Blueprint for Student Attainment
Emerging Major Themes
Blueprint Process Summary
In order to address the opportunities and challenges facing Indiana University’s regional campuses, six
action teams were created partnering faculty and administrators from each campus selected by their
faculty governance leadership and chancellors. The context of their work was a political landscape
which had placed regional campuses under increasing pressure to get more under-prepared, underresourced, demanding students in and through the university experience faster, with less money and
more competition.
The teams were charged to be innovative and propose big, bold ideas that would help the regional
campuses respond to their changing, complex environment in a way that would secure significant
growth in degree completion and attainment. They met numerous times over a three month period
generating strategies supported by specific action steps and metrics for measurement. The interim
team reports which include the current ideas under consideration are being shared with all campus
constituencies and electronically posted for additional input. The goal is to create both short range
action steps and longer-range strategic plans. Final team reports will be submitted by March 1, 2011.
Strengths of the Regional Campuses
The regional campuses have provided access to Indiana University baccalaureate degrees and selected
master’s degrees for a wide range of Indiana citizens seeking an educational experience closer to home.
These campuses host one third of the students at Indiana University. 80% of regional campus graduates
work and live in the region. They provide the nurses, teachers, and other needed professionals for their
communities. The faculty at these institutions are dedicated to serving the diverse students who attend
these campuses and provide the needed resources to support their success.
Emerging Themes
This document attempts to summarize some of the most common themes that appear in the six interim
team reports. The categories are not intended to be restatements of specific team reports, nor are they
intended to exclude any particular action items, but rather are designed to capture broad categories of
activities which are reflected in several of the reports for the purpose of our discussion.
Academic Transparency and Flexibility: ideas and actions designed to provide more clarity about
academic requirements and expectations to students and prospective students along with providing
students with greater flexibility in accessing higher education on regional campuses.
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degree program roadmaps
clarification of transfer requirements
accelerated completer programs
academic calendar changes (i.e. three semester structure)
flexible course scheduling (early morning, weekends)
adoption of LEAP
dual credit programs specific to regional campuses
Student Engagement: ideas and actions designed to more closely connect the student to their chosen
fields of study, personal goals and financial opportunities/risks while at the same time providing them
with on-going evaluation and support.
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more holistic approach to student services
early major declaration
career development advising and opportunities for all students
targeted student support (i.e. supplemental instruction)
early warning and feedback systems
active outreach to adults and stop outs
financial literacy programs and increased aid assistance
change tuition and fee structures
Educational Quality and Assessment: ideas and actions designed to enhance the quality of education
offered on each regional campus, increase external understanding of the role/mission of the campuses,
and provide new opportunities for faculty.
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define and brand the regional campus experience
expand qualified tutor base
develop active and applied educational program experiences (undergraduate research,
international programs, internships, service learning)
recognize multiple ways that regional faculty research endeavors contribute to regional
development
review transfer admission standards with goal of consistency among regional campuses
shared degree program opportunities between and among regional campuses
Regional Community Connections: ideas and actions designed to increase community support for the
campuses and its students and faculty by developing closer working relationships between the campus
and the community in multiple areas of shared interests.
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outreach to underrepresented groups with specific targeted recruitment
raise financial aid needs awareness among local business and community partners
engage more with local alumni
recognize and increase faculty research on regional campuses focused on the scholarship of
discovery and creativity, teaching and engagement
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develop system to identify changes in local needs and initiate appropriate programs to
address
Regional Campus Collaborations and Administration: ideas and actions designed to forge closer and
more permanent relationships among regional campuses with the goals of maximizing their combined
strengths into a world-class educational network and of recognizing the vital role that they play in the
Indiana system of public higher education.
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establish center for regional campus excellence
consider ways to continue the blueprint collaborative environment
establish office to improve multi-campus support for research
develop mechanism for collaborative efforts related to online and hybrid programs
increase coordination with professional schools on research campuses
explore concept of more formalized regional campus structure to recognize their collective
“one-third” share of IU, including regional campus faculty governance concept
quarterly forums on regional campus engagement efforts