McRobbie Delivers State of The University Address

McRobbie took the helm at Indiana University in 2007.

Indiana University President Michael McRobbie used his annual State of the University address to reinforce major initiatives driving the school toward its bicentennial in 2020. The presentation highlighted the vision and goals of the Bicentennial Strategic Plan, as well as issues including affordability and a $2.5 billion fundraising campaign.

McRobbie highlighted accomplishments during the last decade, including:

• establishment or reconfiguration of eight new schools;
• a new engineering program in Bloomington;
• construction or renovation of nearly 70 major facilities at its statewide network of campuses, representing a total investment of around $2 billion;
• opening two new global gateway offices in China, India and another in Germany this month.

He said "all of this extraordinary change is focused with the greatest single-mindedness on our two paramount missions: providing students with the best, most contemporary and most affordable education possible and pursuing transformative research and scholarship at the highest level of excellence."

In addition to realigning new programs and creating schools, he said accessibility and affordability remain key. McRobbie also highlighted programs in progress such as:

• the five-year, $300 million Grand Challenges research program, which is seeking to solve significant world issues through research;
• building on a record fiscal 2015 that included $541 million in external research funding;
• investments from IU and partners IU Health exceeding $1 billion to consolidate and modernize health care facilities in Indianapolis and Bloomington;
• an "overhaul" of the school’s career and academic advising programs.

You can connect to a copy of McRobbie’s address by clicking here.