Wet But Welcoming Weekend

As I write this today (Monday, August 17), I am reminded of the fragility of everything around us. The storms over the weekend certainly took a toll on our communities. We applaud our mayors and city leaders for their leadership in getting help to those who were impacted. Fortunately, despite its proximity to the White River, our campus remains safe and dry.

This past weekend was especially important for IU Indianapolis – it was move-in for new students. Watching our students and their parents, and seeing their excitement, reminded me how different the weekend could have been had the storms affected our campus. Our staff, led by Mike Perry and Eric Weldy, worked to ensure a smooth move-in experience. Teams proactively adjusted move-in times, helping students avoid unloading when rain was expected. They had umbrellas and coffee ready to hand out. And our current students and resident advisors were the best welcoming crew you could wish for – smiling, helping, taking pictures, rolling carts, and giving directions. It was a very comforting scene.

Speaking to students and their parents, it is clear that IU Indianapolis has arrived. Our residence halls are filled to capacity. To meet our growing freshman class, we have converted lounge areas to student rooms, expanded capacity in Ball Hall by repurposing the former IUPD offices, secured rooms in the Hampton Inn, and reclaimed beds we previously allocated to Purdue – and we still have a waiting list. Yes, our freshman class is growing even faster than last year’s, which was higher than the previous year. We are pleased that the Board of Trustees approved the construction of additional capacity, which will add about 500 more beds, at its June meeting. This is expected to be completed in 3 years, and after seeing the activity this weekend, it makes me wonder if we can wait that long.

What was quite remarkable about the move-in was what I heard from the parents as well - one compared their experience moving three children at different institutions, and they shared that this was the best (Of course I did not tell anyone that I serve as the chancellor!). Another parent was sad that despite living 6 minutes from campus, her student insisted on living in the residence halls – the student, meanwhile, shared they were looking forward to campus life that they had heard so much about! It was also clear that these students and their parents had visited our bookstore – they wore IU branded shirts and caps, and some had shoes to match! Thanks to VC Broeker for ensuring that all our stores and cafes at the Campus Center stayed open during this important weekend.

I hope you stayed safe and dry. If you were impacted by the storms and need assistance, please reach out to Anne Mitchell, Senior Director for HR at IU Indianapolis.

Having lived through hurricanes in Texas, I try to never forget that our lives are fragile. What is not fragile, is the support of the people around us. Our campus and our community are special – people care and care to help. I am truly grateful for all that we have.

Go Jags!

Latha Ramchand
Chancellor