Trustees discuss academic plans

The Board of Trustees met Thursday at IU-Purdue University Indianapolis, covering a wide range of topics including a presentation on the new academic directions of IU.
Vice President for University Academic Affairs John Applegate, Provost Lauren Robel and IUPUI Chancellor Charles R. Bantz presented the new academic directions results to the Board of Trustees.

The Academic Directions initiative has produced strategic and focused changes on an unprecedented scale in the academic landscape of the institution’s core campuses at IU-Bloomington and IUPUI, University administrators said at the meeting.

The committee’s report, which came out in April 2011, included many recommendations to improve the school including recommending investing strategically in existing and new programs.

Mark Land, associate vice president of public affairs and government relations, said the presentation showed the various goals and objectives of the new academic directions had been met.

The School of Global and International Studies, the School of Public Health-Bloomington and the new Media School were all results of the Academic Directions initiative.

The initiative was created in early 2011 in response to President McRobbie’s call for targeted investments to achieve academic excellence and improved efficiency, innovation and collaboration.

“New Academic Directions has produced dramatic changes in the academic structure and operation of Indiana University’s core campuses,” IU President Michael McRobbie said in a press release.

“The decisions we have made as a result of this report will position the university to respond effectively to the demands being placed on higher education in a new century. The outstanding and strategic work carried out by faculty and administrators will benefit the university for many years to come.”

The meeting will continue on Friday.  

— Kathrine Schulze