NEW ALBANY, Ind. — Nowhere is the presence of Indiana University’s regional campuses greater felt than in southeast Indiana, where its IU Southeast campus in New Albany carries an annual economic impact of $125 million.
As with many such campuses, IU Southeast is one of southeast Indiana’s largest employers. It boasts one of lowest student-to-faculty ratios in the state. It offers the most affordable four-year degree in the region. And upon graduation, nearly 85 percent of IU Southeast alumni remain nearby, contributing to the region’s civic, economic and cultural life.
Although Indiana struggles to produce enough technically skilled workers to meet manufacturers’ demands, IU President Michael A. McRobbie said campuses such as IU Southeast are the key to addressing such challenges.
During a Wednesday visit to IU Southeast — part of a statewide tour to each of IU’s regional campuses — McRobbie said IU Southeast is well-positioned to help companies like Samtec Inc., a New Albany-based electronic connector producer, find workers with the proper training while helping students obtain the skills required for success.
“They (Samtec) have a real challenge in recruiting technically trained people, engineers and others as well,” McRobbie told the New Albany News and Tribune. “Clearly, I think this is an opportunity that probably, we need to be doing more [outreach] to companies like Samtec and some of the other critical companies that have established themselves in River Ridge [Commerce Center] to understand in more detail what are the kinds of professions and skills they need.”
All told, the 36,000 students at IU’s regional campuses comprise about one-third of IU’s total enrollment. As the university pursues its Bicentennial Strategic Plan — part of which involves establishing a statewide culture of “building and making” toward long-term prosperity and innovation — IU Southeast plays a critical role in achieving such goals.
McRobbie noted that since 2013, IU Southeast — which also serves the greater Louisville area — has introduced 50 new majors, minors, certificates, tracks, concentrations and masters programs that either have been approved or are in the approval process. IU Southeast also has adopted a “banded” tuition system that allows undergraduates to pay the same for course loads that range between 12 and 18 hours.
“Data shows that students who take at least 15 hours per semester tend to get better grades, are less likely to drop out and are more likely to graduate on time,” McRobbie said. “Keeping an Indiana University education affordable in both the short and long term is essential for our students’ success and for the well-being of their families.”
Programs such as the recently launched Regional Research and Creativity Initiative also encourage increased innovation among IU Southeast faculty, McRobbie said. In its first year, IU Southeast awarded three grants toward research and creative activity that enhances the region’s quality of life. A second round of funding has been requested by IU Southeast Chancellor Ray Wallace.
Read more about McRobbie’s visit to IU Southeast here:
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