said success in previous years has put the ISU community in a position to discuss "where we want to be as an institution." He says that includes "what do we have to do to help our students be more successful? How do we make sure our employees get rewarded for what we value most?" He says student success is the ultimate measure of the university and ISU needs to continue to focus on ensuring "the best of our best" instructors are "getting rewarded appropriately." Bradley adds the school has a very diverse student body, but the make-up of its faculty and staff has not reflected that diversity, particularly with regard to African American teachers.

Bradley says graduation numbers in high schools throughout the state are expected to peak, so the school will have to look outside of Indiana for new students and get more adults into completion degree programs.