Plater Awarded IUPUI Chancellor’s Medallion

Friday, November 10, 2017 12:21 PM EDT Updated: Wednesday, June 23, 2021 11:25 PM EDT
By Tara Twigg
Plater Awarded IUPUI Chancellor’s Medallion

William Plater has been honored with the IUPUI Chancellor’s Medallion in recognition of the pivotal role he played in laying the foundations of the Indianapolis campus. The Chancellor’s Medallion is the highest honor an IUPUI chancellor can bestow.

IUPUI Chancellor Nasser H. Paydar presented the medallion to Plater, Chancellor’s Professor emeritus of public affairs, philanthropy and English and executive vice chancellor and dean of the faculties emeritus, during the chancellor’s 2017 State of the Campus address.

Paydar cited Plater’s numerous contributions to IUPUI, including:

• Leading the development of IUPUI’s first comprehensive campus-wide strategic plan
• Spearheading the establishment of University College as the entry point for IUPUI beginning students
• Presiding over the establishment of the Center on Philanthropy, which has grown into the world’s first school of philanthropy
• Embracing the power of technology, establishing what was then called the School of Informatics at IUPUI

As chief academic officer, Plater led campus efforts to improve undergraduate, retention, strengthen civic engagement, incorporate assessment of programs and learning, foster international programs, develop IUPUI as a model for comprehensive faculty development programs, and increase research productivity – all components of his vision for IUPUI to become a leading urban research university.

In 2006, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities established the William M. Plater Award for Leadership in higher education. Plater was the first recipient of that award. IUPUI honored Plater in 2006, establishing the Plater Medallion for Civic Engagement, which is awarded to students graduating from IUPUI – with degrees from bachelor’s to Ph.D.s – who have outstanding records of civic engagement. IUPUI also established the Plater International Scholars Program, providing a four-year tuition scholarship, residency in International House and a study abroad opportunity for a cohort of entering undergraduates.

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