Greetings, alumni and friends.
As usual, another academic year has passed all too quickly and is coming to a close. Despite the pandemic, we returned with full energy, excitement, and enthusiasm and have made some important and exciting additions to our degree and certificate offerings this past year. These include a new Bachelor of Arts in Artificial Intelligence and three undergraduate certificates that are part of the State of Indiana’s Next Level Jobs initiative, as well as a Virtual Production Certificate. And we’ve added a new Study Abroad in Finland, led by LIS and MAS faculty, Bill Helling and Travis Faas.
I also want to welcome our new Assistant Dean, Amy Maidi, to the SoIC family. Amy comes to us with a wealth of experience in all things student services at both IU Bloomington and IUPUI and we are excited to have her here with us now.
The Polis Center completed its move to the IT building last summer while we were all quarantining and is fully operational in their fourth floor home now. We are able to partner and offer our students and faculty so many great research opportunities as a result.
I am pleased to report that our 72 percent of our faculty obtained a grand total of 32 grants for a total of $7,095,785 in 2021.
Speaking of opportunities, many of our students have participated in and won local tech challenges this past year. They were especially successful at the ATT 5G Sports Challenge (see story below) last fall, where six teams received awards, including the overall prize. These competitions showcase our students’ exemplary skills and talents and give them a chance to make a difference with their human-centered tech solutions.
Finally, as you may know, declining high school populations and the ongoing effects of the pandemic, among other factors, have slowed enrollment in higher ed. Although we have managed to persevere with strong growth at the graduate level , it is imperative that we continue to reach out to prospective students, especially undergraduates, in order to thrive. Please continue to spread the word about our programs, our school, and our IUPUI campus.
Best wishes for good health and continued success,
Mathew
Media Contact
Joanne Lovrinic
jebehele@iu.edu
317-278-9208